How to Know You Need Trauma Therapy, Not Another Productivity System

HEALING MODALITIES & THERAPEUTIC PROCESS • May 04, 2026

• Therapy with Annie: https://anniewright.com/therapy-with-annie/
• Executive Coaching: https://anniewright.com/executive-coaching/
• Fixing the Foundations: https://anniewright.com/fixing-the-foundations/
• Connect: https://anniewright.com/connect/

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She sits at her polished oak desk, the morning sun casting a gold glow across the scattered planners, habit trackers, and productivity apps glowing on her phone. Her calendar is meticulously color-coded, her to-do list exhaustive. Yet, beneath the surface of this seamless exterior, her chest tightens, her breath quickens, and a familiar heaviness coils in her gut.

Another day, another system to optimize her time, another goal to chase—but the internal weight does not lift. The relentless drive that fuels her externally successful life is met with an internal ache that no planner, no time-blocking method, no productivity hack can touch.

This scene is not uncommon among driven, ambitious women—founders,
physicians, executives, creatives, senior leaders, mothers—whose lives
look impressive on paper but feel unbearably heavy inside. For many, the
impulse to “fix” themselves with yet another productivity system or
efficiency strategy is strong. But beneath that impulse often lies
unrecognized trauma, quietly shaping nervous system responses, emotional
patterns, and relational dynamics.

In this essay, we will explore how to recognize when you need trauma therapy instead of another productivity system. We’ll define trauma clinically, understand the nervous system’s role in trauma responses, and introduce composite client stories that illustrate these dynamics.

Drawing on cutting-edge research and clinical wisdom, we’ll offer a trauma-informed map for healing, coaching, and recovery. Our goal is to honor your ambition while inviting you to a deeper, more compassionate way forward—one that mends what productivity alone cannot.

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What Is Trauma? A Plain-English Clinical Definition

Trauma is often thought of as singular catastrophic events—car accidents, assaults, or natural disasters. But clinically, trauma encompasses a broader spectrum.

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) defines Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a condition arising from exposure to a traumatic event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence, characterized by re-experiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal, and negative alterations in mood and cognition.

The ICD-11 further expands on Complex PTSD (CPTSD) , which involves prolonged or repeated interpersonal trauma, often in childhood, resulting in difficulties with emotional regulation, self-concept, and relationships [1].

Beyond formal diagnostic categories, trauma includes
relational trauma—experiences of neglect, emotional
invalidation, and chronic stress in early caregiving relationships—that
shape the architecture of the developing nervous system and relational
templates. This kind of trauma is often invisible yet profoundly impacts
emotional availability, self-worth, and the ability to regulate
stress.

Annie Wright’s clinical specialty in childhood emotional
neglect, family-of-origin wounds, and
narcissistic abuse recovery reflects the reality that
trauma is not always about what happened to you in a single moment but
what did not happen for you when you needed it most—the emotional
attunement, safety, and validation that help build internal
resilience.

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Trauma as a Spectrum: Beyond the Event

It is important to understand that trauma is not only about what
happens to you but also what happens within you
afterward. Trauma reshapes the way your brain processes information,
your body holds tension, and your mind interprets safety. For example,
chronic relational trauma in childhood—such as parental inconsistency,
emotional neglect, or subtle invalidations—can create an ongoing state
of nervous system dysregulation that persists into adulthood.

This is why some people who have never experienced a single
catastrophic event may still carry trauma symptoms: difficulty trusting
others, chronic anxiety, emotional numbing, or a pervasive sense of
unworthiness. The absence of nurturing experiences can be as traumatic
as the presence of overt harm.

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The Role of Attachment and Developmental Trauma

Developmental trauma, often rooted in early attachment disruptions, profoundly shapes the nervous system and emotional regulation. When caregivers are inconsistent, emotionally unavailable, or frightening, the infant or child learns to live in a state of chronic alertness or dissociation.

This early imprinting affects the ability to form secure relationships later in life and can manifest as perfectionism, overachievement, or a compulsive need for control—often misinterpreted as mere personality traits rather than trauma responses.

Attachment theory teaches us that the brain develops through
relational experiences. When those experiences are unsafe or neglectful,
the brain’s wiring adapts to survive but at the cost of emotional
flexibility and resilience. This foundational understanding is crucial
when distinguishing between needing another productivity tool and
needing trauma therapy.

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Trauma and the Nervous System: The Invisible Architecture of Your Experience

Trauma is fundamentally a nervous system phenomenon. Dr. Stephen Porges, PhD, developer of the Polyvagal Theory , revolutionized understanding of trauma by illuminating how the autonomic nervous system (ANS) shapes our responses to threat and safety. The ANS has three primary states: social engagement (ventral vagal), fight/flight (sympathetic), and shutdown/freezing (dorsal vagal).

Trauma disrupts the nervous system’s ability to flexibly move between these states, often leaving the nervous system stuck in hyperarousal or dissociation [11].

Research also shows that trauma impacts the
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, altering
cortisol regulation and stress reactivity [5]. When trauma is
unaddressed, this dysregulation manifests as anxiety, hypervigilance,
exhaustion, and a persistent sense of threat—even when external
circumstances are objectively safe.

These nervous system patterns often underlie the internal heaviness
and chronic tension experienced by externally successful women whose
lives look impressive but feel fragmented inside. The relentless push
for productivity can be a nervous system-driven attempt to manage
unprocessed trauma, a way to impose control when the internal landscape
feels chaotic.

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The Polyvagal Theory in Depth: Navigating Nervous System States

The Polyvagal Theory offers a nuanced framework for understanding how
trauma affects your body and mind. The ventral vagal
complex supports social engagement, connection, and calm states
where the nervous system feels safe and regulated. When this system is
online, you can think clearly, connect authentically, and engage
creatively.

When the brain perceives threat, the sympathetic nervous
system activates, triggering fight or flight responses—racing
heart, rapid breathing, muscle tension, and hypervigilance. This state
is adaptive in real danger but exhausting if chronic.

If threat feels inescapable, the dorsal vagal
complex may engage, leading to shutdown, dissociation,
numbness, or immobilization. This is often experienced as emotional
flatness or a sense of disconnection from self and others.

Trauma can trap the nervous system in these states, making it
difficult to access the ventral vagal state of safety and connection.
This explains why productivity systems, which rely on cognitive control
and executive function, can fail: the nervous system is not in a
regulated state conducive to focus or creativity.

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The Body Keeps the Score: Somatic Imprints of Trauma

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s seminal work, The Body Keeps the
Score, highlights how trauma is stored not just in memory but in
the body. Muscle tension, chronic pain, gastrointestinal issues, and
fatigue often reflect unprocessed trauma held somatically.

For many women who are externally successful, these somatic symptoms
are dismissed or treated as separate from emotional health. However,
trauma therapy that incorporates somatic awareness—such as Somatic
Experiencing or sensorimotor psychotherapy—helps release these bodily
imprints, restoring nervous system balance and emotional wellbeing.

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Composite Client Vignettes: Recognizing Trauma Beyond Productivity

Marisol, the Founder

Marisol is a 38-year-old tech company founder whose LinkedIn profile
reads like a success story. She leads a fast-growing startup, speaks at
conferences, and mentors emerging entrepreneurs. Yet beneath this
exterior, Marisol struggles with chronic exhaustion, insomnia, and a
gnawing sense of emptiness. She cycles between overworking and periods
of immobilizing anxiety. She has tried multiple productivity systems,
from bullet journaling to the Pomodoro technique, but nothing relieves
the internal pressure.

In therapy, Marisol uncovers a history of childhood emotional
neglect—her achievements were praised, but her feelings were dismissed
or ignored. Her nervous system remains stuck in a state of
hypervigilance, always scanning for threats of abandonment or failure.
Therapy helps Marisol learn to recognize her nervous system cues and
develop new strategies for safety and emotional regulation, beyond
productivity hacks.

Marisol’s journey illuminates how trauma shapes the internal landscape
beneath external success. Her story is a reminder that productivity
tools cannot heal what the nervous system has encoded as threat.

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Neha, the Physician

Neha is a 45-year-old pediatrician with a demanding schedule and a
reputation for clinical excellence. Despite her external competence,
Neha experiences intense feelings of guilt and shame when she pauses to
rest. She has tried time management apps and coaching programs but finds
herself exhausted and emotionally depleted. In therapy, Neha reveals a
history of narcissistic abuse in her family-of-origin, which shaped her
belief that rest equals weakness.

Through trauma therapy, Neha begins to rewire her internal messages,
learning to hold both her ambition and her need for self-compassion. She
practices somatic awareness to calm her nervous system and challenges
the internalized rules that perpetuate her drive at the expense of her
wellbeing.

Neha’s experience highlights the intersection of trauma with cultural
and familial narratives that valorize productivity over rest, often at
great personal cost.

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A New Composite: Rina, the Creative Director

Rina is a 42-year-old creative director at a major advertising firm.
She is known for her visionary ideas and relentless work ethic. Yet
Rina struggles with chronic migraines, emotional numbness, and a
persistent feeling of being “on edge.” She has tried meditation apps and
productivity planners but finds herself cycling between bursts of
intense work and emotional shutdown.

In therapy, Rina uncovers a history of relational trauma involving
emotional invalidation and inconsistent caregiving during her childhood.
Her nervous system oscillates between fight/flight and shutdown states,
making it difficult to sustain presence or connection.

Rina’s therapy integrates somatic practices, mindfulness, and
cognitive reframing. Over time, she learns to recognize early nervous
system cues and to create safety through boundaries and self-care
rituals. Her creativity flourishes as her internal world stabilizes.

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Both/And: Honoring Ambition While Healing Trauma

A common misconception is that trauma therapy means abandoning
ambition or productivity. In truth, trauma therapy and ambition are not
mutually exclusive—they are both/and. You can be
driven, accomplished, and competent on the outside while simultaneously
healing internal wounds and repairing nervous system dysregulation.
Trauma therapy does not dull your edge; it refines it.

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, MD, a pioneer in trauma research and author
of The Body Keeps the Score, emphasizes that healing trauma
restores the capacity for presence, creativity, and authentic
connection—qualities that enhance leadership and achievement [10].
Trauma therapy helps you reclaim your full self, integrating your inner
emotional world with your external goals.

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The Neuroscience of Integration: Healing Enhances Performance

Neuroscientific research reveals that a regulated nervous system
supports higher-order cognitive functions such as executive
decision-making, creativity, and emotional intelligence—all key to
effective leadership and productivity. When trauma is healed, the
prefrontal cortex regains its ability to modulate limbic system
reactivity, allowing clearer thinking and better stress management.

This means trauma therapy can enhance the very qualities that
productivity systems aim to optimize—but from the inside out, rather
than imposing external structure on internal chaos.

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Trauma Therapy as a Foundation for Sustainable Success

Many women discover that trauma therapy is not a detour from their
goals but a necessary foundation for sustainable success. Without
healing, the cycle of burnout, perfectionism, and self-criticism often
repeats. Trauma therapy offers tools to build resilience,
self-compassion, and authentic self-expression—qualities that fuel
long-term achievement and fulfillment.

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The Systemic Lens: Trauma Is More Than Individual

Healing trauma requires a systemic lens. Trauma is embedded not only
in individual nervous systems but also in relational patterns, family
legacies, and cultural narratives. This lens acknowledges how societal
expectations, gender roles, and professional cultures shape the
experience of trauma and recovery.

For example, women in leadership often face subtle invalidations or
microaggressions that reinforce trauma responses. The pressure to
perform flawlessly can echo childhood messages of conditional worth.
Recognizing these systemic forces helps contextualize individual
experience and informs trauma-informed leadership and parenting
practices.

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Cultural and Gendered Dimensions of Trauma

Societal narratives about productivity, worth, and femininity often
compound trauma. Women may internalize messages that to be valued they
must be endlessly productive, self-sacrificing, and emotionally
contained. These cultural scripts can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy
and shame, making trauma symptoms harder to recognize and treat.

In professional environments, women may also encounter gender-based
microaggressions, exclusion, or unrealistic expectations. These
experiences are forms of chronic stress that contribute to trauma
responses and nervous system dysregulation.

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Family Systems and Intergenerational Trauma

Trauma often runs in families, transmitted not only through genetics
but also through relational patterns and unspoken narratives.
Family-of-origin wounds—such as emotional neglect, abuse, or
enmeshment—shape core beliefs about safety, worth, and connection.

Exploring these dynamics in therapy can reveal how early relational
trauma informs adult behaviors and coping mechanisms, including the
reliance on productivity as a form of control or validation.

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A Practical Healing and Coaching Map

1. Recognize the Signs: Notice when productivity
   strategies feel like band-aids on deeper internal distress—persistent
   anxiety, emotional numbness, exhaustion, and relational
   difficulties.

2. Engage in Trauma-Informed Therapy: Seek therapy
   with a clinician trained in trauma modalities such as Somatic
   Experiencing (SE), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR),
   or Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) [2,12,14]. These approaches target
   nervous system regulation and relational healing.

3. Develop Somatic Awareness: Practice mindfulness
   and body-based techniques to track nervous system states and build
   capacity for regulation [3,11]. Techniques might include breathwork,
   grounding exercises, gentle movement, or body scans.

4. Reframe Internal Narratives: Work on shifting
   internalized messages about worth, rest, and success through cognitive
   and relational work. This includes identifying and challenging
   perfectionistic or self-critical thoughts.

5. Integrate Rest and Boundaries: Learn to hold
   ambition alongside self-care, creating sustainable rhythms that honor
   both. This may involve setting clear work-life boundaries, scheduling
   restorative breaks, and practicing saying no.

6. Address Systemic Influences: Explore
   family-of-origin wounds and societal narratives that shape trauma
   patterns. Therapy can help disentangle internalized cultural messages
   from your authentic self.

7. Expand Support Networks: Connect with
   communities that validate your experience and foster authentic
   connection [4]. Support groups, peer circles, or trauma-informed
   coaching can provide safe spaces for growth.

8. Cultivate Compassionate Self-Leadership: Develop
   leadership practices grounded in self-awareness, empathy, and
   resilience. Trauma-informed executive coaching can complement therapy by
   integrating healing with professional development.

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Deeper Clinical Vignettes: Nervous System Nuance in Healing

Case Study: Nina, the Senior Leader Navigating Shutdown

Nina, age 50, is a senior leader in finance. She reports feeling
“frozen” and unable to make decisions during high-pressure meetings,
despite her expertise. Her productivity apps are meticulously
maintained, yet she experiences emotional numbness and a sense of
disconnection from her team.

In therapy, Nina’s history of childhood emotional neglect emerges.
Her nervous system patterns reveal frequent dorsal vagal shutdown
responses under stress, a protective immobilization learned early in
life. Trauma therapy incorporates somatic techniques to gently activate
her ventral vagal system, fostering safety and social engagement.

Over months, Nina learns to recognize early shutdown cues and uses
grounding and breathwork to shift toward presence. Her leadership
presence strengthens as her nervous system regulation improves, allowing
authentic connection with colleagues and renewed confidence.

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Case Study: Leah, the Entrepreneur Healing Hyperarousal

Leah, a 33-year-old entrepreneur, experiences chronic anxiety,
irritability, and insomnia. She describes feeling “wired but tired” and
pushes through exhaustion with caffeine and strict schedules. Her
nervous system is predominantly in sympathetic hyperarousal, a
fight/flight state.

Trauma therapy focuses on somatic regulation, including paced
breathing, movement, and mindfulness to downregulate her nervous system.
Cognitive work addresses internalized beliefs that productivity equals
survival.

Leah gradually builds tolerance for rest and self-care, learning that
slowing down does not mean failure. Her nervous system gains
flexibility, improving emotional regulation and decision-making. Her
business thrives as she integrates rest with drive.

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A Clinical Map to Healing: Navigating Trauma Beyond Productivity

To move beyond the false promise that yet another productivity system will resolve your inner turmoil, it helps to have a clear clinical map of trauma and healing. This map guides us through the complex interplay of nervous system dysregulation, relational repair, and therapeutic integration.

It also clarifies why trauma therapy—such as the work offered through Therapy with Annie—can reach the core of your distress in ways coaching or self-help tools cannot.

The Polyvagal Perspective: Understanding Your Nervous System’s Role

At the heart of trauma lies the autonomic nervous system (ANS), the
body’s primal regulator of safety and survival. Dr. Stephen Porges’s
Polyvagal Theory revolutionizes our understanding by identifying three
neural circuits that respond to threat and safety: the ventral vagal
complex (social engagement system), the sympathetic nervous system
(mobilization/fight or flight), and the dorsal vagal complex
(shutdown/freezing) [3].

When trauma occurs, the nervous system becomes dysregulated and may
become stuck in defensive survival modes. For example, a client may
chronically activate sympathetic arousal—manifesting as anxiety,
irritability, and hypervigilance—or fall into dorsal vagal shutdown,
showing emotional numbness, dissociation, or depression. These states
are not choices but automatic nervous system responses to perceived
threat, often unconscious and outside of voluntary control.

Understanding this nervous system architecture helps explain why
productivity hacks fail to reach the root of the problem. Productivity
systems rely on the prefrontal cortex—the brain’s executive
center—functioning optimally. Yet trauma can hijack this system, making
focus and executive control difficult or impossible until the nervous
system feels safe and regulated again.

Clinical Vignette: Neha’s Journey from Overwhelm to Presence

Neha, a 42-year-old marketing director and mother of two, came to therapy with a familiar story: chronic overwhelm despite meticulous scheduling and time management apps. She described herself as “constantly on edge,” plagued by intrusive thoughts and a gnawing sense of inadequacy.

Her list of productivity tools was extensive, but none brought lasting relief. In sessions, Neha revealed a childhood marked by emotional neglect. Her mother was physically present but emotionally distant, often dismissing Neha’s feelings as “too sensitive.”

Physiologically, Neha’s body was in a persistent state of sympathetic
arousal. She reported tightness in her chest, rapid heartbeat, and
digestive upset—classic signs of chronic stress. Using somatic
experiencing techniques, therapy helped Neha tune into her body’s
sensations, identify moments when her nervous system was triggered, and
develop skills to down-regulate through breathwork and mindful
grounding.

Beyond symptom relief, therapy provided Neha with relational repair:
a corrective emotional experience where her feelings were validated and
attuned to, contrasting her earlier invalidation. Over months, Neha’s
nervous system recalibrated gradually, moving toward ventral vagal
activation—the state of social engagement and calm presence. This shift
allowed her to access her executive functions with more ease, rendering
productivity tools genuinely helpful rather than futile.

Neha’s story illustrates the clinical reality: trauma therapy
addresses the physiological and relational foundations necessary for
sustainable change, not just behavioral fixes.

The Body Holds the Score: Somatic and Autonomic Dimensions of Trauma

Trauma is stored not only in memories but in the body’s nervous
system circuitry. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s seminal work emphasizes that
trauma can manifest as chronic muscle tension, altered breathing
patterns, and disrupted autonomic rhythms. These somatic imprints often
underlie symptoms like insomnia, digestive issues, and chronic pain
[2].

Somatic Experiencing (SE), a body-oriented therapeutic approach
validated by randomized controlled trials [4], works directly with these
embodied experiences. By bringing mindful awareness to bodily sensations
and allowing the nervous system to complete incomplete defensive
responses, SE fosters the restoration of autonomic balance.

In clinical practice, integrating somatic methods with talk therapy
creates a premium therapeutic experience. For example, Therapy with
Annie incorporates body-based interventions alongside psychodynamic
exploration, allowing clients to access implicit trauma held in the body
and mind simultaneously.

Relational Repair: The Heart of Trauma Therapy

Trauma often fractures the capacity to trust and connect. This
rupture extends into adult relationships, where clients may struggle
with intimacy, boundaries, or chronic loneliness. Repairing these
relational wounds is a cornerstone of trauma therapy and cannot be
replicated by productivity systems or coaching alone.

The therapeutic relationship itself becomes a secure base—a
reparative attachment experience. Therapists attune to clients’
emotional states, model regulation, and provide consistent presence,
helping clients internalize new patterns of safety and connection [7].
This dynamic fosters neuroplasticity, enabling new neural pathways that
support emotional regulation and self-compassion.

For example, Annie Wright’s trauma-informed approach includes
empathic validation and nuanced exploration of family-of-origin
dynamics, helping clients rewrite the internal scripts that perpetuate
self-criticism and relational distrust.

Premium-Therapy Nuance: Beyond Symptom Reduction

While symptom reduction is a vital goal, premium trauma therapy aims
for deep transformation. This means moving beyond “managing” symptoms to
cultivating a profound sense of embodied safety, agency, and
integration. Clients learn to recognize their autonomic states, respond
with self-compassion, and engage life from a place of grounded presence
rather than reactive survival.

Such transformation requires a layered approach:

• Psychoeducation about trauma and the nervous system
  to demystify symptoms and empower self-understanding.
• Somatic interventions to regulate the nervous
  system and release held tension.
• Psychodynamic work to explore unconscious
  relational patterns and internalized trauma.
• Attachment-based relational repair to rebuild trust
  and emotional availability.
• Mindfulness and grounding practices to cultivate
  moment-to-moment presence.
• Integration of identity and values to reconnect
  clients with their authentic selves beyond trauma narratives.

This comprehensive approach is reflected in Therapy with Annie’s
commitment to individualized care, combining evidence-based modalities
tailored to each client’s unique history and needs.

Recognizing When Trauma Therapy Is the Right Path

If you find yourself caught in a cycle of relentless self-improvement
strategies that leave you feeling more exhausted, disconnected, or
emotionally overwhelmed, it may be time to consider trauma therapy. Some
signs include:

• Persistent anxiety, irritability, or hypervigilance despite
  lifestyle changes.
• Emotional numbness, dissociation, or difficulty feeling
  “present.”
• Chronic physical symptoms without clear medical cause.
• Difficulty maintaining satisfying relationships or setting
  boundaries.
• A pervasive sense of unworthiness or internalized
  self-criticism.
• Repetitive patterns of overworking or perfectionism driven by fear
  rather than joy.

Choosing trauma therapy does not mean abandoning your ambitions or
productivity goals. Rather, it means building the internal foundation to
pursue those goals from a place of safety, resilience, and
authenticity.

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Integrating Therapy with Life: Beyond the Office

Trauma therapy is not an isolated event but a lived process. Many
clients find that therapy naturally complements other growth pathways,
including executive coaching or Fixing the Foundations programs that
address practical skills and lifestyle changes. However, without the
groundwork of trauma resolution, these efforts may feel like patchwork
over persistent emotional wounds.

For instance, a client may engage in Executive Coaching to enhance
leadership skills but discover that unresolved trauma triggers overwhelm
in high-stakes situations. Therapy provides the container to explore and
heal these triggers, making coaching more effective. Similarly, Connect
groups offer relational practice and community support, reinforcing
therapeutic gains.

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Final Thoughts: The Courage to Choose Healing

Choosing trauma therapy is an act of profound courage and
self-compassion. It invites you to pause the relentless pursuit of
productivity and listen deeply to what your body and heart have been
signaling all along. It honors your ambition by recognizing that true
achievement flows from integration and wholeness, not fragmentation and
exhaustion.

If the internal heaviness you carry resists every productivity hack,
the invitation is to step into trauma therapy with Annie—where your
story is met with warmth, clinical expertise, and a roadmap toward
lasting freedom and connection.

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If you resonate with this journey and wish to explore trauma
therapy, visit Therapy with
Annie to learn more about personalized healing
pathways.

Related Reading and PubMed Citations

1. Redican E, Nolan E, Hyland P, Cloitre M, McBride O, Karatzias T. A
   systematic literature review of factor analytic and mixture models of
   ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD using the International Trauma Questionnaire.
   J Anxiety Disord. 2021; PMID: 33714868. DOI:
   10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102381.
2. Brom D, Stokar Y, Lawi C, Nuriel-Porat V, Ziv Y, Lerner K. Somatic
   Experiencing for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled
   Outcome Study. J Trauma Stress. 2017; PMID: 28585761. DOI:
   10.1002/jts.22189.
3. Andersen TE, Lahav Y, Ellegaard H, Manniche C. A randomized
   controlled trial of brief Somatic Experiencing for chronic low back pain
   and comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Eur J
   Psychotraumatol. 2017; PMID: 28680540. DOI:
   10.1080/20008198.2017.1331108.
4. Fetzner MG, Asmundson GJ. Aerobic Exercise Reduces Symptoms of
   Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Cogn
   Behav Ther. 2015; PMID: 24911173. DOI:
   10.1080/16506073.2014.916745.
5. Siciliano RE, Anderson AS, Compas BE. Autonomic nervous system
   correlates of posttraumatic stress symptoms in youth: Meta-analysis and
   qualitative review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2022; PMID: 35078039.
   DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102125.
6. Terr LC. Treating childhood trauma. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin
   N Am. 2013; PMID: 23164127. DOI: 10.1016/j.chc.2012.08.003.
7. Poli A, Gemignani A, Soldani F, Miccoli M. A Systematic Review of a
   Polyvagal Perspective on Embodied Contemplative Practices as Promoters
   of Cardiorespiratory Coupling and Traumatic Stress Recovery for PTSD and
   OCD. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; PMID: 34831534.
   DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182211778.
8. Cuijpers P, van Veen SC, Sijbrandij M, Yoder W, Cristea IA. Eye
   movement desensitization and reprocessing for mental health problems: a
   systematic review and meta-analysis. Cogn Behav Ther. 2020;
   PMID: 32043428. DOI: 10.1080/16506073.2019.1703801.
9. Stuart S, Schultz J, Molina AP, Siber-Sanderowitz S. Interpersonal
   Psychotherapy: A Review of Theory, History, and Evidence of Efficacy.
   Psychodyn Psychiatry. 2024; PMID: 39254940. DOI:
   10.1521/pdps.2024.52.3.370.

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Notes on books/textbooks informed the draft

• van der Kolk, Bessel A. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind,
  and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking, 2014.
• Terr, Lenore C. Treating Childhood Trauma. Child and
  Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 2013.
• Porges, Stephen W. The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological
  Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and
  Self-Regulation. Norton, 2011.
• Cloitre, Marylene et al. Treating Complex PTSD: A
  Trauma-Informed Approach. Guilford Press, 2012.

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References

[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33714868/
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28585761/
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28680540/
[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24911173/
[5] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35078039/
[10] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23164127/
[11] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34831534/
[12] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32043428/
[14] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39254940/

Therapy with Annie: https://anniewright.com/therapy-with-annie/
Executive Coaching: https://anniewright.com/executive-coaching/
Fixing the Foundations: https://anniewright.com/fixing-the-foundations/
Connect: https://anniewright.com/connect/

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