ISSUES

Understanding Complex PTSD (CPTSD)

 
Woman in psychotherapy to treat CPTSD

A Multilayered Experience Deserving Expert Care

CPTSD develops from prolonged or repeated trauma, occurring in childhood or in relationships where escape wasn’t possible. Unlike PTSD, CPTSD stems from sustained exposure to distressing experiences like emotional neglect, abuse, or ongoing relational harm. This can profoundly shape a person’s sense of self, relationships, and emotional regulation.

Whether you're healing from childhood trauma, relational wounds, or long-term stress, we offer an affirming space to process your experiences, regulate your nervous system, and build a deeper sense of safety and self-trust.

 
 
 
 

Signs and Symptoms of CPTSD

CPTSD can manifest in many ways, often impacting emotional, psychological, and relational well-being. Common symptoms include:

  • Deep-seated shame and low self-worth

  • Chronic emotional dysregulation (intense mood swings, emotional numbness)

  • Persistent feelings of emptiness or detachment

  • Hypervigilance and difficulty trusting others

  • Difficulty managing relationships due to fear of abandonment or rejection

  • Intrusive thoughts or memories of past trauma

  • Physical symptoms such as chronic pain, headaches, or digestive issues

  • Dissociation, or feeling disconnected from oneself or reality

CPTSD can make daily life feel overwhelming, leading to exhaustion, anxiety, or self-doubt in navigating relationships and work.

Who is Affected by CPTSD?

CPTSD can affect anyone, but certain groups are at higher risk due to systemic oppression, marginalization, or ongoing exposure to harm. Individuals who have experienced childhood abuse, witness to or experience surviving domestic violence, racial trauma, or institutional harm may be more likely to develop CPTSD.

It’s important to know that healing is possible, and therapy can be a critical step toward reclaiming safety, self-trust, and empowerment.

Our Approach to CPTSD

Healing from CPTSD requires an approach that is both gentle and integrative, allowing survivors to regain a sense of safety in their bodies and relationships. At Amanda Neves Therapy, we use a blend of somatic, attachment-based, and cognitive approaches to help clients process trauma at a sustainable pace.

  • Nervous System Regulation: We prioritize building tolerance for body-based experiences because for trauma survivors, connecting with emotions or physical sensations can feel overwhelming. Techniques from somatic therapy and polyvagal theory help clients gradually restore a sense of calm and safety.

  • Reworking Relational Patterns: CPTSD often impacts relationships, so we use Attachment-Focused Therapy and Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) to foster self-compassion, repair relational wounds, and develop healthier interpersonal connections.

  • Integrating Cognitive and Parts Work: We draw from Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients recognize inner critical voices, shift unhelpful narratives, and develop a more grounded sense of self.

  • A Trauma-Informed, Anti-Oppressive Lens: We acknowledge the impact of systemic trauma and take a power-with stance, rather than a top-down approach, ensuring that therapy is collaborative and affirming of each client’s lived experience.

What to Expect: First Therapy Session Treating CPTSD

Your first session at Amanda Neves Therapy is about creating a foundation of safety and trust. We will explore what brings you to therapy and work together to identify immediate and long-term goals. Therapy moves at your pace and there is no rush to revisit traumatic memories before you feel ready. Our goal is to help you build emotional regulation skills, self-compassion, and a deeper sense of stability before diving into deeper processing work. We don't want to re-experience trauma, but to allow your nervous system to have a different experience in relation to your very difficult history.

Moving Forward

Living with CPTSD can feel isolating, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Therapy can help you reclaim a sense of self that is not defined by trauma. If you’re ready to begin, reach out today to connect with a therapist who understands.

We offer in-person therapy at our Toronto office and secure online therapy across Ontario. Not sure who to book with? Use our Meet Your Match process to find a therapist who fits your needs. Contact us below today to take the first step toward healing.