When Present-Day Stress Reactivates Old Wounds: Therapy for Trauma Triggers in Falls Church, VA
It has been a horrifying start to 2026. And that’s an understatement, to be honest. For children of immigrants, who have watched their parents flee terror, the fear and the questions of safety are reaching new heights. I hear you. As a child of immigrants myself, I have felt devastated and anxious and furious and frozen at times. But these experiences don’t have to build up, exist in isolation, or feel helpless and hopeless. Let’s give these reactions permission to be, and see how we can take care of them a little more compassionately. Therapy for trauma triggers in Falls Church, VA, can be a helpful space for that.
Why is my anxiety ruling my life?
Anxiety is telling you a message about things you “should” be afraid of that “might” happen. Anxiety has its best intentions in trying to keep you safe, and sometimes it does a great job, and at other times, it makes it very hard to function.
When your daily life genuinely feels more uncertain and less secure, that anxiety can take hold and make your logical brain feel less present. That’s how a survival response works in response to a threat.
But in an ongoing crisis or felt crisis, where you need to be a parent, go to work, and function in a “seemingly normal” way that is actually not, in fact, normal, that survival response can’t exactly rule your world. So what can you do? As a trauma therapist at Nurturing Willow Psychotherapy, I’m here to help you navigate this journey.
What can I do to manage my trauma triggers right now in response to the current political turmoil?
Find people who normalize and validate your feelings. If you are in a lot of spaces where your feelings are minimized, this can accentuate your stress levels dramatically. Finding people with whom you can have meaningful, mutual, and loving conversations can be soothing and powerful.
Take breaks. Yes, be active and be an activist. And in order to keep going, take some breaks to prevent burnout. This can look like: scheduling social media and news breaks for certain times of day, engaging in play and relaxation, and making time for joyful activities—remember that joy is also an act of resistance in the face of threat
Engage in therapy. No trauma therapy can fix the world, but it can give you a safe space to process how your trauma triggers are showing up in the present and give you a space to manage those triggers. This can be true for individual therapy, group therapy, or both. Working with a trauma therapist in a space where you can be heard in a world that expects you to pretend like everything is fine can be deeply meaningful to your body and mind.
Begin Your Healing Journey with Childhood Trauma Therapy
At Nurturing Willow Psychotherapy, we provide trauma-informed, compassionate care designed to help you feel safe, reconnect with your inner resilience, and rediscover your authentic self.
How to get started:
Book your complimentary 15-minute consultation call below.
Complete a short pre-consultation form.
Meet with trauma therapist Alice Zic to explore your needs and goals.
Begin your path to healing through personalized childhood trauma therapy.
In-Person Counseling in New Orleans
Nurturing Willow Psychotherapy provides in-person therapy sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in New Orleans, Louisiana. We support clients across the Greater New Orleans area who are seeking to heal from childhood trauma, navigate the effects of parentification, or address teen anxiety. Our Mid-City New Orleans office offers a welcoming and easily accessible space where you can begin your journey toward emotional well-being and growth.
Virtual Childhood Trauma Therapy in Virginia
Online therapy makes it easy to begin childhood trauma therapy from the comfort of your own space. As a licensed therapist in Virginia, I work with clients throughout the state, providing professional support wherever you are. All you need is a private, quiet space, an internet connection, and a device to connect, no commuting or traffic stress involved. Start your healing journey today by scheduling a complimentary consultation call below.
Other Online Therapy Services We Offer at Nurturing Willow Psychotherapy
In addition to childhood trauma therapy, Nurturing Willow Psychotherapy offers virtual support for teen anxiety across Connecticut, Virginia, and Louisiana. We also provide mother-daughter family therapy, available both online and in person, as well as in-person counseling in New Orleans. Whether you are addressing parentification, helping a teen navigate emotional overwhelm, or healing from childhood neglect, our practice offers a supportive, nonjudgmental environment for care in CT, VA, and LA.
Meet Alice Zic, Licensed Childhood Trauma Therapist
Alice Zic, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker based in New Orleans, Louisiana. She offers virtual therapy throughout Louisiana, Connecticut, and Virginia, in addition to in-person sessions in New Orleans. Alice specializes in supporting perfectionistic, mother-wounded children of immigrants as they heal from childhood trauma and grow into confident, capable adults.
Her work is grounded in attachment-based therapy, with advanced training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Ego States Therapy. These trauma-informed approaches help clients integrate mind and body, process hurt and self-critical parts, and nurture reparenting of wounded inner selves.
As a child of immigrants, Alice has a particular passion for supporting those affected by intergenerational and immigration-related trauma. She helps clients repair attachment wounds from the past while addressing present-day emotional triggers.