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🌳Childhood Trauma & Parenting

What happened to you shapes how you parent. That's not a flaw β€” it's a place to start.

"I swore I'd be different from my parents. Then I heard myself say the exact same thing they said to me."
βœ“See a specialist this weekβœ“PMH-C Certified Therapistsβœ“Telehealth Β· see anyone from home

No commitment. We'll confirm your coverage before your first session.

You might benefit from therapy if…

  • βœ“You hear yourself say or do something your parent did and it stops you cold
  • βœ“You're reactive in ways with your child that don't feel like the parent you want to be
  • βœ“Your own childhood had abuse, neglect, addiction, mental illness, or chronic instability, and it's showing up now
  • βœ“You feel triggered by specific developmental stages or behaviors in your child
  • βœ“You're afraid of repeating what was done to you, and the fear itself is interfering
  • βœ“You haven't done much therapy on your past and parenting is making it impossible to ignore
Dr. Emily Guarnotta

Dr. Emily Guarnotta

Psychologist & Founder

From our founder

Becoming a parent is one of the most common reasons people finally do their childhood work. The patterns that ran your adult life quietly start showing up in ways you can't ignore once a small human is depending on you. The work to change them is meaningful for you, and it ripples forward into your child's life in ways you may never fully see.

What therapy looks like

Therapy here blends trauma-focused approaches like EMDR, Trauma-Focused CBT, or Internal Family Systems with present-day parenting work. Most Phoenix Health therapists hold PMH-C certification, and several have additional training in complex trauma. Early sessions usually map both your childhood and your current parenting picture: where the trauma is, where the triggers are, and what kind of parent you want to be. From there the work typically moves between processing past trauma and applying what you're learning to current moments with your child. Many clients describe a slow but durable shift in how they react under pressure. This work usually takes longer than symptom-focused therapy. Many clients work for 6 to 12 months or longer, partly because the trauma piece and the parenting piece deepen each other. The improvements tend to be cumulative and lasting.

Our Childhood Trauma & Parenting specialists

Most Phoenix Health therapists hold PMH-C certification β€” the gold standard in perinatal mental health.

Real clients. Real relief.

What our clients say about their experience.

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β€œ"My parents weren't abusive in the ways people recognize. It was more that I never felt safe or seen as a child. Becoming a parent cracked something open in me about what that had cost me. My therapist helped me grieve the childhood I needed and didn't have, which turned out to be what let me give my son a different one."”

β€” parent healing

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β€œ"I swore I would parent differently than I was parented. And I was, mostly, until I was exhausted enough that the old patterns came out. That terrified me more than anything. My therapist helped me understand the difference between breaking a pattern and never having it, and gave me tools to interrupt it before it lands."”

β€” mom of 2

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β€œ"I knew I'd had a hard childhood. What I didn't know was that having my son would bring all of it back at volume. A specific tone of voice would set me off. A moment of frustration would spiral into shame I recognized from being small. My therapist helped me understand what was being triggered and gave me tools so my son doesn't have to live inside my history."”

β€” mom of 1

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β€œI had done therapy years ago and thought I was fine. My son turned three and I started reacting to him in ways I hated. My therapist helped me see what age I was when my own stuff started, and we worked there. Now I can stay present with my son even when he's pushing every old button I have.”

β€” Hayley, mom of one

Expert care.
Covered by insurance.

We're in-network with major plans in 10 states so you can receive care without financial stress.

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Most clients pay less than $20 per session.

We verify your benefits before your first session β€” no surprises on cost.

Accepted Insurance Networks

Aetna
Blue Cross Blue Shield
UnitedHealthcare
Cigna
Anthem
+9 more

Ready to start Childhood Trauma & Parenting therapy? Here’s how it works.

The whole process takes about 5 minutes. We handle insurance β€” you just show up.

  1. 1

    Book your free call

    A quick 15-minute chat to hear what you're going through, answer your questions, and make sure we're a great fit for your needs. No cost, no commitment.

  2. 2

    Get matched

    We'll pair you with the right specialist for your specific situation. We'll also check your insurance, so you know your exact cost per session before moving forward.

  3. 3

    Start your first session

    Meet your therapist from the comfort of home. No commute, no waiting rooms, no judgment. Most clients notice a real difference within just 2 to 3 sessions.

No commitment Β· Most insurance accepted Β· Available this week

Common questions

  • Yes. Trauma is not only about specific events. Chronic emotional neglect, inconsistent caregiving, parental mental illness, or growing up in a high-stress household can leave deep imprints. Many clients arrive convinced their childhood "wasn't that bad" and then discover, in the consulting room, how much of their adult life is shaped by it.
  • Not necessarily. The work is about understanding what happened and how it shows up now, not about prescribing what your relationship should look like today. Some clients change boundaries with family, some don't. That's your call, made with much more clarity than you have now.
  • Yes, and the fact that you're even asking the question is a strong protective factor. Parents who actively work on their own patterns are dramatically less likely to repeat them. This is exactly the kind of work that breaks cycles.
  • Becoming a parent activates a lot of early material. Old attachment patterns, fears around vulnerability, identification with or fear of becoming your own parent, and body memories around caregiving all surface. Many people who never had clear trauma symptoms find they emerge in postpartum, sometimes for the first time.
  • PMH-C (Perinatal Mental Health Certification) is awarded by Postpartum Support International (PSI) to clinicians who have completed advanced training in perinatal mental health β€” covering postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, birth trauma, and related conditions. It represents the gold standard of specialization in this field.
  • If you're struggling β€” with your mood, your thoughts, your relationship, or just how you're coping β€” that's enough of a reason to talk to someone. You don't need a diagnosis. A free consultation is a low-commitment first step.

From the Phoenix Health resource center

Articles and guides about childhood trauma & parenting

What Therapy for Childhood Trauma Looks Like When You're a Parent

Trauma therapy for parents is different from trauma therapy in other contexts. It accounts for the parenting relationship, the triggers that come with it, and what healing allows.

Read article β†’

Finding a Therapist for Childhood Trauma When You're Now a Parent

Therapy for childhood trauma in the context of parenting requires someone who understands both. Here's what to look for and what to expect.

Read article β†’

Why Childhood Trauma Survivors Often Resist Getting Parenting Support

When your own childhood was hard, asking for help with parenting can feel like admitting you're repeating it. That fear is a barrier β€” not a reason to stay silent.

Read article β†’

Trusted by leading voices in parenting and mental health

OBs, doulas, and pediatricians refer their patients to us because we specialize in maternal mental health.

  • Parents.com
  • Postpartum Support International
  • Healthline
  • HuffPost
  • Fatherly
  • Choosing Therapy

The sooner you start,
the sooner you'll
feel like yourself again.

You've been surviving. It's time to start healing.

No commitment Β· Covered by insurance Β· Available this week

Learning resources

🌳Read our Childhood Trauma & Parenting guides β†’

Often goes alongside

πŸ’­Postpartum AnxietyπŸ’”Birth TraumaπŸ”₯Parental Burnout