Madelyn Smith, LCSWA
Somatic Trauma Therapist
Have you been told you are “too much”?
Too sensitive.
Too emotional.
Too intense.
Too reactive.
Or maybe you have internalized it. Maybe you have learned to shrink yourself, over-explain yourself, or disconnect from your body just to feel acceptable.
You are not too much. Your nervous system has been carrying more than it should have had to.
I work with adults who feel overwhelmed, overstimulated, chronically anxious, or deeply exhausted from holding everything together. Many of my clients are neurodivergent, highly sensitive, parents and caregivers, or people who learned early on that their needs were inconvenient.
Together, we focus not just on what you think, but on what your body has been holding.
Somatic Therapy and Brainspotting
My primary modality is Brainspotting, a deeply somatic, brain-body trauma therapy. Brainspotting works directly with the nervous system and subcortical brain to access and process trauma that is stored in the body.
When we experience overwhelming events, our nervous system can get stuck in survival responses such as fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. Even years later, your body may still respond as if you are not safe.
Brainspotting allows us to:
- Track body sensations
- Notice nervous system activation
- Gently access stored trauma
- Release patterns that talk therapy alone cannot reach
This is not about rehashing every detail of your story. It is about helping your body finally complete what it could not complete at the time.
Somatic therapy means we work with your breath, muscle tension, eye position, and felt sense. We slow down. We listen to your nervous system. We allow healing to happen at the pace your body needs.
What Healing Can Look Like
Clients often begin to notice:
- Less reactivity and overwhelm
- More capacity to tolerate emotion
- Feeling grounded instead of constantly on edge
- Greater self-trust
- A softer relationship with themselves
Instead of feeling “too much,” you may begin to feel integrated, regulated, and fully yourself.
My Approach
My style is warm, collaborative, and attuned. I integrate:
- Brainspotting for somatic trauma processing
- Parts work and Internal Family Systems informed work
- Nervous system regulation strategies
- Trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming care
I believe your symptoms make sense. I believe your nervous system adapted intelligently. And I believe healing happens when we stop trying to fix you and start listening to your body.
About Me
I am neurodivergent with AuDHD and CPTSD, a cisgender woman using she and her pronouns, a mother of humans and dogs, and someone who understands what it feels like to move through the world as “too much.”
I bring humor, compassion, humility, and honesty into our work. All parts of you are welcome here, especially the parts you were told to quiet down.
Begin Trauma Therapy with Brainspotting by telehealth in North Carolina
If you are looking for somatic therapy or Brainspotting in North Carolina and want to work with someone who understands intensity, sensitivity, and the deep exhaustion of holding it all together, I would be honored to support you. You do not have to shrink anymore.
Ready to start? Contact me today to schedule a consultation or learn more about Brainspotting.
