Skip to content

Written by Online therapist Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, Ph.D.

Healing Trauma with Compassion

THIS WEEK’S CONVERSATION

Healing Trauma with Compassion

Trauma leaves a mark, but compassion helps us rewrite the story. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this conversation with Beverly Hills Magazine explores how early experiences shape emotional life and how reflection, connection, and care can foster healing across generations.

Good to see you,

Trauma shapes all of us, sometimes in ways we don’t even realize. In my recent conversation with Beverly Hills Magazine, we explored how early experiences, family dynamics, and even generational influences impact the way we feel, relate, and grow.

This week, I share insights from my work helping clients of all ages, and together we discuss practical ways to process trauma, build emotional resilience, and create meaningful connections.

In this feature, we talk about:

If you’ve ever wondered how your past impacts your present, or how to support others in processing theirs, this conversation offers both insight and practical guidance for growth.

🎧 Read the full feature and listen here

If you’re navigating trauma, emotional overwhelm, or relational challenges, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support healing, resilience, and connection.

related blog post by Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, Ph.D.

Read more of my stories and reflections

summer friends, two boys discovering the power of playing games and speaking while a parent watches patiently, symbolizing raising Boys’ Emotional Development, of boys cry, and emotional disconnection in Maryland and DC.

Summer Friends | A Reflection on Camp Adventures and Short‑Term Bonds

The Magic of Summer Friends, the Camp, the Adventure of Youth, and the Sweetness of Short‑Term Bonds Remember camp? What an adventure! What was yours like? One version is rustic. The cabins are made of old logs, and you can write on the walls to your heart’s content. Each cabin
Read My Post
Participants engaged in active listening during mediation thinking about while change feels hard during childhood, illustrating brain wiring, Emotional Healing, and mediation skills in online therapy in Maryland and DC.

I Scream, You Scream | A Reflection on Ice Cream Memories and Summer Joy

I Scream – The Sweet Treat That Unlocks a Lifetime of Summer Memories Raise your hand if you recognize this! In 1927, this little ditty became a classic and a tongue-twister challenge. For me, it brings back great memories associated with this summer treat. My grandmother’s ice cream churn would
Read My Post
A woman studying on round table next to appliances which Influences Connection and Conversation , symbolizing compassion and the origins of civilization in Maryland and DC.

How Table Shape Influences Connection and Conversation

How the Shape of a Table Shapes the Way We Relate and Influence Connection and Conversation Have you ever paused to consider why some tables are round and others are rectangular? My parents grew up in farming communities where long rectangular tables were the norm — the kind you’d see
Read My Post
A woman drawn to reflect the soul with a pink sunset on July 4th, symbolizing gender norms, Dolly Parton, and emotional reflection and in Maryland and DC.

Dolly Parton | A Reflection on Faith, Service, and Lifelong Values

Dolly’s Life of Sparkle, Service, and Unshakeable Values The celebration of this life is truly appropriate. She was an unusual woman. When poverty is your beginning, you do not tend to go far. The faith of her family was both an anchor and a hope. One cannot discount the importance
Read My Post