My Clinical Approach
My Training and Approach
Anna Pemberton Trauma Therapist in Baltimore Specializing in Perinatal and Maternal Mental Health, Brainspotting and Addiction
I often work with mental health professionals, as well as experienced therapy clients who are looking for a therapist with a deeper level of specialized knowledge and clinical expertise. In my work as a trauma therapist focusing on perinatal and parenting populations, I’ve found that it can be helpful to be transparent about the training, education, and clinical experience that inform how I understand trauma and how I practice.
My approach is grounded in specialized somatic focused trauma training, 11 years of practicing and a deep understanding of the ways adverse experiences, environmental failures and attachment or developmental wounding can intersect with fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum experiences, and the many transitions and challenges of parenthood. I bring this lens into the room while also recognizing that every person’s experience is unique—and that meaningful therapy requires curiosity, collaboration, and space for complexity.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE HERE I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend my days than being with people who want to make their lives better. People who still hold hope - even if it feels small - in the possibility of change. I find my clients to be relatable, interesting, creative, fun, funny and endlessly resourceful. I am often reminded in sessions of the power of humor, what is good in the world and our human capacity to find light in the darkness.
Post traumatic growth is essentially the belief that change is possible. And that we can nurture this growth by an ongoing commitment to our healing journey. When we attend to our own needs, connect with others, continue learning, and trust in our ability to take meaningful action, we deepen our self-understanding. Through this process, we begin to create a sense of purpose—and make meaning of our lives and the experiences that have shaped us.
If you’re looking for a therapist who can meet you with warmth, presence and clinical depth, and this approach resonates with you, please reach out.
Hi I’m Anna Pemberton and I became a trauma therapist because I believe that we are able to heal from the worst things that have happened to us.
I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend my days than being with people who want to make their lives better. People who still hold hope - even if it feels small - in the possibility of change. I find my clients to be relatable, interesting, creative, fun, funny and endlessly resourceful. I am often reminded in sessions of the power of humor, what is good in the world and our human capacity to find light in the darkness.
Post traumatic growth is essentially the belief that change is possible. And that we can nurture this growth by an ongoing commitment to our healing journey. When we attend to our own needs, connect with others, continue learning, and trust in our ability to take meaningful action, we deepen our self-understanding. Through this process, we begin to create a sense of purpose—and make meaning of our lives and the experiences that have shaped us.
I like the words of actor and comedian, Brett Goldstein, “The impossibility of existence is - it’s hard to square the magical things and the terrible things.” And yet we do.
I am a Maryland LCPC and owner of the Baltimore based private practice, Curious Presence, LLC. I'm a certified Brainspotting and Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) psychotherapist specializing in attachment-focused trauma therapy.
I've spent the last decade plus specializing in working with women who've experienced trauma and the last 6 years focused on supporting birth givers managing the challenges of their reproductive journey. I'm passionate about caring for those navigating the complexity of this season of life and the depth it brings it the human experience. I believe this work fundamentally benefits the greater family system and communities as a whole.
My approach incorporates IFS/parts work, Brainspotting, EMDR, attachment theory, mindful self compassion and somatic practices. I’ve seen firsthand how doing subcortical processing work and somatic tools can support and regulate the nervous system, allowing people to reconnect with their authentic selves and live with greater wholeness. Often, this journey also requires unlearning patterns and beliefs that were modeled in the environments we grew up in. For me, post-traumatic growth begins with coming home to the body—learning to listen to its signals and stay present with the wisdom it holds.
Not sure what to expect from working with a somatic trauma therapist in Baltimore?
As traditional Western medicine and modern psychological research increasingly affirm the profound impact of somatic, body-based therapies, one truth grows ever clearer: talking alone can’t fully heal what lives in the body. While language helps us make sense of our stories, it often bypasses the deeper, felt experiences where trauma and emotional pain is stored. If we stay cognitive and analyzing our pain we risks missing most of what’s fueling it. Long before science caught up, ancient cultures understood this—true healing is not just spoken—it’s embodied.
It’s experiential practice - not insight alone - that informs lasting change.
In our work together, you'll develop a deeper connection with your inner landscape—gaining insight into the experiences that have shaped you, and discovering the ongoing opportunity to choose how you wish to show up in the world. Many clients continue therapy as the work deepens and to be cared for in this season of life. Others chose short term work and return for services when they face their next challenge.
I know it can feel like a big step to contact a therapist, but often this is the hardest step - knowing we need help and asking for it. We’ll spend 15-minutes on the phone or have a brief video consultation and I’ll let you know how I can help. If I am not the right person, I’ll do my best to get you to the right person.
The first step is to schedule a consultation here. We’ll get your questions answered and get to work.
When you're ready, I'm here—schedule your no-cost trauma therapy consultation in Baltimore
Frequently Asked Questions About Working with a Trauma Therapist in Baltimore
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If previous therapy hasn’t worked for you, and/or you struggle with any of the following symptoms—many of which align with updated language from PTSD and Complex PTSD diagnostic criteria—it may be time to explore trauma-informed care:
Flashbacks, nightmares, or being easily triggered
Intrusive thoughts about distressing events, often surfacing at inconvenient times
Physical symptoms or chronic pain that may reflect unresolved childhood trauma (somatization)
Withdrawing or isolating from others
Avoiding people, places, or situations that serve as reminders of past trauma
Using alcohol, substances, food, work, or caretaking to numb or avoid difficult feelings
Perfectionism or intense self-criticism as a way to control emotional discomfort or “messiness”
Hypervigilance—feeling constantly “on guard,” easily startled
Heightened sensitivity to perceived threat in others’ body language, facial expressions, or tone of voice
Needing an “escape plan” or constantly scanning for exits
Expecting the worst or feeling the need to prepare for self-protection
Frequent crying or emotional overwhelm
Taking a long time to recover from stressful events
Persistent feelings of anger, irritability, anxiety, or panic
Feeling hopeless, depressed, emotionally numb, or unable to experience joy
Holding painful core beliefs such as: “There’s something wrong with me,” “I’m broken,” “I’m bad,” “No one loves me,” or “I can’t trust anyone”
Little or no hope for the future
Ongoing feelings of shame, guilt, or unworthiness
Struggling to find a stable sense of self, purpose, or meaning in life
Avoiding relationships or having difficulty trusting others
Relying too heavily on others or fearing abandonment
Repeatedly choosing unsafe or harmful relationships; re-enacting old emotional wounds
Being reactive, defensive, blaming, or resistant to hearing others’ perspectives
If any of these resonate with you, know that you're not alone—and that healing is possible with the right support.
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Seek help as soon as you start struggling—research shows that the earlier trauma-informed interventions are applied, the better the outcomes.
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While I believe there are many paths to healing, it's important to work with an experienced provider who is trained in trauma. Because trauma is often stored in the body and not always accessible through memory or language, engaging the physical body is a crucial part of the healing process. To support you in finding the right provider, check out my blog series on 'Finding a Therapist in Baltimore' for guidance and deeper insight.
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The therapist you “click” with matters most. Research consistently shows that, regardless of the therapeutic modality, the strongest predictor of progress in treatment is the quality of the therapeutic relationship.
Take the time to schedule consultations—notice who you feel comfortable with, who you can imagine opening up to, and who creates a sense of ease in the room. These first impressions are valuable starting points as you make your decision. If you’re not sure you are making the progress you want, check out my blog about How To Tell If Therapy Is Working.
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A trauma-informed therapist considers the impact of abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction within the context of an individual's unique lived experience—and how those early experiences continue to influence their sense of self, relationships, and engagement with the world.
In my experience, it’s equally important that a trauma therapist can widen the ‘trauma aperture’ to include the effects of adverse community experiences such as poverty, discrimination, violence, patriarchy, colonization, enslavement, and genocide. A skilled trauma-informed therapist recognizes the significance of how trauma is stored in the body—often below the level of conscious awareness—and brings a calm, attuned, and grounded presence as individuals access, reprocess, and begin to heal from the past experiences that contribute to present-day distress.
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While I don’t believe there’s a one-size-fits-all approach to healing—nor a single modality that works for everyone—I’ve found parts work to be valuable with all of my clients. It helps give voice to complex emotional experiences that may not align with what seems "rational," and is especially powerful for those healing from attachment and developmental trauma.
I'm trained in EMDR and FLASH, and have found these techniques particularly helpful for clients who are more visual and responsive to structured reprocessing methods. That said, as a clinician, I strongly prefer Brainspotting. It’s gentle, client-guided, and less structured or cognitively driven, which naturally creates more room for uncertainty, curiosity, and possibility. I deeply appreciate the intuitive nature of this modality and have adapted techniques for clients who struggle to feel sensations in their body or worry about “doing it right.”
No matter the modality, focused mindfulness and tracking sensation and emotion—core components of many trauma-processing approaches—are woven into every session I facilitate.
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55 minute sessions are $200.
In-person and online Trauma Therapy in Baltimore, MD
My office is conveniently located in Catonsville, MD situated between Ellicott City, Columbia, Elkridge, Glen Burnie and Baltimore, MD. Can’t make it into the office? No worries! I’ve got you covered with online trauma therapy in Maryland.