Trauma Therapy for the Lasting Impact of Emotionally Unsafe Relationships
You may look fine on the outside while feeling chronically unsure inside, second-guessing yourself even when something feels off.
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This often develops after long periods of emotional minimization, psychological control, or relational dynamics that were hard to name in the moment.
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You don’t need certainty about how to label what happened to begin.
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Therapy here focuses on rebuilding self-trust and internal safety, at a pace that does not push or overwhelm your system.
A brief, low-pressure conversation to ask questions and consider next steps.
After you schedule, I’ll call you at the scheduled time to answer questions
and see whether this feels like a fit.
EMDR-certified • IFS Level 2 • Licensed AZ, CA, MA • In-person in Scottsdale + Telehealth
Many people reach out during or after a relationship where they felt chronically misunderstood, blamed, or psychologically worn down, even if they are unsure whether it was abusive or simply confusing and destabilizing.
You might recognize yourself here
​​Many of the people who reach out to me have already tried therapy. They are insightful, reflective, and capable, yet still feel unsettled, self-doubting, or chronically tense in relationships.
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This often happens when harm occurred in emotionally subtle or controlling environments, where there was no single event to point to, but repeated experiences of being overridden, minimized, or blamed.
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When the nervous system adapts to that kind of environment, insight alone is rarely enough. The work here focuses on restoring internal safety and self-trust, not pushing change faster than your system can tolerate.
Common reasons people reach out
Emotional neglect
How growing up with minimized feelings or unmet needs shapes self-doubt, shutdown, and difficulty trusting yourself.
Read about emotional neglect →
Narcissistic or coercive relationships
A clearer way to understand gaslighting, psychological control, and why your nervous system stayed on alert.
Read about coercive relationships →
Why understanding isn’t enough
Why insight alone doesn’t undo patterns shaped by emotionally unsafe relationships.
Read the article →
About
My name is Inbal Gurari
I am a trauma therapist who works carefully and intentionally. I’m attentive to how easily people can feel pressured or misunderstood in therapeutic spaces, and I practice in ways that minimize that risk.​
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I take seriously the parts of experience that feel uncertain, conflicted, or difficult to articulate. I do not rush to interpret or correct, and I am thoughtful about when intervention helps and when it gets in the way.
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My role is to help you feel safe enough to understand yourself more clearly, without pressure.​​
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When something feels off, but you can’t quite explain why
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What it feels like
You may doubt your perceptions in relationships, hesitate to set boundaries, or feel tense and on edge even when things appear fine from the outside. You might function well, yet carry a persistent sense of uncertainty or self doubt.
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Why it makes sense
These patterns often develop in emotionally unsafe or unpredictable environments. They were ways of staying connected, avoiding conflict, or protecting yourself when your needs could not be expressed freely. What once helped you adapt can continue long after the original situation has passed.​
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What changes in therapy
Therapy focuses on restoring internal safety. Over time, self trust strengthens, boundaries feel clearer, and your nervous system becomes less reactive and more settled. Change happens gradually, without forcing or reliving what you are not ready to revisit.
How therapy works here
Therapy with me is not about fixing you, pushing insight faster than your system can tolerate, or forcing forgiveness or confrontation.
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We work carefully and collaboratively to understand how your nervous system learned to adapt, and how to create change that holds in real relationships rather than only in insight.
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The focus is on rebuilding internal safety, strengthening self trust, and developing boundaries that feel protective rather than frightening.
This work may be a good fit if you
– Doubt your perceptions, minimize what happened, or feel chronically on edge in relationships
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– Have been impacted by emotional abuse, emotional neglect, or a controlling relationship
– Want therapy that moves carefully and does not push emotional exposure
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– You’re looking for depth work, not quick coping tools or a highly directive program.
Working Together
I work with individual adults in Scottsdale and offer trauma therapy via telehealth across Arizona, California, and Massachusetts.
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Limited evening and weekend appointments are available.
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Session fees are set and listed on the Fees page.
If you’re not sure where to start​
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A few gentle entry points for understanding patterns shaped by emotionally unsafe relationships.
These are starting points, not labels. You do not need to decide which one fits to begin.
Emotional abuse or neglect
Growing up or living in environments where your feelings, needs, or reality were minimized or overridden.
Controlling or coercive relationships
Relationships that left you doubting yourself, walking on eggshells, or losing your sense of internal authority.
Chronic self-doubt or shutdown
Feeling tense, numb, or unsure of your own perceptions, even when life looks “fine” on the outside.
If you’ve already tried therapy →​
Tried therapy before
Insightful and reflective, but still feeling stuck or unsettled despite previous work.
You don’t need to decide anything yet. If you’d like, you can schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
After scheduling, you’ll receive a confirmation and a brief intake form.
We’ll use the consultation to clarify what you’re dealing with and whether working together makes sense.
If it’s not a fit, I’ll help you think through next steps.