Navigating Stress in Uncertain Times: Support from a Washington DC Therapist

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or even scared following the inauguration of Donald Trump and the initial actions of his administration, you are not alone. For many, this week has felt like a whirlwind of unsettling news, mounting uncertainty, and legitimate concerns about the future. And if you belong to a marginalized group—whether you’re a person of color, LGBTQ+, an immigrant, or someone with intersecting identities—this stress can hit even harder, pulling at old wounds or amplifying feelings of vulnerability.

As a trauma therapist, I want to hold space for what you’re feeling. This is a valid response to an unsettling moment in history. Times of unrest, uncertainty, and perceived or actual threats can easily trigger what we call a trauma response. Your nervous system may interpret what’s happening now as a direct threat to your safety, even if the “danger” feels abstract or removed from your immediate environment. It’s not just in your head—what’s happening is both real and distressing, and your feelings matter.

But you don’t have to face this alone or stay stuck in overwhelm. In this post, I’ll break down why you might be feeling this way, offer tangible tools to help you regulate your nervous system, and share how trauma-focused therapy—especially intensives using modalities like EMDR, IFS, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy—can help you differentiate the past from the present and find a path forward.