Sabina Mauro, PsyD

Sometimes healing doesn’t start with a breakthrough. It starts with a breath.

Trauma doesn’t just live in memory, it also lives in the body. The body can have a hard time distinguishing what’s happening now from what happened then.

So when you breathe with intention, you’re not “just calming down.” You’re reminding your nervous system: this is now… not then.

Inhale the present.
Exhale what you’ve been carrying for years.

If this resonates, save this for when you need a reset. If you’re working on coming back to the present, this is a skill that can be practiced, step by step.

I just learned that Edna Foa who developed prolonged exposure therapy passed away this week.

I was trained in PE by Dr. Foa’s team, and I see the impact of her work every day in the way I help clients heal from trauma.

Prolonged exposure isn’t easy work for clients or therapists but I’ve seen how powerful it can be in helping people face what they’ve been avoiding and move forward in their lives.

Feeling really grateful for the legacy she leaves behind and the path she created for so many of us.

Here’s a piece about her from TIME:

The 2010 TIME 100 - TIME Bringing peace to suffering troops

There is a pattern I frequently see in my clinical work with parents.

Mothers who are thoughtful, attentive, and deeply committed to their children—
yet find themselves reacting in ways that feel disproportionate to the moment.

A brief interaction escalates quickly.
Emotions rise faster than expected.
And afterward, there is often confusion or self-questioning:

“Why did I respond that way?”

These reactions are not random, and they are not a reflection of failure in parenting.
They are often connected to earlier experiences that continue to shape how we respond under stress.

In response to this, I am offering a small, trauma-informed group for mothers who are interested in better understanding these patterns and learning how to respond more intentionally.

6-week virtual group
Begins May 7
Limited to 6–8 participants

If this resonates with you—or with someone you know—feel free to reach out for additional information.

📩 [email protected]

Sabina Mauro, PsyD Individual psychotherapy for adults with PTSD, trauma, and anxiety — provided in Pennsylvania and via secure telehealth across PsyPact states.

Parenting can bring moments of connection, but also moments where our reactions feel bigger than the situation itself.

At times, it’s not just about what is happening in front of us—but what the moment may be stirring from our own past.

I recently wrote a blog exploring how our childhood experiences can show up in parenting, and how we can begin to create space between reaction and response.

Have you ever noticed a moment in parenting where your reaction surprised you?

When Parenting Awakens Our Own Childhood Wounds How Our Past Shapes the Way We React to Our Children

“To, na czym się skupiasz… będzie rosło.”

Ten obrazek pięknie przypomina coś, co widzę w mojej pracy jako psycholog.
Nasza uwaga działa jak woda — to, co karmimy myślami i emocjami, zaczyna się wzmacniać.

Nie musimy walczyć z lękiem czy zamartwianiem się, żeby rozwijać coś innego.
W terapii uczymy się, jak robić miejsce na trudne rzeczy… i jednocześnie podlewać to, co pomaga nam powoli odbudowywać się od środka.

I’m excited to share that my trauma-informed holiday worksheets are now available on Etsy. 💛

If the holidays tend to activate old patterns, feel overwhelming, or bring up unexpected grief, these tools were created with you in mind.

✨ A Holiday Trigger Reflection & Grounding Worksheet
✨ A Holiday Grounding Affirmations Worksheet
✨ A discounted bundle option

All printable, therapist-created, and designed to support you through the holiday season.

You can find them here:
👉 https://mauropsychology.etsy.com

If you know someone who might benefit, feel free to share.
Healing is easier when we don’t do it alone. 🌱

The holiday season is approaching, and while many people look forward to this time of year, others quietly brace themselves. For trauma survivors, the holidays can feel less like a celebration and more like a reminder — of old patterns, emotional wounds, grief you didn't expect, complicated family dynamics, memories the body still carries, or just that “something feels off” feeling you can’t quite name. And honestly? That reaction makes sense if you’ve lived through trauma.

I wrote a new blog exploring why the holidays can feel so overwhelming when you’ve lived through trauma, and how your body may be working hard to protect you during this season.

In the blog, I break down:
• why ordinary holiday moments can activate old survival responses
• how grief and trauma overlap this time of year
• what your body may be communicating
• how awareness creates grounding
• ways to support yourself with compassion, not pressure

If the holidays feel complicated, overwhelming, or just… a lot — this is for you.

Wishing you clarity, steadiness, and connection to yourself as the holidays approach!

Why The Holidays Feel Different When You've Lived Through Trauma What your body is trying to tell you during a season that’s supposed to feel bright.

If you’ve ever ended a therapy day more exhausted by others’ stories than your own, this one’s for you.

Why Self-Reflection Matters for Every Trauma Therapist The Mirror in the Room

Therapists — how often do we pause after a session to check in with ourselves?

Self-reflection isn’t about doing therapy perfectly — it’s about staying grounded, aware, and human while holding space for others.

My new blog, “Why Self-Reflection Matters for Every Trauma Therapist,” explores how reflection protects our wellbeing and deepens the therapeutic relationship.

If the message resonates, I’ve created a Self-Reflection Toolkit for Therapists — four guided worksheets to help you ground before sessions, release after, explore activations, and reconnect with meaning at the end of your day.

Awareness itself is a form of care — for both client and clinician.

Why Self-Reflection Matters for Every Trauma Therapist The Mirror in the Room

Healing isn’t always a straight path. Discover how trauma reshapes the brain and body - and how every turn in the journey brings you closer to peace.

Trauma Healing is Not Linear: Why Progress Is Not Always Straight Healing isn’t a straight line — it’s a spiral that returns you to the same places with new strength.

Grateful for the opportunity to be a guest contributor 💕

Healing Trauma is Healing the Nervous System | CPTSDfoundation.org Healing Trauma is Healing the Nervous System by Dr. Sabina Mauro | Mar 10, 2025 | CPTSD, CPTSD and PTSD, Guest Contributor, Mental Health Awareness, Mental Health Professional | 0 comments We all have the potential to heal and become a better version of ourselves. Sometimes, adverse or abnormal life...