Faith, Sensitivity, and Trauma Healing: What a Christian Therapist in Houston Wants You to Know About Brainspotting
Why Highly Sensitive Women Carry Emotional Trauma Differently
No one likes trauma. No one wants it, but the unfortunate fact of life is that sometimes experiences leave us scarred, bruised and very shaken. Highly Sensitive People have deep empathy, feel things so strongly and notice so much. When they are in a situation or with someone, they tend to have strong emotional memory. So they might not remember exactly what was said or done to them, but they can actually recollect the deep feeling of pain. For others, they might remember what happened, but Highly Sensitive People will be able to go back to the emotions and feel it in their bodies- stomach feels yucky, chest tightens, head starts to hurt, etc.
And because of this strong emotional memory, trauma can feel louder and much more difficult to shake in Highly Sensitive People than non Highly Sensitive People. That deep well isn’t just great for connecting with others, but that deep well also reminds us of bad memories and experiences. Sometimes you feel so misunderstood just because you’re a Highly Sensitive Person. You don’t seem to enjoy the things that others do, they think you are “Too sensitive” or “Dramatic.” And so you spend time pretending to be someone that you’re not. This can actually lead to emotional burnout. Because so much of your energy is spent transforming into someone else- leaving no room for the authentic you.
This is where I come in. As a Christian therapist in Houston, I can provide faith-rooted understanding and comfort. My job is to help you process and get rid of trauma without belittling you. God made you highly sensitive for a reason and it’s not part of my job to change you. Rather we can collaborate on how to stay authentic in your faith, authentic in your personality and feel like you have a place in the world. Yes, it’s possible.
Understanding the Link Between Faith, Sensitivity, and Trauma: A Christian Therapist in Houston Explains
As a Christian Therapist in Houston, I’ve seen how sensitivity — though a beautiful gift — can make trauma feel heavier. But with faith and the right tools, healing is absolutely possible. Sometimes as a Highly Sensitive Person, you are so used to people invalidating your feelings, or telling you that you need to “Get over it” that you just mask your pain. You internalize it, pretend like you’re okay but deep inside you are actually struggling and drowning. Because you are a strong person, you might throw yourself into work or help other people to distract yourself from your own pain.
The thing is that trauma can affect both your heart and your spirit. Over time you find that you become resentful. Because most Highly Sensitive People that I know are actually really good at holding the pain of others, supporting others, and helping others feel so much better about themselves. But when it comes to they being supported, they have nobody to support them. Most people just assume that because they are so supportive, they don't need to be supported. And also because of your deep empathy, as a Highly Sensitive Person, you sometimes also invalidate yourself. You are so used to others telling you that you are being dramatic, that you actually gaslight yourself into believing that you're being dramatic. So you learn how to put a smile on your face well silently suffering. But you don't have to go on like this any longer.
As a Christian therapist in Houston, I integrate sensitivity awareness as well as biblical principles. And because I believe that therapy should work, I also incorporate Brainspotting therapy, which is a neuroscience-based approach that helps you actually rewire your brain so that you can have a longer lasting healing from trauma, anxiety and other difficult experiences. You don't have to struggle alone. You don't have to ignore your spiritual needs or your emotional needs. I am fully aware that you are neurodivergent and this has to be celebrated. Sometimes people run away from therapy because they have been burned by a therapist in the past who did not understand what High Sensitivity is. But I happen to understand AND live High Sensitivity. I understand trauma and I also understand the Christian faith. Therefore all parts of you are welcome in my therapy space.
What Is Brainspotting? — and Why It Works So Well for Highly Sensitive People
Brainspotting is essentially a simple way to help your brain heal trauma without having to relive it over and over again. So we know that when you go through different traumatic experiences, or just different difficult experiences, there are parts of your brain that actually store the memories as well as the emotions that are linked to the event. Because many of my clients are high performing Highly Sensitive People, they have gotten really good at pushing those memories and events to the back of their minds so that it does not get in the way of their day-to-day life. I get it. It is simply a coping mechanism. And so through the process of brainspotting, my job is to help you locate those areas in the brain where the pain is stored, to be able to process those events and memories so that your body can actually release the emotional pain that has been stored in your body for a while.
We often think running away from trauma is effective. Well, it is- until it’s not. Some people avoid certain places and things because of trauma they have experienced. Sometimes people find themselves feeling frozen at work or they struggle with distorted thought patterns like “Nobody likes me,” “I have to please everyone so that I don't get fired,” or even thoughts like '‘I am no good.” My job is to help you heal those thoughts and feelings so that they stop taking over your life.
Brainspotting is especially powerful for Highly Sensitive People who have felt overwhelmed by traditional talk therapy. As a highly sensitive person who already feels deeply, you have already felt like you have been reliving the event over and over again. So when you process trauma through traditional talk therapy, it sometimes feels like you're actually being retraumatized. But when you utilize brainspotting, you don't have to give me a play by play of what happened to you. We go directly into the center where the events are stored in your brain, so you can process them without giving me an overview. This method is gentle, precise and spiritually compatible.
Now I often tell my clients that my job is not to be your pastor. So I do not indoctrinate you, but I will pull scriptures that are in line with your experiences so that you can study and let the Holy Spirit minister onto you.
How Faith Deepens the Healing Process
Faith isn’t just a comfort during therapy — it’s a source of strength that helps you process, release, and renew your heart from the inside out. The word of God says “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he'‘ (Proverbs 23:7). Therefore we know that the words and events we meditate on have a direct correlation with who we are. This is why I introduce specific scriptures that are in line with what you are currently experience, so you may meditate on them, and in turn, they transform your life.
Your faith is at the core of who you are, so when you’re doing true transformative work, we cannot exclude faith. Faith complements trauma therapy as I offer deeper insight, there is room for prayer, surrender and spiritual reflection. You can invite God into your healing process. As a Christian therapist in Houston, I believe that faith and therapy are two parts of the same restorative process.
Healing Trauma in Relationships: How Brainspotting and the Gottman Method Help Christian Couples Reconnect
When one or both partners carry unhealed trauma, it shows up in the relationship — but through faith-based Brainspotting and the Gottman Method, couples can reconnect with grace and understanding. Brainspotting helps release the emotional reactivity that sometimes shows up as snapping at each other, crying, yelling or even shutting down. Once one or both partners have worked on their trauma, they will be in a better position to work through their relational issues. Trauma can be such a strain on a marriage. Imagine carrying a heavy emotional load on top of trying to work a job, raise kids and be present for your spouse. It’s just too much. But once you’ve dumped the trauma load, you can show up as the more peaceful, open hearted you.
As a Christian marriage therapist in Houston, I can also incorporate your biblical values into our sessions. We dive into the biblical role of a husband and wife, the role of parents, as well as how your upbringing and past experiences have led you to where you are in your marriage. We can use faith as a bridge to bring you back to a place of peace and connection.
Taking the Next Step: Begin Faith-Based Brainspotting Therapy in Houston
Healing doesn’t mean going back through every painful memory — it means letting your mind and spirit find peace again. As a Christian Therapist in Houston, I use Brainspotting to help clients release what’s been holding them back. In the first session, I will do a deep dive into your life. We will go over your family, educational, health, spiritual and emotional background- all of the elements that make you who you are, so that we can collaboratively come up with specific goals that we should focus on when we are brainspotting. This way treatment is targeted to your specific needs. No one size fits all here.
You don’t have to carry it all on your own. If you’re a highly sensitive woman longing for emotional peace and spiritual healing, I’d love to walk alongside you. As a Christian therapist in Houston who uses brainspotting, I help women release trauma and reconnect with joy — without losing their faith or sensitivity along the way. Book your free consultation for Christian trauma therapy in Houston today and let’s begin your healing journey in a safe, faith-honoring space.
About
My name is Ibinye Osibodu-Onyali. I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist in California and Texas. I help women who are struggling with trauma, anxiety and insomnia. I also help couples learn how to speak each other’s language, date each other again and manage conflict in a non-painful way.
Many of my clients are:
