Maddisson Elizardo
I am Maddisson. I am a trauma-informed therapist who believes deeply in every person’s capacity for growth, healing, and re-connection. I specialize in complex PTSD (C-PTSD), attachment trauma, intimacy issues, sex and love addiction, and betrayal trauma recovery. My work is grounded in empathy, active listening, and creating a safe, non-judgmental space where you can show up authentically. I support individuals, couples, and families who are navigating trauma, relational wounds, identity challenges, and the desire to live more aligned, connected lives. I aim to provide an inclusive, affirming environment for LGBTQIA+ clients, people of color, and anyone who has felt unseen or marginalized. A core part of my approach is helping clients not only heal, but build resilience, strengthen their inner resources, and create meaningful, lasting change.
First session
Your first session with me is gentle, collaborative, and grounded in safety. We’ll explore what brings you in, clarify your therapy goals, and begin understanding your story in a way that feels respectful and paced. During this session, we’ll also identify at least one practical coping skill you can begin using right away, along with ways to build hope, stabilization, and emotional safety between sessions. You can expect compassion, curiosity, and zero judgment. My focus is on helping you feel supported and understood from the very beginning.
Strengths
My therapeutic style blends evidence-based modalities with holistic care and a deep respect for the nervous system, attachment, and identity. I integrate: Mindfulness-based counseling CBT & DBT Somatic therapy / body-based techniques The Gottman Method for couples EMDR therapy for trauma & PTSD Trauma-informed and culturally responsive care What sets my work apart is how I help clients reconnect with safety, regulation, and meaning through an approach that honors both the mind and body. I’m especially experienced in treating complex trauma, relational trauma, and addiction, and I strive to create an inclusive, affirming space for LGBTQIA+ clients, people of color, and anyone who has felt overlooked in traditional therapy.
Ideal clients
I work best with adults who are navigating complex PTSD, attachment trauma, childhood emotional wounds, and challenges with intimacy. If you struggle with emotional disconnection, avoidance, or difficulty forming or maintaining healthy relationships, you’re not alone—many of the people I support feel the same way. I also work with individuals recovering from sex addiction, love addiction, and compulsive relational or sexual behaviors, as well as partners working to heal from infidelity, betrayal trauma, and broken trust. If you’re coming to therapy as a couple, I can help you rebuild trust, intimacy, communication, and emotional safety. My approach is culturally sensitive and affirming, with a strong commitment to supporting LGBTQIA+ clients and people of color. I’m especially well-suited for clients who feel overwhelmed, lost, disconnected, or unsure where to start. Together, we’ll focus on building resilience, regulating your nervous system, and helping you reconnect with yourself in a grounded and meaningful way.
Treatment methods
Polyvagal Therapy
I use Polyvagal Theory to help you understand how your nervous system responds to stress, trauma, and relationships—and how those responses shape your emotions, behaviors, intimacy patterns, and sense of safety. Polyvagal work helps you move from feeling overwhelmed or shut down to feeling more grounded, present, and connected.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you understand the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors—especially when trauma, stress, or relationship injuries have shaped the way you see yourself and the world. CBT offers practical tools you can start using right away, and it pairs beautifully with EMDR, somatic work, attachment therapy, and mindfulness.
Gottman method
I use the Gottman Method to help individuals and couples strengthen their relationships, rebuild trust, and create deeper emotional and physical intimacy. The Gottman approach offers practical, research-backed tools that help you understand each other better, reduce conflict, and create a relationship where both partners feel safe, valued, and connected.
EMDR
EMDR is a powerful therapy for clients living with complex PTSD, attachment trauma, betrayal trauma, intimacy issues, or relational wounds, because it works directly with the nervous system—not just the thoughts. I use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help clients heal from trauma, reduce emotional distress, and shift the beliefs and body sensations that keep them feeling stuck.
Attachment-based
In my work with clients, I use attachment-based therapy to help you understand how your early relationships—and your experiences of safety, connection, and belonging—shape the way you relate to yourself and others today. Attachment work is especially powerful for clients navigating complex PTSD, betrayal trauma, intimacy challenges, and relationship wounds.
Location
Virtual sessions