When Therapy Feels Like Too Much — Why Trauma Coaching Might Be the Gentle First Step You Need
By Journey Counseling PLLC
If the thought of starting therapy makes your chest tighten or your mind swirl, you’re not alone.
For many people navigating stress, trauma, or just the weight of being human, the idea of diving into clinical therapy can feel overwhelming. Maybe you’ve had negative experiences in the past. Maybe you’re not ready to talk about everything just yet. Or maybe you don’t want a diagnosis — you just want to feel a little more like yourself again.
That’s where trauma-informed coaching can be a powerful and accessible place to begin.
What Is Trauma-Informed Coaching?
Trauma coaching is a supportive, non-clinical service that helps you:
Understand your emotional patterns
Learn how your nervous system responds to stress
Explore past experiences with curiosity instead of shame
Reconnect with your values, voice, and self-worth
Feel more empowered to move through life with clarity and confidence
At Journey Counseling PLLC, Dominique Johnson offers trauma-informed coaching to help you gently unearth what’s been buried — without judgment, pressure, or diagnosis.
This is not clinical therapy. There’s no DSM, no insurance billing, and no required label. Instead, coaching offers space to breathe, reflect, and grow — especially for those who aren’t quite ready for therapy but still want meaningful support.
When Therapy Feels Too Clinical, Coaching Offers Connection
There are many reasons someone might be hesitant to start therapy:
Fear of being labeled or misunderstood
Bad experiences with past providers
Feeling like you “should be fine” and don’t deserve help
Worry that talking about the past will be too overwhelming
Cultural or family beliefs that stigmatize mental health care
Trauma-informed coaching meets you where you are. It centers your wholeness, not your symptoms. Dominique brings a calming, grounded energy to her work — one that honors your pace, your identity, and your autonomy.
Clients often share that coaching helped them:
Feel more in control of their emotional responses
Build daily rituals that actually support their nervous system
Explore their values, identity, and inner voice
Let go of guilt and perfectionism
Finally feel seen without needing to be “fixed”
What’s the Difference Between Therapy and Coaching?
Therapy and trauma coaching are both incredibly valuable, but they serve different purposes.
Clinical therapy is designed for diagnosing and treating mental health conditions. It’s a deep, often long-term process that involves working with a licensed professional to explore trauma, patterns, and symptoms at a clinical level. Therapists use evidence-based tools like CBT, EMDR, and psychotherapy to support clients through anxiety, PTSD, depression, and more.
Trauma coaching, on the other hand, is not about diagnosis or treatment. Instead, it’s about growth, self-awareness, nervous system support, and moving forward without the pressure of digging into everything at once. Coaching is collaborative, goal-focused, and grounded in tools like somatic practices, journaling, and values clarification.
Many clients begin with coaching because it feels less intimidating — and often, it becomes a bridge to deeper therapy once they’re ready. Others use coaching alongside therapy to support daily living and inner resilience.
Both options are valid. The key is finding what feels right for you right now.
Why Clients Choose Dominique Johnson
Dominique is more than a coach — she’s a warm presence, a deep listener, and someone who creates space for honesty without pressure. She works from a trauma-informed, inclusive, and identity-affirming lens, supporting people from all walks of life who are seeking clarity and connection.
Her clients describe her as:
Gentle but real — she’ll meet you where you are, but she’s not afraid to go deep
Culturally responsive — honoring your background, identity, and lived experiences
Skilled in somatic tools — helping you reconnect to your body and sense of self
Whether you’re navigating burnout, life transitions, anxiety, disconnection, or just want to understand yourself better — Dominique’s coaching is a safe place to land.
Coaching Packages Available
Appointments are available virtually across North Carolina and in person at our Gastonia, NC office.
6-Week Coaching Package – $1,500
Six weekly or biweekly 60-minute sessions
Personalized reflections and somatic tools
Journaling prompts and nervous system education
8-Week Coaching Package – $2,000
Eight 60-minute sessions with extended integration support
Focus on shame release, self-worth, and mind-body connection
Email check-ins + optional creative supports between sessions
Coaching is private pay only. A limited number of sliding scale spots are available based on need.
Your First Step Doesn’t Have to Be Heavy
If you’ve been thinking, “I need something… but I’m not sure what,” trauma coaching might be exactly where to begin.
This isn’t about digging into every detail of your past. It’s about reconnecting to who you are underneath survival mode. It’s about feeling safe in your own body again. It’s about making space to exhale.
Dominique Johnson offers free 20-minute discovery calls so you can ask questions, get to know her style, and see if this is the right fit — no pressure, just a gentle start.
Click here to book your discovery call and begin your journey toward grounded, accessible healing.
You don’t have to do it alone. Let’s take the first step together.
