Have you ever been called too sensitive, too emotional, or too much? You’re not alone and you’re not the problem. This blog explores where that message comes from, why it sticks, and how to gently reclaim your voice and your space.

In Caribbean culture, image and reputation carry heavy weight especially for women. Many are taught from childhood to present as clean, controlled, and respectable at all times. You must speak properly. Dress decently. Behave well. Never "bring shame" to your family name (Crichlow, 2016).

In Trinidadian and wider Caribbean culture, the term tabanca is often used to describe the emotional distress that follows heartbreak or rejection. It’s treated as both a joke and a rite of passage a dramatic but temporary phase that women are expected to bounce back from (Rohlehr, 2004). But what if tabanca isn’t just heartbreak? What if it's complex trauma in disguise? Especially when the relationship involved emotional abuse, betrayal, or years of silent suffering.

Feeling numb doesn’t mean you’re broken, it often means you’re still protecting yourself. This blog gently explores why emotional numbness happens after trauma and what healing can look like.

Some triggers don’t yell, they whisper. Hi, I’m Nada, a trauma-informed therapist at NJCCS. In this blog, I explore how ordinary things like sounds, smells, or casual phrases can reactivate deep emotional pain. If you've ever felt triggered but couldn’t explain why, this is for you. You're not too sensitive, your body remembers what it had to survive.

Exploring how emotional self-sufficiency becomes a trauma response and how NJCCS helps soften the armor.

From an early age, Caribbean girls are often taught to suppress their feelings, especially sadness, grief, or fear. Emotional control is seen as maturity, while crying is often ridiculed, discouraged, or punished. But this emotional stoicism comes at a cost.

I support women who’ve been criminalized after trauma with compassion, not judgment. Whether you're facing court, rebuilding, or just trying to be heard, you are not alone and you are not beyond healing.

Hi, I’m Nada, a Trauma-Informed Therapist who supports women healing from abuse and the emotional harm that often goes unseen. Some experiences are hard to explain hard to name. Maybe you said “yes,” but it didn’t feel like a choice. Maybe you felt hurt or confused, even without force or yelling. This is something many women go through silently. It’s called coercive sex. If this resonates with you, you’re not alone and your feelings are valid.

Mother-daughter love isn’t always easy. Even when love is present, misunderstandings, old wounds, and unmet needs can create distance. But this bond is worth healing. Therapy can offer a safe, compassionate space to explore what’s unspoken, rebuild trust, and nurture empathy. Whether you’re struggling with communication or feeling disconnected, it’s never too late to repair and reconnect—because this relationship matters.

In many Caribbean families, forgiveness is treated as a moral obligation, often grounded in religious and cultural teachings. Survivors of abuse, betrayal, or neglect are frequently told to “let it go” or “give it to God,” without being given space to fully process their pain (Pargament et al., 2005). Forgiveness, while powerful, becomes weaponized when rushed or demanded.

When people hear about a woman living with abuse or control, it’s easy to ask, “Why doesn’t she just leave?” But leaving isn’t simple — and for many, it can be the most dangerous time. This post gently explains why walking away is so complicated, the hidden risks women face, and how careful planning and support can make all the difference.

When the bond between mothers and adult daughters is strained by past wounds, healing can feel out of reach. But with empathy, honesty, and support, repair is possible. This blog explores how emotional pain lingers across generations—and how therapy can help both women feel heard, respected, and reconnected. Whether you're holding hurt or hoping to rebuild, you deserve peace. Healing doesn’t erase the past, but it can transform the future.

When you're the first in your Caribbean family to go to therapy, set boundaries, or speak the truth—how NJCCS supports you in carrying what’s never been carried before.

Systemic gender bias means that unfair treatment based on gender is built into institutions even when no one means for it to happen. In healthcare and sustainability, this bias can limit women’s access to leadership, respect, and opportunity, leading to burnout and inequity. True progress means addressing these hidden barriers and creating space for every voice to be heard (PRISM, n.d.).

When your ideas are dismissed, your voice is minimized, or your authority is questioned especially by someone above you—it can wear you down. This blog explores how being undermined by a superior, like a president, impacts women in leadership and how I can support you through it.

When you’ve grown up around unhealthy patterns, it’s not always easy to see what safe, respectful love should feel like. This post gently explains what healthy boundaries look like, how to spot red flags, and how NJCCS can help you build trust in your own voice — one small step at a time.

You can feel confident in a meeting… and still question your worth when you're alone. That’s the difference between self-esteem and self-worth—one depends on performance, the other is unconditional. At NJCCS, we help women shift from chasing validation to truly believing in their inherent value. In this blog, we explore why self-worth matters more, and how therapy can help you build it from the inside out.

In many Caribbean households, daughters are raised with pressure, discipline, and expectation, while sons are often given freedom, excuses, and indulgence. Girls are told to cook, clean, obey, suppress, and serve—while boys are allowed to roam, make mistakes, and be comforted.

You replay the conversation. You overanalyze the email. You criticize yourself for being too much—or not enough. That’s your inner critic at work. For many women, it’s a voice shaped by old wounds, perfectionism, and pressure to perform. At NJCCS, we help you understand where that voice came from and how to quiet it with compassion. You deserve a relationship with yourself that feels safe, kind, and true. Therapy can help you reclaim that voice.