Trauma Therapy

Finding understanding and healing in the midst of trauma

When a person experiences trauma it is a unique and personal experience. No one can tell you what is or isn’t trauma in your life. When a person experiences trauma we are often not equipped to cope with the aftermath and its impact on our mental health. Many experience some form of mental health disruption such as anxiety, panic disorder, or PTSD. It may also impact intimate relationships, relationships with friends, work, or themselves. Overall, trauma can impact how we experience the world.

Common Trauma Events

Single Incident Events

Referred to as shock trauma. ex: an attack (physical, sexual), an injury, accident or shocking event. This is especially traumatic if it was shocking to you (came unexpectedly) and even more so, if it happened when you were young.

Repetitive, Ongoing and Consistent Stress

Referred to as complex trauma. ex: ongoing bullying, chronic childhood neglect (physical, emotional, sexual abuse), domestic abuse, living in a danger zone such as a war zone, or crime-filled neighborhood, battling a life-threatening illness or facing an ongoing traumatic event.

The Less Identified Traumas

These are the commonly overlooked situations that often cause trauma. ex: experiencing a deeply embarrassing or disappointing experience, losing someone close to you (due to death or moving cities), breaking up with a significant relationship in your life, or interacting with someone who is deliberately cold-hearted or cruel (at work or in personal life.) This may also include feeling chronically ignored, unseen, or experiencing chronic stress for example: Mom constantly yelling or seeing high conflict (or complete disconnect) in your parents while growing up. This can include relational trauma.

Traumatic Stress

Traumatic stress refers to the experience of stress related to events you weren’t directly involved in but causes you a lot of distress. For example, when you hear about man-made disasters such as terrorist attacks, mass shootings, plane crash, or natural disasters, such as a flood, tornado or fire. Although you may not have been directly impacted, watching the news and seeing horrific images can leave an imprint on your mind and body.

Treatment

Individual therapy can help those who have experienced trauma in their life by equipping clients with tools to handle triggers and stressors in healthier ways. Unfortunately, we cannot undo what happened, however, we can work together to allow you to repossess your trauma(s) so that you can be free from negative beliefs, physiological distress and psychological pain as quickly as possible.

Moving through trauma.

Those who took the time to work through traumatic events, memories and self-beliefs slowly reprogrammed their thinking and feeling and learned ways to better navigate the world. Doing this allows the individual to be able to fully dive into daily experiences. Regardless if the trauma happened yesterday, last year or a decade ago, your choices today can move you forward in ways that you need.

The Goals and Outcomes Trauma Therapy Offers You

  • Improve daily functioning and feel more confident in facing daily life interactions in work, family, love and self-care goals
  • Provide a safe space in the therapy room and over time, expand that feeling of safety to how you feel in the world (less fearful, and more trusting).
  • Help you re-own your personal power, comfortably own your autonomy and improve assertiveness
  • Help you understand the history of your trauma, your symptoms and have a clear understanding of who you are, the impact of your trauma, generational trauma and your healing goals
  • Significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression
  • Ameliorate (and in some cases, eliminate) the uncomfortable triggers of trauma
  • Successfully shift your focus from the past to the present
  • Address and resolve the need to use addictive/self-destructive behaviors that were created to manage your post-trauma pain
  • Plan for the expected waves of emotional triggers, and help you learn to use your toolkit of coping so you regain emotional equilibrium even after difficult moments in life
  • Be able to attain dreams and goals that were not possible previously (due to avoidance, fears or worries)

Ultimately, together we will help you find joy in daily life and face your life with more energy, curiosity and openness.