Trauma is an emotional response to an event or series of events that are deeply distressing, disturbing and/or overwhelming. It can occur when an individual has experience(s) that overwhelm their ability to cope, and it may affect how they think, feel, and behave long after the event has passed. Trauma is often linked to experiences that threaten one's safety or well-being, such as abandonment, abuse, accidents, natural disasters, or the loss of a loved one. During developmental years, ongoing exposure to unsafe people/environments or caregivers that cannot meet our needs can overwhelm a young persons system and lead to persistent trauma responses.  

Everyone responds differently to trauma. Some individuals may experience symptoms like flashbacks, anxiety, avoidance, emotional numbness and or emotions that feel out of control. Healing from trauma takes time, and it’s a process that involves understanding its impacts and finding new ways of responding to regain a sense of control, safety, and well-being. It's okay to ask for help, and with support, you can work through these experiences at your own pace.

Some individuals who experience trauma are deeply impacted and may meet a diagnosis for PTSD or Complex PTSD. Others, often who are more supported during times of trauma, may be less severely impacted and symptoms may be less distressing and subside on their own.

Trauma therapy helps individuals process and heal from the emotional and psychological effects of traumatic experiences. It often involves creating a safe, supportive environment where clients can begin to understand the impacts trauma has had and explore related feelings and memories. Ultimately, the goal is to come to new understandings about what happened in the past, feel differently about yourself/others/the world and reduce suffering and distress. For many, this is a life changing process.

Different therapeutic approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), may be used to help individuals reframe negative thoughts, reduce anxiety and learn to regulate the body and emotions.  Recovery from trauma is a deeply personal journey, and it unfolds at its own pace. Over time, many individuals find that they are able to reconnect with their sense of self and the world. Recovery is not about forgetting the trauma, but about learning to live a fulfilling life despite it.

If you would like to learn more about how trauma therapy might benefit you, I encourage you to book a free 15 minute consultation.