Trauma

Trauma is a term that has become more widely used in the last few years, as it has become more studied. Trauma does not always come from one dramatic event. Sometimes, it is the long-term pressure of having to be perfect, staying quiet to survive, or not being allowed to trust your own gut. Trauma affects how we feel in our bodies and how we relate to ourselves and the world. Some symptoms of trauma can look like:

  • Trouble Sleeping or constant exhaustion

  • Feeling numb or checked out

  • Intrusive Memories

  • Chronic Anxiety or hyper-vigilance (like you’re always bracing for something bad to happen)

  • Depression

  • Avoidance of certain places, people, or memories

  • Lower Self-Esteem/ Self-Worth or A harsh inner critic that won’t let up

  • Struggles in relationships or feeling disconnected from others

  • Fear of Rejection

  • Hyper-Independence

  • Overwhelming emotions that feel like “too much” or “not enough”

The body, not the thinking brain, is where we experience most of our pain, pleasure, and joy, and where we process most of what happens to us. It is also where we do most of our healing.

-RESMAA MENAKEM

  • Trauma is often misunderstood as an event; however, trauma is actually a physiological response in your body. Trauma occurs when your nervous system becomes so overwhelmed that your brain is unable to process what is happening. It is the emotional and physical reaction to a terrible event like an accident, sexual assault, or natural disaster. It can also occur from repeated trauma, like emotional, physical, or sexual abuse.

  • Secondary traumatic stress is the emotional response that results when an individual hears (or sees) firsthand traumatic experiences of others.

  • Vicarious trauma is from empathetic engagement with trauma survivors. Anyone who engages empathetically with survivors of traumatic incidents, torture, and material relating to their trauma is potentially affected.

  • Complex trauma is ongoing and repeated traumatic events/ instances. Examples may be childhood abuse, physical or emotional neglect, abandonment, ongoing domestic violence, repeatedly witnessing violence, repeated cyberbullying, ongoing emotional abuse, medical trauma, etc. Complex trauma often has interpersonal consequences longterm and can impact future relationships. It can result in delayed development, difficulties with regulating emotions, intense shame, and disassociation.

Check these blog posts on trauma recovery.

Trauma-informed therapy is all about creating a space where you feel safe, respected, and in control of your healing. We will go at your pace, exploring how past experiences might still be affecting you today.

I strive to approach trauma work with a gentle, grounded presence. There are often misconceptions that you need to relive or retell your traumatic experiences; however, this is not true. In fact, the process is more about going at a pace that feels right for you, with full permission to slow down when needed.

Together, we might use:

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS—also known as Parts Work) to understand the different parts of you. This could include the protective parts, the hurting parts, and the ones that long for peace.

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help your brain reprocess painful memories without getting stuck in them.

  • Somatic awareness to reconnect with your body in ways that feel safe and empowering.

  • Attachment-based therapy to explore how early relationships shaped your sense of safety and connection, and to start building new, healthier patterns.

  • Narrative therapy to help you make meaning of your story, shift unhelpful beliefs, and reclaim your voice.

  • Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) to gently challenge and reframe the thoughts that may be keeping you stuck, while also building emotional regulation skills.

The goal of trauma-informed therapy is never to erase the past. It is to help you increase your capacity for joy, rest, connection, and freedom, as well as to restore a sense of safety in your body, trust in your inner wisdom, and confidence in your ability to navigate life on your own terms.

If you are ready to start the healing process from trauma, reach out to request a free consultation.

Contact