TRAUMA THERAPY
Is A Traumatic Experience Depriving You Of Your Sense Of Peace?
Do you ever feel like your mind and body are silently sounding an alarm despite there being no presence of a threat?
Are you busy battling negative, catastrophic thoughts about what may happen next that you are unable to settle?
Perhaps you are constantly worried about being attacked, injured, or abandoned, and thus, you do not feel safe even in your most intimate relationships.
Or maybe you have come to realize that you have lived with trauma or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for too long, and you are finally ready to address it in the container of counseling with a trained professional.
Trauma And PTSD Can Wear Away At You Day By Day
Over time, the pain of trauma can slowly erode relationships, careers, and physical health in various ways.
For instance, you may be…
irritable, moody, over-reactive, anxious, or depressed.
easily frightened, startled, or moved to anger.
physically exhausted and emotionally depleted.
struggling with insomnia, eating right, or focusing.
experiencing nightmares or hyper-focusing on the past.
In the course of time, you may even blame yourself for your emotions, trauma history, and how it affects others.
It is possible to have an ally and a guided process, with a strong container to address your trauma history. With the help of a skilled and compassionate trauma therapist, it is possible to live with greater courage, confidence, and centeredness.
Reach out today!
Trauma And PTSD Affect The Lives Of People Worldwide
Regardless of age, gender, background, or belief system—trauma can affect anyone. Although not everyone who experiences (or witnesses) something traumatic will develop PTSD, painful thoughts, emotions, and memories of that event can compromise nearly every aspect of a person’s life.
Because only a fraction of those affected ever seek treatment, you likely know someone who is silently struggling with trauma or PTSD behind the scenes of their otherwise “normal” life.
Most of us are familiar with the typical causes of trauma, such as:
Severe injuries, accidents, or medical diagnoses
Physical assault, abuse, or combat experience
Loss of a child, spouse, parent, or sibling
However, trauma and PTSD can also result from a string of events or prolonged exposure to toxic environments or stressors, such as childhood neglect, bullying, rejection, public humiliation, or emotional abuse.
Overcoming Trauma Or PTSD Without Help Can Be Very Difficult
Trauma makes it easy to get lost in the whirlwind of negative thoughts and emotions. Our brain and nervous system is simply trying to protect and help us.
The numbness can deprive you of physiological stability, connection, and the drive to move forward. Fear and isolation can slowly erode your emotional support network. Painful reminders, memories, and triggers keep you anchored in the past, unable to actualize change even if you knew how to help yourself feel better.
Fortunately, trauma therapy can help you find clarity amidst the chaos, enabling you to heal and finally move forward with your life. Though it may be hard to believe — it is possible to feel safer, more grounded, and capable of navigating this world with a healthy amount of caution and not debilitating fear.
Trauma Therapy Offers You The Opportunity To Reclaim Your Life
Most people who are considering counseling for trauma worry that they will become overwhelmed or have to relive the worst moments of their life. My job is to ensure that your trauma recovery process stays tolerable so that it can be digested and integrated, not recapitulated.
Perhaps the most valuable part of trauma therapy is knowing you have someone at your side who will listen and help bear the weight of your experience. In that spirit, it is important that you understand you are not damaged or broken and that the pain you feel can change.
Effective Trauma and PTSD Treatment Approaches
I am trained in a variety of different evidence-based therapeutic methods that can be tailored to your unique needs. Throughout sessions, we will focus on:
Understanding how your history is impacting you on a physical, emotional, mental level and how it shows up in your external life
Identifying patterns in your life and exploring new possibilities for coping with your trauma symptoms
Addressing beliefs, physiological patterns and other obstacles produced by your struggles
To achieve this, I first want to give you the time and space to share your story. In particular, I would like to know: Has your experience been influencing your relationships? Are there specific reminders or stressors that transport you back into the past? What kind of goals do you have for therapy and what do you ultimately want your life to look like?
What You Can Expect In Ongoing Sessions
Above all, I would like you to be able to fully express yourself. One of the purposes of therapy is truthfulness. That is why I will teach you valuable coping skills for regulating emotions so that, if we do touch a sensitive spot, you will have the tools to stay grounded. Co-regulation work with a therapist is one of the most valuable tools for trauma recovery work.
Considering that underlying factors may be complicating your experience, we will also explore aspects of your past that can help us develop a treatment plan that is right for you. This could include your upbringing, childhood relationships, teen years, or any family history of trauma. While acknowledging the past is important, an important standard I hold in trauma work is that it should always come from your core and be something you are ready for. Discussing details should always be the choice of the person who had the experience, and knowing there is a space to do that can be powerful.
I know it may be difficult to reach out for help, but you are on the cusp of discovering a new relationship with yourself. You’ll know when the time is right and who the right person is for you.
Perhaps You Are Considering Trauma Therapy, But You Still Have Some Concerns…
I am worried I will have to talk about my worst memories.
I am ultimately here to support you feeling well. Thus, anything that makes you feel worse actually runs against what I am trying to do. If ever you do not feel ready or capable of discussing something, we will stop and take another route.
Therapy is about your personal journey to wholeness, not about sticking to protocol. Whatever path is best for you, I will help you find a direction that puts you on your way to where you want to go. This is a unique and personal process and while there are some things that might be expected, it looks different for everyone. It’s important and helpful to have an experienced facilitator.
I am worried that even a trauma counselor will judge me.
First and foremost, our space together is one of non-judgment. We practice curiosity together. Secondly, fear, self-blame, or shame you feel is probably a direct result of the wounds that you have endured. Compassion, spaciousness, and ground gives a place to begin to look at and lightly touch these feelings, with care.
Trauma treatment is not just about moving forward with the future, it is about understanding, processing, and finally reconciling the past so you are no longer subject to its power. This includes finding a place where guilt, judgment, and shame can be addressed and reorganized.
Does trauma therapy really work? Could I not do this on my own?
Trauma and PTSD can change a person on a neurological level. Trying to think your way out of it is like attempting to use a broken compass to find due north in a blizzard. When trauma has jolted your life, it is as if your circuitry has become scrambled and it is a challenge to go anywhere but in circles of self-protection. Trauma counseling, in some ways, is like having an opportunity to fix your compass, find direction, and finally start taking steps to move ahead. Most of the time, life is made exponentially easier by working with a professional who has the experience and drive to walk with you through the storm until you find your footing.
Discover That A New Life Is Within Your Reach
If you are ready to stop carrying the weight of the past and letting it suppress you, trauma therapy can help you discover a new life. I do offer EMDR and trauma work via telehealth, and sometimes recommend coming into the office for intensive trauma work. Please feel free to contact me to discuss options.
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