Therapy for Trauma

Trauma can be defined as an emotional/physiological response to a distressing event. It can be a one-time event, a prolonged event, or a series of events. Some examples of traumatic events may be emotional abuse, a car accident, sexual assault, loss of a loved one, a natural disaster such as a hurricane, experiencing racism/discrimination, and physical violence. 

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Unfortunately, trauma is a part of life. We all have experienced trauma, and I've found a lot of people experience trauma when they are the most vulnerable (as a child). I often hear people questioning if what they experienced is considered "trauma" or they may feel like their trauma wasn't "bad enough." I'm here to tell you that trauma is trauma, and someone else's trauma doesn't take away from what you went through. Whatever pain or hurt that you've experienced is bad enough, and your feelings and reactions are valid.

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Trauma can impact every area of a person's life. It can affect how you see yourself, how you view and interact with others, and your beliefs about the world. If you're struggling with trauma, you might notice that you feel constantly anxious and fearful. You may notice that you are more irritable than usual, and you have difficulties feeling positive emotions. You might even have nightmares, flashbacks, and try to avoid the people or places associated with the trauma. These are all normal reactions to trauma.

With unprocessed trauma, the distressing thoughts, feelings, images, and sensations can get trapped in the nervous system. Trauma can make it hard to trust other people, think positively about yourself, and feel safe in the world. You deserve to feel safe in your body, mind, and life. With trauma therapy, you can finally process what you've been through and heal from the past.​​