The effects of trauma can be really difficult for you to deal with. It can be confusing because you don’t understand why you are reacting the way you are or what is happening. Moreover, it can be distressing because you feel out of control and don’t know how to change it. Therapy can provide a place to heal and find a reduction of the symptoms you’ve been experiencing.
Experiences and Symptoms of Trauma
Trauma can bring various symptoms that can negatively impact your life. You may find yourself…
- Being on edge, reactive, overwhelmed, trapped, helpless, and/or unsettled.
- Avoiding people, places, or activities that remind you of the trauma or trigger unwanted symptoms.
- Struggling with traumatic symptoms that are controlling or limiting your life.
- Being harsh with yourself, self-blame, and/or engaging in self-criticism.
- Feeling disconnected and detached from yourself, others, and the world.
- Struggling with a persistent negative emotions, such as sadness, irritability, guilt, shame, and/or anger or the inability to feel positive emotions, such as joy.
- Exhausted due to the pain and suffering, lack of sleep, and/or nightmares.
- Hurting yourself or those you love because of your trauma (due to trauma triggers or self-destructive behaviours).
You may have been trying to cope on your own and it’s not working. Or on the other hand, the tools that used to work for you aren’t working anymore. Additionally, you want to change your life for the better but don’t know how. Trauma isn’t easy to figure out. Often, it can be difficult to figure out why a particular event impacted you so severely.
What is Trauma?
Trauma is what happens when the nervous system gets overwhelmed, which can come from too much too soon, too much for too long, or not enough for too long. When the nervous system is overwhelmed, things do not get stored in the brain properly, and everyday things can trigger them to manifest like they are happening in the present when the emotion, physical sensation, and/or perception is actually coming from the past. It can be very distressing and difficult to navigate.
Trauma changes your brain. You may become more reactive, seeing threat where there is none. Although this may be true, there are tools and strategies in therapy that can retrain your brain away from the reactive tendencies and towards a calmer, more peaceful state.
Benefits of Trauma Therapy
There is hope. Therapy can bring healing and understanding to your struggles. Some of the benefits you can gain from engaging in trauma therapy include…
- Gaining an understanding of why you are reacting the way you are, why your body is reacting the way it is, and why it is affecting you the way it is.
- Retraining your brain so that you aren’t as sensitive to pain, trauma, or other emotional triggers.
- Being able to bring yourself back to a calmer and more tolerable state more quickly after trauma triggers.
- Experiencing a reduction of uncomfortable sensations and emotions, trauma symptoms, and pain.
- Gaining more control over your life, more self-confidence and belief in yourself
- Discovering or rebuilding a sense of self, safety, and connection
Additionally, I can treat some of your struggles that may be connected to your trauma, such as chronic pain, sleep issues, anxiety, panic, depression, grief, substance, and behavioural issues, such as gambling problems.
Enabling Healing from Trauma
Trauma can interfere with our sense of safety, trust, and comfortability with the world, others, and ourselves. This is can make it really difficult to put yourself into the therapeutic process. As a result, I strive to create a welcoming and nonjudgmental place in therapy that enables you to do the work necessary for healing.
I realize that trust may be an issue. You don’t need to trust me. There can be effectiveness in therapy if you believe that we can work together and that my skills and/or the therapies I use will help you heal from your trauma. Furthermore, we can go at whatever pace you need to go. The door is always open to feedback and changes of direction. Above all, you always have the control to stop the process and decide that it’s not for you or you are not ready yet.
There’s a natural healing power in the brain and I believe we can unlock that healing power in you. First, we can start with you telling your story so we have a shared understanding of what you’ve been through. Second, we can try to figure out what is preventing you from resolving the trauma naturally. Part of this, is providing you with the necessary psychoeducation so that you can understand your trauma and why it is manifesting in your life. Finally, we can use tools and strategies to help you heal and experience a reduction in symptoms and suffering.
The Next Step
We will work together to decide the direction that works best for you to pursue the healing of your trauma. I am trained in multiple trauma therapies so I can able to work with you in a way that matches where you are and what your needs are in the healing process. Please invite me to take part in the next stage of your healing journey by booking a consultation or contacting me with any questions or concerns.
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