Many people will experience some form of trauma in their life such as a natural disaster, an accident, loss of a loved one, witnessing violence, experiencing neglect or a criminal act, etc. Some may recover rather quickly while for others, it can take years. In some cases, recovery might not start until years after the traumatic event. Trauma can cause severe disruption to one’s social, physical and emotional functioning. This can manifest as nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance of places that trigger distressing memories, dizziness, sweating, irritability, fear, depression, pain and more.
I’ve worked with individuals across the lifespan who have endured trauma. It is common for trauma survivors to be hesitant to talk about their experiences even when they seek therapy. I work with folks where they are at and know it takes tremendous courage to initiate help. Trauma focused therapy is a key component to healing. It includes multiple modalities that ultimately help reduce the frequency and intensity of distressing memories, learn coping strategies when experiencing distressing sensations, move trauma from being stuck in the body, and improve emotion regulation. This helps individuals make meaning of their experience without trauma dictating their life, communicate more effectively, and develop meaningful relationships.
