What is trauma?
When we talk about trauma in counseling, we are referring to any event(s) or situation that feels life threatening or overwhelming and that has long-lasting effects on a person's mental, physical, or even spiritual well-being. This can include trauma that is felt across generations in families or communities.
Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime whether it’s a car accident, abuse or neglect, the sudden death of a loved one, a violent criminal act, exposure to the violence of war, or a natural disaster. Trauma also includes experiences like forced migration and cultural assimilation. While people may experience similar traumatic events or life circumstances, the impact of trauma is unique to each person and everyone's experience is valid.
Goals of Trauma Counseling
Healing from trauma is different for each person. It may include learning about your nervous system and how trauma can show up in the body, or compassionately tending to the parts of us wounded by trauma. One of the things that makes trauma counseling unique is that it is rooted in an understanding of the nervous system and how our brain and body are hardwired to respond to stress.
The goal of trauma counseling is not to be "fixed" or "cured" but to be whole. Wholeness is about integrating our experiences of trauma into our lives while strengthening our ability to recognize and respond in a way that doesn't overwhelm us.
While many people can recover from trauma over time with the love and support of family and friends, others may discover the effects of lasting trauma, which can cause a person to live with deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or posttraumatic stress far after the event has passed.
In these circumstances, the support, guidance, and assistance of a therapist are fundamental to healing from trauma.
Trauma Symptoms
While each person's experience is unique, there are some common symptoms that help us identify trauma. These include:
Avoidance Symptoms
- Avoiding specific locations, sights, situations, and sounds that serve as reminders of the event
- Anxiety, depression, numbness, or guilt
Re-experiencing Symptoms
- Intrusive thoughts, nightmares, or flashbacks
Hyperarousal Symptoms
- Anger, irritability, and hypervigilance
- Aggressive, reckless behavior, including self-harm
- Sleep disturbances
Negative Mood and Cognition Symptoms
- Loss of interest in activities that were once considered enjoyable
- Difficulty remembering details of the distressing event
- Change in habits or behavior since the trauma
Research has proven psychotherapy to be the most effective form of treatment for trauma. My approach to treating trauma includes Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and EMDR, as well as psychoeducation and somatic (body-based) interventions. My experience includes intensive work with first responders as well as health and human services providers who have experienced vicarious trauma and moral injury. I am LGBTQ2IA affirming and committed to decolonizing mental health practices for marginalized communities.
If you or someone you know matches the trauma symptoms listed above, I would be happy to explore ways to reduce symptoms and begin healing. Please reach out for a free 20-minute consultation to see if my services might be a fit.