Trauma results from many types of disturbances. Trauma can originate from a single event or from multiple experiences. An event becomes traumatic when the experience is highly distressing and overwhelming. During the event you may have feelings of helplessness, powerless or feeling trapped. Often you’re left feeling unsafe and frightened and remain on-guard even after the event has passed.

What are some common types of traumatic experiences?

• Physical assault

• Life threatening medical diagnosis or procedures

• An accident

• A loved one was killed or seriously harmed

• Sexual violence

• Witnessing or being part of a life threatening event

Complex or developmental traumas arise from repeated or cumulative harm, or maltreatment.

• Abuse in childhood or as an adult

• Bullying

• Childhood neglect and or abandonment

• Highly stressful or dysfunctional family

• Substance abuse or violence in the home

• Complicated grief

PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is the result of experiencing one or multiple traumatic events with the development of several specific symptoms.

• Trouble falling or staying asleep

• Disturbing dreams, nightmares or night terror

• Guilt, shame and regret

• Difficulty trusting people or feeling intimate

• Anxiety, nervousness, panic

• Hopelessness or despair

• Harsh self-judgment

• Easily Startled

• Easily upset by other’s strong emotions

• Avoiding certain people, places, or things

• Feel depressed or losing interest in pleasurable activities sometime after the event(s)

• Feeling outside of yourself

• Difficulty concentrating

• Intrusive thoughts or memories of the trauma

• Psychological and physical distress from reminders of the traumatic event

Life-changing

Trauma is serious and often debilitating. Traumatic events can be disruptive to your life and relationships. Often people will try to cope with uncomfortable and disturbing effects of trauma by self-medicating with drugs and alcohol, sex, and other addictive or self-destructive behaviors. Often relationships with family, friends, and work are negatively impacted by psychological and emotional changes that occur as a result of trauma.

How we can help

We are caring compassionate therapists trained in trauma and grief related techniques such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), cognitive re-structuring and art therapy.

The first goal of treatment is to relieve the symptoms and difficulties of trauma so people can feel calmer and safe.

The next goal is to help end ‘self-medicating” behaviors like addiction or other forms self-harm that might be occurring.

The final goal is to repair relationships that have been altered or impacted so you can build healthy and enjoyable lives.