Experiencing Trauma Is More Common Than You Think

Trauma is a part of the human experience, and it comes in many forms. Some events are what we call big “T” traumas—major life-threatening or overwhelming experiences like accidents, natural disasters, or violence. Others are small “t” traumas, which may seem less dramatic but can still deeply affect us, such as ongoing stress, relationship challenges, or workplace difficulties.

Childhood trauma can shape how we see ourselves and the world, often influencing emotional and physical health well into adulthood. And for those who care for or support others, vicarious trauma, the emotional impact of witnessing or hearing about someone else’s suffering—can be just as real.

Understanding these different types of traumas is the first step toward healing. You are not alone, and support is available.

Trauma Symptoms Will Vary from Person to Person

Life after trauma can feel overwhelming. It may seem like you’re stuck in a cycle of survival—constantly managing triggers and searching for safety. Your journey is unique, and the symptoms you experience can vary widely. You might notice persistent stress, anxiety, depression, or a sense of unease that’s hard to explain. Trauma can also show up physically: changes in heart rate, sweating, sleep difficulties, shifts in appetite or eating patterns, weight fluctuations, or even changes in breathing

What to Expect from Trauma Therapy

Our sessions are designed to help you move toward a life that feels calmer and more secure. The goal is to support your healing so you can experience greater peace and well-being.

A key part of therapy involves learning practical skills and techniques to manage triggers and reduce symptoms. Together, we’ll explore strategies such as grounding exercises, mindfulness practices, and breathing techniques. You’ll also gain insight into how your mind and body respond to stress, helping you recognize patterns and build resilience.

Throughout this process, we want you to know that your past does not define you. Our work focuses on empowering you to reclaim your sense of self and replace feelings of shame, guilt, and insecurity with confidence, self-compassion, and joy.

The most common approaches we use in trauma therapy are Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Somatic Therapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a specialized psychotherapy approach designed to help people heal from the emotional distress caused by traumatic experiences. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR focuses on how memories are stored in the brain and aims to reprocess those memories, so they no longer trigger overwhelming emotions or physical reactions.

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation—often through guided eye movements, tapping, or sounds—while you recall distressing memories in a safe and controlled environment. This process helps your brain “re-file” these memories, reducing their emotional intensity and allowing you to respond to them in a healthier way.

Somatic therapy is a holistic approach to mental health that focuses on the connection between mind and body. It recognizes that emotional pain and trauma are often stored not just in our thoughts, but in our physical sensations and nervous system. By working with both, somatic therapy helps

clients release tension, restore balance, and feel more grounded.

Somatic therapy combines traditional talk therapy with body-based techniques. During sessions, you might:

· Notice physical sensations linked to emotions

· Practice breathing exercises or gentle movement

· Use grounding techniques to calm the nervous system

· Explore how posture and tension relate to stress or trauma

These practices help you become more aware of your body’s signals and learn how to respond in ways that promote healing.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a powerful, evidence-based therapy that helps people understand and heal the different “parts” of themselves. Developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz, IFS is based on the idea that our mind is made up of many sub-personalities or “parts,” each with its own feelings, beliefs, and roles. These parts often develop as a way to protect us from pain or help us cope with life’s challenges.

In an IFS session, your therapist will guide you to:

· Identify and connect with different parts of yourself

· Understand what each part needs and why it exists

· Access your Self—the calm, centered part of you—to lead the healing process

· Help wounded parts release burdens and find new, healthier roles

This process is gentle, respectful, and deeply empowering.

“Trauma is not what happens to you. Trauma is what happens inside as a result of what happens to you” ~Dr Gabor Mate~

Counseling for Trauma

Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime whether it’s a childhood trauma, 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.

While many people can recover from trauma over time with the love and support of family and friends and bounce back with resiliency, 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

According to the four types of symptoms listed in the DSM-5.

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. Most commonly, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) are used in treating trauma.

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PTSD

Have you experienced a traumatic event? Are you suffering from lingering fear and anxiety? Do you feel like you no longer have any control over how you think, feel, and behave?

Posttraumatic stress disorder - also known as PTSD - is a mental health challenge that may occur in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a terrorist act, an act of war, a serious accident, rape, or any other violent personal assault.

It is believed that PTSD affects nearly four percent of the U.S. adult population. While it is usually linked with veterans who’ve experienced combat, PTSD occurs in all people regardless of age, race, nationality, or culture. In fact, women are twice as likely to experience PTSD than men.

What are the Symptoms of PTSD?

People with PTSD often experience intense thoughts and feelings related to their traumatic experiences. These can last for a long time after the initial event. Many people with PTSD also relive the event through flashbacks and nightmares.

People with PTSD often feel intense emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, and detachment from friends, family, and community members. They often avoid people and situations that remind them of the traumatic event. Ordinary sounds or incidents such as a door banging or accidental touch in a crowd may cause a strong and uncontrollable reaction.

How Can Treatment Help?

There are a variety of treatments that can be used to treat PTSD. However, there are three specific techniques that are consistently gaining research-based evidence of their effectiveness in successfully treating PTSD.

Cognitive Processing Therapy – This modality focuses on how a person perceives a traumatic event and processes it. A therapist can help their client work through stuck points, which are certain thoughts related to the trauma that prevents the person from recovering.
EMDR – EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. This technique uses bilateral sensory input such as side-to-side eye movements to stimulate the brain to process difficult thoughts, memories, and emotions.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – CBT is a form of talk therapy that focuses on how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are related to one another. The goal of a CBT therapist is to help a client with PTSD return to a place of hope with a greater sense of being in control of their thoughts and behaviors.

If you or someone you know matches the trauma symptoms listed above, I am confident that I can help and invite you to contact me today for a free consultation.

Give me 15 minutes to see if I can put you at ease and alleviate some of your hesitations around coming to therapy.

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