Trauma Therapy
Could You Be Struggling With Past Trauma Without Realizing It?
Are you struggling with intrusive, negative thoughts that you can’t seem to shake? Do you feel emotionally numb or isolated from people around you? Have you attempted to “move on from” or forget about painful experiences from your past, like bullying, toxic relationships, or family dysfunction, yet still “cringe inside” at the memories of these events?
By its very nature, past trauma is not fully in someone’s consciousness. Rather, it leaves a signature of current symptoms that show up in present-day life.
Most days, you may feel like you’re “keeping it together” while upholding your responsibilities in your personal and professional life, but inside, you’re dealing with intense anxiety, emotional numbness, or relentless self-criticism. You may have unresolved trauma that still carries an emotional impact or charge.
Suppressing Trauma Can Lead To Emotional And Physical Symptoms
Blocking out or suppressing the aftereffects of a trauma is like trying to keep a beachball under water. Symptoms will “pop up” somatically as digestive issues, sleep disruptions, or headaches that don’t have any clear explanation. They can affect your nervous system, keeping you in a hypervigilant and hyper-activated state and making you edgy, tense and unable to relax.
By exploring symptoms, memory circuits of past trauma become activated to reveal your own history or what happened to you from the inside out. With an experienced therapist, you can explore the long-term effects of past trauma in a secure environment, learn how to honor your own needs rather than dismissing your pain, cultivate authentic relationships, and make decisions about your future that align with your values.
Living Through Trauma Can Affect Your Vulnerability
A traumatic experience can make it difficult to trust others. You may maintain only surface-level relationships because you don’t feel comfortable with true vulnerability and experience a persistent sense of loneliness as a result.
Today, people frequently turn to the internet for solutions to their problems where they do not have to share “up-close and in-person” with someone. Looking to social media for “the answers” to their physical and emotional symptoms, they might overlook the traumatic events that led to these issues and only get temporary relief.
In his book Man’s Search for Meaning, psychologist Viktor Frankl stated, “An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behavior.” Despite the fact that almost everyone will experience a traumatic event in their life, and trauma responses are normal and protective, many people feel a deep sense of shame regarding their past trauma and do not want to open themselves up for judgment or have others view them as “victims.”
Our Culture Can Make It Difficult To Address Past Trauma
American society promotes the idea that you should be able to “pull yourself up by your bootstraps,” and therefore, people often worry that they’ll be viewed as “weak” if they seek counseling. Unfortunately, and way too often, those who survive violent trauma, like sexual assault or an abusive relationship, hesitate to share their experience out of fear of blame or judgment and hope to handle it themselves.
Many people have busy lives and feel concerned that, “If I start crying, I’m afraid I will never stop.”They don’t allow themselves to be vulnerable for fear they’ll fall apart. But with guidance from a skilled counselor, you’ll be able to process your feelings safely, address your trauma, and build a life defined by your dreams and values, not your past experiences.
Through Trauma Therapy, You Can Reconnect With Your Life’s Vitality And Purpose
It’s normal to feel anxious about addressing your trauma or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms in therapy. Throughout your initial sessions, we’ll focus on building a trustworthy connection and establishing a safe space. We’ll also practice grounding techniques that you can apply in therapy and in your personal life so that you can self-soothe if you’re feeling overwhelmed or triggered.
What To Expect In Trauma Therapy Sessions
During your intake session, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss your current life circumstances and share your present-day symptoms. I will never push you to share anything that you’re not ready to talk about—instead, we’ll move forward at your pace.
In counseling, we’ll explore your short-term, long-term, and visionary goals. It’s hard to see beyond the immediate future when you’re grappling with trauma, but as you navigate the healing process, you’ll discover what lightens you up when trauma isn’t weighing you down. By processing “unfinished business,” you’ll develop a more expansive perspective on what you want from life and uncover new possibilities.
Treatment Approaches For Trauma Therapy
My approach to trauma treatment is centered around Gestalt therapy, which emphasizes healing the body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Through Gestalt therapy, you’ll learn how your “whole” self is greater than the sum of your parts, and how to heal the parts of you that are still hurt by the effects of past trauma. For example, if part of you wants to avoid relationships because you’ve been hurt, you can integrate the belief that you’re capable of prioritizing your needs while connecting with others and fostering trust.
Additionally, I draw on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you reframe negative beliefs that you’ve developed as a result of past trauma. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can also aid you in finding contentment in spite of your trauma.
Throughout counseling, we’ll work on key mindfulness and emotional regulation skills, including deep breathing, guided meditation and visualizations, and grounding yourself in your physical environment. Overall, you’ll deepen your self-awareness, get comfortable handling adversity without over-reacting when triggered, and learn how to fulfill your needs and live according to your values while engaging in healthy relationships with others.
Dr. Gabor Mate says that trauma is “not what happened to you, but what happened inside you as a result of what happened to you.” Trauma can cause psychological wounds, but the event itself is in the past, but it does not have to define your present or future. Many people have pursued counseling for past trauma and PTSD and come out the other side with a renewed sense of purpose and vitality.
But You May Still Have Questions About Trauma Therapy…
How long will I need to be in therapy?
While there is no specific timeline for trauma therapy, I find that most clients continue sessions for anywhere from two to nine months. When you begin therapy, I’ll focus on creating a space where you can stabilize, and down the road, we’ll emphasize trauma processing, mastery of emotional regulation and other key skills, and reconnecting with your community. My goal is to establish an environment where you can express, explore, and reclaim your authentic self.
Do I have to revisit my traumatic memories in therapy?
Some clients choose to focus solely on the present-day issues rooted in their trauma, like eating issues or sleep troubles, and don’t feel the need to recount the specific events in therapy. However, many clients find it immensely beneficial to reflect on traumatic memories in sessions to process “unfinished business.” If you choose to revisit your trauma, it is important to remember that you have already survived the event and the emotional impact, and you can safely discuss these memories in therapy.
What if I get triggered during a therapy session?
Processing triggers in therapy is a critical part of the healing process, and in sessions, you can respond to them from a place of safety. While triggers can be uncomfortable, I’ll equip you with healthy coping skills that you can use during sessions and in your daily life. For example, you’ll practice grounding exercises and various self-soothing skills to work with and not against your anxiety.
You Can Experience A Bright, Expansive Life Through Trauma Counseling
If you’re ready to explore what life could feel like if you are unburdened by past trauma, it may be time to reach out to a therapist. I invite you to call my office at (303) 483-8253 to book a free consultation or schedule your first trauma therapy session.
