Counseling for Trauma
Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime. Most people view trauma as 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. However, trauma is both what has happened to you and also what didn't happen to you that you needed during distressing or even life threatening situations.
While some people can recover from trauma over time with the love and support of family and friends and bounce back with resiliency, others may discover 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. There is a reason that these symptoms are still showing up. Together we can create a safe container to explore at a pace right for your system as a mindful witness what happened or should have happened that leads to profound healing.
In these circumstances, the support, guidance, and assistance of a therapist is fundamental to healing from trauma.
Trauma Symptoms
Here are some common symptoms that the DSM uses to define trauma which does not encompass completely what some people may experience.
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. While talk-therapy can be useful for some, other people find this not effective for relieving them of the deeper pains they may carry within themselves. Internal family systems (IFS) is a trauma informed theory that believes the symptoms listed above are still present for very good reasons and by listening inside to your story the burdens attached to the symptoms can be released. This allows for long term healing and transformations that can create clarity, calm, confidence, and compassion for oneself to name a few.
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.