Working with Trauma
Do you find you are frequently exhausted, agitated or anxious? Does your daily experience include episodes of zoning out, memory-loss or unexplained sadness? Do you feel blunted or numb, or do you suddenly get flashbacks to a negative experience in the past and can you just seem to not stop thinking about it, or worry that it will happen again.
Trauma and our brain's response, is not just something soldiers or emergency personnel get. It can be from something as simple as a bad fall, or an argument that suddenly turned abusive when you weren't expecting it. Our experiences with Trauma depend very much on how our brain reacts to and stores those experiences. If it is unable to process and move on from that experience, it will continue to make us relive it whenever there is the slightest thing that may trigger the memory; from the sound of an engine backfiring, to something green, because there was a green cushion present when the experience happened.
We continue to react to these triggers as if it is happening again which just keeps the Trauma fresh, and we simply cannot control these reactions. This is when getting help is essential.
This type of work can be challenging and difficult, but can also be the most rewarding, a successful result meaning that the triggers disappear and your life will no longer be narrowed down to the "safe" places for you.
Trauma comes in many forms and many of us have experienced trauma over our lifetime for many reasons. Trauma affects the body, mind, and emotions in profound ways. It can alter how you view yourself. Let me help you understand your reactions to trauma and let's explore how it is holding you back in your life. I can introduce and teach you new skills to manage and regulate your emotions so that you won't be overwhelmed by them. Using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) we will focus on identifying and restructuring trauma related negative beliefs. We will focus on your strengths and resilience to help you reclaim control over how you live your life. As everyone's trauma is a unique experience, I will tailor and adapt the therapy process to meet your particular needs.
I have done it myself over the last 24 years. Working with trauma as a therapist requires sensitivity, knowledge of trauma informed care and a focus on building a safe, trusting relationship. As a therapist with over 24 years experience helping people I can offer you the appropriate environment to explore and navigate the traumas you may have experienced in your life. Together we can create a safe therapeutic space to ensure that you feel emotionally and physically safe during sessions. I will respect your boundaries and let you control the pace of your disclosures.
Let me help you through your journey. You might be surprised where it will bring you. There is another version of you waiting to be discovered.