What is trauma?

I generally define trauma as anything that overwhelms you and your body’s natural ability to cope, manage, and regulate. Traumatic experiences go far beyond the violent ones that people tend to think of first. Traumas always involve a loss of control, and they lead to a range of feelings including a lack of safety (physical, mental, emotional), isolation, and shame. Some people say that traumatic experiences can be identified by there being life before and then life after. 

The truth is, I could go really deep into technical definitions and explanations, and while that may be what you need over time, for right now I want you to understand that you do not have to feel as scared and alone as you likely feel every day. I have worked with many different types of traumatic experiences (abuse, neglect, assault, combat, traumatic loss, and more), and many of these impacts are consistent across them all.

What is trauma therapy?

Trauma therapy is a process of specifically addressing the impacts of traumatic experiences on your life. These experiences leave an imprint on our mind and body, and they lead to difficulties in potentially every area of our lives. Trauma survivors often feel fragmented and disconnected, and nothing feels safe. The starting point with trauma therapy is to begin developing feelings of safety within your own body. You cannot process traumatic experiences until you can safely manage any emotional reactions that may go along with that.

Do I have to talk about the bad stuff?

I never have the expectation or requirement that a client come into my office and tell me about the worst stuff imaginable. Honestly, that doesn’t seem any safer to me than it feels to you as you consider it. Once you’ve developed healthy coping and regulation skills, we will begin to process your experiences, but even at that point it won’t be a necessity for you to tell all. I love using the refrain “headlines not details” because it gives us both enough to work with. Over time, some clients feel the need to share more because they want another human to hear them and accept them, and I can support that as well.

How can I heal if I don’t talk about it?

One of the problems with traumatic experiences is not that they happened, it’s that they feel like they are still happening. Events from decades in the past feel like they are in the present. Our goal is to focus on the present and your experience in the present moment, and that can help move the past to the past. When we are processing the traumatic experiences, I typically use an approach called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) which can lead to healing with very little information spoken aloud. 

What is EMDR?

EMDR is a therapeutic approach developed over 30 years ago, and it is a leading approach based on the amount of research showing its effectiveness. Since its development, other approaches and modalities have been created that are based on the core approach of bilateral stimulation (BLS). EMDR processing leads to your full mind and body being engaged to help lower the intensity of your reaction in the present to an event from the past. It is an approach that is very adaptable, and I have advanced training that allows me to tailor it to your situation. 

Free Consultation

Choosing a therapist can be a stressful process, and finding the right fit is important. For that reason, I offer a 15-30 minute consultation at no cost. This gives us both the opportunity to make sure that I am the best therapist for you. A consultation can be scheduled online by clicking the button below and following the steps for a new client.