Trauma Therapy

Has Trauma Left You Feeling Isolated And Emotionally Numb?

Are you suffering from panic attacks that occur without warning?
Have you struggled with persistent sadness or anxiety after living through a traumatic event?
Do you feel like your loved ones don’t understand what you’ve gone through?

Perhaps you’ve started avoiding stressors that remind you of your trauma in order to stave off panic attacks, but this habit cuts you off from places and activities that you once loved. Most days, you feel angry or irritable even when nothing particular has gone wrong. Maybe you’ve been self-medicating with alcohol or drugs to lessen your symptoms.

Trauma Can Affect Your Mental And Physical Health

After living through trauma, you might have trouble regulating your emotions. You may quickly become frustrated or annoyed at minor inconveniences. Sometimes, when you’re faced with a stressor in public, you may overreact in front of others and then feel ashamed afterward. But when you’re reminded of what happened, you can’t control your response.

You might be suffering from physical symptoms of trauma, too. Perhaps you’ve been having trouble sleeping or you can’t concentrate because of frequent headaches.

Maybe you struggle to open up to anyone about what happened. You feel like your trauma has created a wall between you and your loved ones. Perhaps you’re hesitant to be vulnerable with anyone, fearing that you’ll be blamed for your trauma.

Sometimes, you probably find yourself wishing that you could just be happy again, and you wonder if healing is even possible. With support from a trauma therapist, you can release the pain of the past and experience real joy.

Most People Have Lived Through A Traumatic Experience

Trauma is an inevitable aspect of the human experience. Nearly everyone will experience a traumatic event at some point in their lives. Living through severe or recurring trauma can lead to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which is characterized by symptoms like flashbacks, hypervigilance, severe anxiety, and social isolation.

Additionally, some traumatic experiences happen over long periods of time and have subtler effects on the mind. They may not cause PTSD, but they can still destabilize a person and make them suffer from depression and anxiety. Being in a toxic relationship, working in a high-pressure environment, or even dealing with a chronic illness can all lead to trauma.

Although trauma is not a rare occurrence, many people do not reach out for support. Instead, they often keep their experiences inside and try to suppress their own reflections of the event.

Talking About Trauma Isn’t Easy

Unfortunately, there is a widespread stigma that discourages people from sharing their experiences with trauma. People fear being blamed for what happened or worry that others will misunderstand them.

Furthermore, many people lack access to mental health care because of socioeconomic factors. They might try to ignore their symptoms in the hopes that the issue will simply go away, but in most cases, this only worsens the problem. Additionally, some people are hesitant to seek professional help because talking about traumatic experiences with someone outside of their family is viewed negatively in their culture.

In a desperate attempt to reduce their symptoms, some people who have suffered through trauma will turn to alcohol or other substances for temporary relief. Yet self-medicating only makes it harder to process trauma, which in turn makes it harder to heal.

Reaching out for help can be difficult when talking about trauma is so heavily stigmatized. But working with a trauma therapist can help you reduce your vulnerability to stressors, manage your symptoms in a healthy way, and enjoy contentment in your daily life.

Therapy Can Help You Overcome Past Trauma

If you’ve been living with trauma, you might have gotten used to hiding your feelings rather than speaking up about the challenges you’ve faced. You may be worried that finally sharing your experiences will worsen your symptoms. Thankfully, my practice is a safe, judgment-free space where you can explore your past without shame. Additionally, there is no rush to open up about your experiences right away—the healing process happens on your own timing.

In therapy, you’ll learn about how your trauma has affected your decisions and thought patterns. We will explore the influence of trauma on your unconscious mind and why you continuously relive traumatic events. Through this process, you can liberate yourself from your traumatic experiences and become empowered to live the life that you choose.

What To Expect In Trauma Counseling Sessions

Currently, I am conducting telehealth therapy sessions so that you can pursue treatment from home. We will spend your first session discussing your history with trauma, why you decided to seek therapy, and which symptoms you want to address. Once I have an in-depth understanding of your present concerns, we will work together to develop a personalized treatment plan based on your needs and goals.

In my practice, I approach PTSD therapy within a psychodynamic framework which acknowledges how trauma can shape your unconscious mind. We will begin by exploring your childhood, analyzing possible sources of trauma in your past, and evaluating how traumatic experiences during key developmental stages can affect your mental health. These memories can guide your conscious actions even if you aren’t aware of it. By learning about how the unconscious mind works, you can change your behavior so that you do not react thoughtlessly or instinctively to traumatic memories.

Throughout our sessions, I will routinely check in with you to evaluate your progress. By reflecting on the problems that brought you to therapy and moving forward with solutions, you can identify the roots of your trauma while applying practical strategies for improving your quality of life.

Modalities For Trauma Treatment

While I emphasize a psychodynamic approach to PTSD treatment in order to uncover core issues, I can also integrate other modalities and techniques into sessions.

If you are struggling with negative thought patterns, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help you analyze the roots of your beliefs and begin establishing positive thought patterns that benefit you. For instance, you may have internalized your trauma and come to believe it is your fault. CBT can help you recognize that you are not to blame for your trauma and understand that your experiences were not fully under your control.

If you suffer from panic attacks, I can help you address your stressors through exposure therapy. With gradual exposure to stressors in safe, controlled scenarios, you can learn to prevent future panic attacks.

Furthermore, we will work on various mindfulness techniques for finding a sense of calm in the midst of stressful times. I also encourage clients to focus on exercising and eating a nutritious diet, as a healthy lifestyle supports mental wellbeing.

And finally, I use a solution-focused approach that involves teaching tangible skills to help you manage your symptoms and navigate daily life with ease. Over the past 15 years, I have helped many clients process and heal from trauma. Therapy is a journey, and making a conscious decision to pursue treatment takes strength and courage. If you are committed to healing, you are fully capable of changing your life.

But you may still have questions about trauma therapy...

Is trauma therapy expensive?

The cost of therapy can be a barrier that prevents many people from getting the help they need. But therapy should be accessible for anyone struggling with their mental health. In my practice, I use an income-based sliding scale to determine fees for clients. This system allows me to keep prices affordable for everyone.

I’ve had poor experiences with therapy in the past and I’m scared to tell another therapist about my trauma.

It can take some time to find a therapist you feel truly comfortable with. Even if you haven’t found the right trauma therapist yet, valuing your mental health enough to continue searching is commendable. You will not be rushed during sessions - we can move through treatment at a pace that suits you.

I’m ashamed to seek therapy for my trauma.

There is a stigma against speaking up about trauma or pursuing counseling to heal from PTSD. But asking for help when you’re struggling does not mean that you’re weak. In fact, recognizing that you need support is courageous. Furthermore, everything that you say in therapy will remain confidential, so you are free to express yourself without fearing judgment from others.

You Can Find Freedom In Life With Trauma Therapy

If you are ready to start your healing journey and recover from trauma, you can learn more about my practice by scheduling a free, 15-minute phone consultation. And if you are ready to schedule your first session, you can reach out using my contact page.

Schedule Today