Trauma Therapy
What is trauma?
Trauma can leave life messy. It impacts relationships, our sense of self, and our ability to feel calm and connected. Any experience from the past that continues to feel overwhelming, triggers strong negative emotions and involves a sense of powerlessness or vulnerability is considered trauma. These experiences are held in our bodies through autonomic responses and are triggered by familiar images, feelings, sensations, and beliefs. Some traumas are obvious such as witnessing an act of violence, experiencing physical/sexual abuse, or a natural disaster. Trauma can also result from a relationship ending, a life-threatening illness, unexpected loss, an affair, or losing a job. When a child does not have his/her basic attachment needs met, trauma can occur. Chronic, prolonged stress also produces trauma.
Would I benefit from trauma therapy?
If incidences from the past continue to disturb you and negatively impact the way you see yourself or the world, EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing) therapy can likely help. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change maladaptive neural pathways into adaptive ones. After learning ways to regulate your emotions, we would focus on a specific memory while simultaneously using bilateral stimulation (BLS). There are various forms of BLS that we can explore together to ensure you are comfortable. Processing the event this way reduces the vividness of the memory and allows the brain and body to feel safe to resume its natural healing process. An event that previously felt distressing is desensitized so that it no longer impacts your nervous system and you can feel calm, secure, and connected. Negative beliefs about yourself are replaced with more helpful, adaptive beliefs.