Are you trying to move forward in life, but find yourself constantly weighed down by the past? Maybe it's your experience growing up, a toxic relationship, or something that happened to you. After hardship or trauma, the brain adapts in brilliant (though sometimes unhelpful) ways. You might find yourself feeling anxious and unable to let things go, numb and shut down, or feeling disconnected from the person you want to be and the life you want to be living. If that sounds like you, know that this doesn't have to go on forever.
Trauma essentially boils down to the lasting physical and emotional responses after experiencing events in life that overwhelm our ability to cope with them in the moment. This could be a one-time event, such as a sexual assault or car crash. Or it could be a more complex and ongoing experience, such as growing up not feeling loved, or experiencing abuse or neglect. If you've experienced any type of trauma, therapy can help you identify the ways that it's impacted you, to find safety in yourself, and to heal from what's happened to you.
Acute trauma typically refers to single, isolated incidents of overwhelming adversity, such as accidents, natural disasters, or acts of violence, which can lead to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Developmental or complex trauma involves prolonged exposure to adverse experiences during key periods in development. This typically means childhood abuse, neglect, or chronic family dysfunction. This type of trauma can fly under the radar because we grow up thinking it's normal - for example, not feeling loved or supported by a parent. These experiences can profoundly impact an individual's sense of self, attachment patterns, and emotional regulation, making future relationships and day to day functioning quite difficult.
Regardless of what type of trauma or painful experience you've gone through, the team at Everworth is here to support you. While we can't erase your memory of the trauma, we can use evidence based treatments to process the traumatic memories, reduce the unwanted symptoms of trauma, address underlying beliefs and patterns that are holding you back, restore safety and control to your life, and help you to re-engage meaningfully with your life and those around you.
To do this, we use a combination of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT). Here are some things you can expect from trauma therapy sessions:
Click here to learn more about EMDR Therapy for Trauma at Everworth.
Absolutely, trauma can result from a wide range of distressing experiences beyond abuse. Trauma can stem from various sources such as accidents, witnessing violence, not having emotional needs met in childhood, sudden loss, or experiencing significant life changes. Even seemingly minor events can have a profound impact on individuals' emotional well-being, leading to symptoms such as anxiety, depression, or difficulty functioning. Trauma therapy can help individuals process and heal from these experiences, regardless of their cause.
No, you do not need to have a formal diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to benefit from trauma therapy. While PTSD is a common diagnosis associated with trauma, many individuals experience trauma-related symptoms without meeting the criteria for a specific diagnosis. Trauma therapy can be helpful for anyone struggling with the psychological and emotional effects of trauma, regardless of whether they meet diagnostic criteria. Your therapist will work with you to address your specific needs and goals for therapy, whether or not you have a formal diagnosis.
It's not uncommon for individuals to experience increased distress or emotional discomfort when discussing traumatic experiences in therapy. Bringing up painful memories and emotions can be challenging and may initially result in heightened anxiety, sadness, or other difficult feelings. However, it's important to remember that therapy is a process, and sometimes, things may feel worse before they start to improve. Your therapist is trained to support you through these difficult moments and can help you develop coping skills to manage intense emotions as they arise. With time and support, many individuals find that talking about their trauma in therapy leads to a greater sense of relief and healing.
Everworth Counselling Services
42 Carden Street, Guelph, ON N1H 3A2
info@everworthcounselling.ca
(548) 490-4617
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