Trauma

Trauma is an inescapably stressful event that overwhelms people’s existing coping mechanisms”(van der Kolk & Fisler, 1995). 

Events such as car accidents; war; major world disasters; physical and sexual abuse are easily identifiable as “traumatic.” Experiences arising from bullying; emotional abuse or neglect; loss or separation from a primary caregiver during childhood are also examples of events that can be equally impactful and upset a person’s sense of safety and security.

Trauma often impacts people in the following areas:

• The ability to regulate or mange feelings, emotions and impulses

• Changes or fluctuations in consciousness

• Changes in self-perception (how we see ourselves)

• Disturbances in relationships (trusting too easy or not trusting at all)

• Somatization: physical responses to psychological and emotional distress

• Alterations in systems of meaning (how we see the world and interpret our environments)

Conditions such as anxiety, depression, addictions, personality disorders, etc. often have origins in traumatic experience.

Trauma treatment is offered using a “tri-phasal” approach. Care is taken at each stage to ensure that you are ready and able to manage.

1. Safety and Stabilization: this includes psycho-education delivered through a cognitive-behavioural lens as well as, the development of resources to assist you in managing difficult and often intense emotions.

2. Reprocessing: this includes revisiting particular events that are distressing and examining the thoughts, feelings and meaning attached to the event. Most often, it is not the event itself that is distressing but rather the dialogue that is created and feelings that are associated with it. Themes such as: being responsible; feeling helpless and not having choice; not feeling safe often emerge. The goal is to reduce the emotional charge associated with a particular experience.

3. Reconnection: the exploration of new opportunities in everyday life. This can include experiences such as new relationships; revisiting lost or old relationships; developing hobbies and interests or skills etc.

I have had training in the following treatment approaches:

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) (client handout)

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Trauma

• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)