Trauma & PTSD

A Path Towards Healing

Trauma can affect many parts of your life, influencing how you think, feel, and connect with others. It may come from a single overwhelming event or develop over time through repeated stress, loss, or difficult experiences. Even long after the event has passed, the emotional and physical effects of trauma can continue to shape your daily life in ways that feel confusing, exhausting, or isolating. You may notice changes in how you respond to stress, shifts in your relationships, or patterns in your thoughts and emotions that are hard to explain.

Everyone experiences trauma differently, and it does not always look the way we expect. For some, it may be a constant sense of unease or heightened awareness, while for others, it can feel like numbness or disconnection. These reactions are not signs of weakness. They are your mind and body’s way of trying to protect you and make sense of what happened. Healing is possible. Our counselors are here to help you understand what trauma is, how it might be showing up in your life, and how therapy can guide you toward recovery, resilience, and renewed connection.

Trauma

A response to overwhelming or distressing experiences that disrupt a sense of safety and well-being

A man sitting on the floor indoors, showing signs of stress by covering his ears.

What is Trauma

Trauma is the emotional and psychological response to an event or series of events that are deeply distressing, threatening, or overwhelming. These experiences can include abuse, accidents, loss, violence, or other situations where a person feels powerless or unsafe.

Trauma can affect how individuals think, feel, and relate to others, often leading to symptoms such as anxiety, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, or intrusive memories. While not everyone responds to trauma in the same way, unresolved trauma can interfere with daily functioning and overall mental health, making support and treatment essential for healing and recovery.

Trauma Disorders

Trauma disorders can include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder, and complex PTSD, among others. Individuals with trauma-related disorders may struggle with flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance of reminders, heightened anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and negative changes in mood or beliefs about themselves and the world.

These symptoms can significantly impair daily functioning, relationships, and overall well-being. Early intervention and trauma-informed therapy can help individuals process their experiences, reduce symptoms, and regain a sense of safety and control.

How Therapy Helps

Therapy helps individuals recover from trauma by addressing how it impacts their thoughts, emotions, and physical responses. Through the therapeutic process, clients can reduce symptoms like anxiety, flashbacks, and emotional numbness by gradually processing the trauma and separating it from their present reality.

Therapy also supports nervous system regulation, helping individuals feel more grounded and less reactive. As healing progresses, people often regain a sense of safety, strengthen their relationships, and rebuild confidence in themselves and the world around them.

What Trauma May Feel Like

Overwhelmed or powerless, as if the situation is too much to handle
Deep sadness or grief following a painful event or loss
Constantly on alert or jumpy, even in safe environments
Emotional numbness, making it hard to connect with others
Frequent anger or frustration that feels difficult to control
Feeling shame or blame themselves, even when the trauma was not their fault
Confusion or trouble concentrating, making it hard to focus on daily tasks.
Physical symptoms like headaches, stomach aches, or constantly feeling tired

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