Trauma therapy is a rapidly growing field of psychology, as research continues to highlight the lasting effects of trauma on both individuals and society. Few people go through life without some form of disruptive experience that can leave lasting marks on mental and physical well-being. Because of its prevalence, understanding trauma and how healing is possible has never been more important.
What is Trauma?
Traditionally, trauma was thought of as an acute major event like war, a natural disaster or severe accidents. While these events can be traumatic, trauma comes in a variety of forms and is often overlooked to the detriment of those who have experienced it.
Defining trauma can be difficult as it is less a result of specific types of events and more about how your body and mind respond to it. This is a largely unconscious process. A widely accepted definition today is that trauma occurs when a person’s resources or capacity to navigate a situation are overwhelmed, leaving them unable to cope with what is unfolding.
When we go through a traumatic event, our brains often lock onto the beliefs we form in response. If left unaddressed, these beliefs can reshape how we see ourselves, others, and the world — and can influence how we behave within it.
Some examples of trauma may include:
- Single-incident events: such as a car accident, sudden loss, or a medical emergency
- Ongoing or repeated experiences: like childhood neglect, bullying, or living in an unsafe relationship
- Less obvious but deeply impactful events: moving through a painful breakup, repeated microaggressions, or growing up in a household where emotional needs weren’t met
People often minimize their own pain by comparing it to what others have been through — a response sometimes called comparative suffering. While it may feel like a way of keeping perspective, it actually prevents us from facing what we are going through and can stop us from reaching out for the help we need.
The Effects of Trauma
The effects of trauma can sometimes be immediate and profound but other times can take weeks or years to surface. When this happens, it can be easy to mistake what is happening, leading to uncertainty around how to fix the problem. Some common ways trauma may present include:
- Relationship struggles: difficulty trusting others, pulling away from loved ones, or repeating unhealthy patterns.
- Intrusive memories or flashbacks: reliving parts of the event when you don’t want to.
- Hypervigilance: feeling constantly on edge, jumpy, or easily startled.
- Avoidance: steering clear of reminders, people, or places that trigger distress.
- Emotional changes: feeling numb, disconnected, or easily overwhelmed by anger, fear, or sadness.
- Physical symptoms: difficulty sleeping, headaches, digestive issues, or unexplained body pain.
If you recognize yourself in any of these symptoms you may be experiencing the effects of trauma, please know you are not alone and there is a lot that can be done to help work through the impacts!
Counselling Approaches for Trauma
There are several, very successful, researched-based approaches that have been shown to dramatically reduce symptoms and help people rebuild a sense of safety, connection, and agency in their lives.
The approaches that I employ in my sessions are EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) alongside of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT is utilized to address and correct some of the unhelpful narratives that form, while EMDR works towards addressing both the beliefs and the triggered responses held within the body.
EMDR
EMDR is one of the most effective tools we have to date for working with trauma. It works by creating a safe space for the individual to look at traumatic memories in order to reduce the physical and emotional distress they cause.
Trauma memories can get “stuck” in the brain in a way that makes them feel as if they are current. It is as if the danger is still happening which makes it difficult for the body and mind to relax, especially in the presence of something similar.
Without some intentional treatment these triggers can remain locked in us. EMDR helps to deal with the triggered response and shows the brain that these memories can be moved through and placed in the past.
Trauma memories can get “stuck” in the brain in a way that makes them feel as if they are current. It is as if the danger is still happening which makes it difficult for the body and mind to relax, especially in the presence of something similar. Without some intentional treatment these triggers can remain locked in us. EMDR helps to deal with the triggered response and shows the brain that these memories can be moved through and placed in the past.
The Path Toward Healing
Healing from trauma isn’t about erasing the past, it is about finding a safe way to move through the bodies response so that you can gain freedom in the present. If you recognize any parts of your own story here, just know that you do not have to face trauma alone. Trauma counselling is one was to face what has taken place, providing the support and safety for healing to be possible.
I’ve been working with trauma in various forms since 2016, and have made it my focus of my counselling practice. If you’re curious if my style might work for you, you can book in now for a complementary 15-minute interview to see if its a good fit.
- Shapiro, F. (2017). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, Third Edition: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures. Guilford Press.
- Watts, B. V., Schnurr, P. P., Mayo, L., Young-Xu, Y., Weeks, W. B., & Friedman, M. J. (2013). Meta-analysis of the efficacy of treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 74(6), e541–e550.
- American Psychological Association. (2017). Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of PTSD.
- World Health Organization. (2013). Guidelines for the management of conditions specifically related to stress.
- Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.
