Trauma Healing
“I feel like I’m stuck reliving the past...”
“I just can’t figure out how to move forward...”
When most people think of trauma they think of single-incident, catastrophic events where people feared for their safety or their lives - like a soldier in wartime, a person who lived through a natural disaster or someone who was in a terrible accident of some kind. But, what many people don’t know is that sometimes trauma is more subtle and insidious than this - it could be growing up with an addicted or mentally ill parent, living in poverty for years on end, being manipulated or taken advantage of by people close to you, or not having various needs met as a child, etc. (For more information about potentially traumatic events, I recommend this list. It may help with contextualizing some of your experiences and help to explain why they have been difficult to overcome.)
Psychiatrist and trauma-healing researcher Bessel van der Kolk, defines trauma as “not the story of something that happened back then, but the current imprint of that pain, horror, and fear living inside [of you].” You know that an event was traumatic when you see the lingering effects of it in your life. You may feel stuck as if the traumatic circumstances are still happening - difficulty trusting people and difficulty feeling safe in the world. Or you may simply have a hard time staying present and not getting stuck in the past. You may notice that you have repeated, intrusive thoughts or dreams about past events. Or you may have attention problems that make it hard for you to focus. You may also notice feeling numb, distant, and cut off from others. And maybe even feeling cut off from yourself.
Some common struggles related to trauma
Having experienced a very difficult childhood or traumatic event
Disturbing memories, thoughts, or images from the past
Physical anxiety (e.g., heart pounding, trouble breathing, sweating)
Trouble sleeping or nightmares
Jumpiness or feeling overly watchful
Feeling distant, cut-off, or emotionally numb
Irritability or angry outbursts
Difficulty with making meaning from life events
Difficulties with identity or feeling like you are a bad person in some way
Feeling that no one can be trusted or the world is a very dangerous place
Complex trauma, Developmental trauma, Complex PTSD, or PTSD
The path to healing.
If you’re struggling to get free from your past, know that you don’t have to continue to stay stuck. It often takes working with a knowledgeable professional to help you move through past experiences. Together we will help you understand what has happened to you in a way doesn’t feel incomprehensible and frightening. We will make sense of your story and the effects of it on your mind using grounding, narrative formation, and emotion regulation techniques. We will also work to restore your sense of safety in the world and in your relationships.
You are so much more capable and resilient than you may even know. After all, you’ve already made it this far. I look forward to helping you break free from the past and move toward a life of presence and joy once again.