Do I need trauma therapy?
Trauma is a word we often hear but don’t always fully understand. Many of us associate it with catastrophic events—things like war, abuse, or natural disasters—but trauma can take many forms, big and small, and its effects can linger long after the event itself. If you're reading this, you might be wondering if you or someone close to you could benefit from trauma therapy. So, how do you know when it's time to seek help?
What Is Trauma?
Trauma is not just the event itself, but the way your body and mind respond to it. When something overwhelms your ability to cope, whether it’s a car accident, losing a loved one, or even ongoing stress like bullying or an unstable home life, your nervous system reacts. It goes into a fight, flight, or freeze mode to protect you from the perceived danger.
The thing is, even after the event has passed, your body might continue reacting as if the threat is still present. This can lead to a range of emotional, mental, and physical symptoms.
Common Signs of Trauma
It’s not always easy to pinpoint when trauma has left a lasting impact on your life, especially if the event happened a long time ago. But there are some signs that you might be dealing with unresolved trauma.
Emotional dysregulation: Do you find yourself easily overwhelmed by emotions? Maybe you get angry, sad, or anxious more intensely or more often than you used to.
Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks: Are there memories or images from a difficult experience that come back to you unexpectedly? These can feel vivid and unsettling.
Avoidance: Do you find yourself steering clear of places, people, or situations that remind you of a past event? Avoidance is one of the most common coping mechanisms for trauma.
Hypervigilance: You might feel on edge all the time, like you’re waiting for something bad to happen. This can lead to difficulty relaxing, sleep disturbances, or even chronic anxiety.
Numbing or dissociation: You may feel disconnected from your emotions, your surroundings, or even your body. People often describe feeling like they're watching their life unfold from a distance.
It’s important to remember that trauma can affect anyone, regardless of the perceived severity of the event. Whether it’s a single life-altering experience or repeated exposure to stress, trauma can take root in many ways.
How Do I Know If I Need Trauma Therapy?
If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from your life, it might be time to consider trauma therapy. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Am I avoiding situations or people that remind me of something painful?
Do I feel emotionally numb or disconnected?
Am I struggling with anxiety, depression, or feelings of hopelessness?
Do I feel like I’m stuck in the past or constantly reliving a difficult experience?
If you answered yes to any of these, it might be worth reaching out for a conversation. Trauma therapy is not about “fixing” you, because you are not broken. It’s about giving you the tools and support to heal, grow, and live more fully.
What to Expect in Trauma Therapy
One of the most important things to remember about trauma therapy is that it’s a journey. It’s not something that happens overnight, and it’s not a one-size-fits-all process. Each person’s trauma is unique, and so is their healing journey.
Our senior therapists have many years of experience working within tertiary government trauma services and are qualified in a wide range of modalities to treat trauma. These include:
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): A powerful tool for reprocessing traumatic memories.
Expressive Therapies: Creative approaches that use art, music, or movement to help process emotions.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): A structured approach to challenging unhelpful thought patterns linked to trauma.
Somatic Psychotherapy: Helps release trauma held in the body, addressing the mind-body connection.
Equine Facilitated Therapy: A therapeutic approach that uses interactions with horses to help individuals process trauma.
Other Integrative Modalities: We offer a holistic approach, combining these and other methods to tailor therapy to your unique needs.
During your first few sessions, your therapist will take the time to get to know you, your story, and your goals for therapy. The pace will be set by you—there’s no rush to dive into painful memories until you feel ready.
Your sessions may involve talking about your experiences, and learning things about how trauma affects your nervous system individually. Therapy can also incorporate body-based approaches like relaxation techniques, mindfulness, bilateral stimulation and creative expression. Our goal is to help you feel safe, supported, and empowered to heal at your own pace.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
Living with trauma can feel isolating, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Whether it’s been weeks, months, or even years since the event that caused your trauma, it’s never too late to seek help.
At our practice, we’re here to support you on your path to healing. With a team of counsellors, mental health social workers, psychologists, mental health speech pathologists, and occupational therapists, we provide an integrated approach that addresses both the emotional, neurobiological and physical aspects of trauma. Reach out today, and let’s take the first step together.