What causes trauma?

Trauma comes in many forms. Sometimes it is violent or explosive, other times it is hidden or may not even be perceptible while it’s happening. It can be physical, mental, emotional, psychological, sexual, financial, and all are unjust, wrong, and something you did not deserve.

Trauma is NOT a sign of weakness or an inability to handle injustices. It is a neurological response to something horrific that is stored in your body.

“Atrocities…refuse to be buried. Equally as powerful as the desire to deny atrocities is the conviction that denial does not work. Folk wisdom is filled with ghosts who refuse to rest in their graves until their stories are told. Remembering and telling the truth about terrible events are prerequisites…for the healing of individual victims.”
― Judith Lewis Herman, Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence - From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror

EMDR Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

What is EMDR and how does it work?

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a specialized therapeutic intervention that is remarkably effective at addressing PTSD and trauma, negative cognitions (beliefs) about self, anxiety, depression, and more. EMDR is a neurological intervention designed to allow your brain to heal itself by creating new, positive neural networks. We activate your right and left brain simultaneously by moving your eyes back and forth or gently tapping your body as you recall a painful memory. This bilateral stimulation of both sides of the brain is what creates new neural pathways thanks to the human brain’s ability to update, change, and heal itself. Maladaptive beliefs and triggers to negative experiences are “rewired” into positive beliefs, a reduction in the impact and power of traumatic memories and physiological responses, and a sense of clarity and calm.

For more detailed information on EMDR, visit the American Psychological Association. For an excellent and brief explanatory video from EMDRIA, click here.

Would I benefit from EMDR?

The short answer is a resounding yes! EMDR is safe and effective for nearly everyone and can begin as early as infancy and it is never too late to start. If you suffer from traumatic memories (chronic or acute), fight/flight/freeze triggers or other distressing physiological responses to certain sensory experiences or environments, severe anxiety, low self worth and negative self-talk, or depression, then you would likely benefit from EMDR. The only people who may not do well with EMDR are those with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) or significant developmental challenges.

Therapist qualifications

Specialized training is required to facilitate EMDR and I have received intensive training from EMDR Consultants which is approved by EMDRIA, the international professional association which regulates the highest standards for clinical EMDR treatment and of which I am an active member.

“Trauma robs you of the feeling that you are in charge of yourself. The challenge of recovery is to reestablish ownership of your body and your mind—of your self. This means feeling free to know what you know and to feel what you feel without becoming overwhelmed, enraged, ashamed, or collapsed. For most people this involves (1) finding a way to become calm and focused, (2) learning to maintain that calm in response to images, thoughts, sounds, or physical sensations that remind you of the past, (3) finding a way to be fully alive in the present and engaged with the people around you, (4) not having to keep secrets from yourself, including secrets about the ways that you have managed to survive.” ― Bessel A. van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

Trauma and Therapeutic Interventions

“We have learned that trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain, and body. It changes not only how we think and what we think about, but also our very capacity to think.”
― Bessel A. van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

The violations you’ve survived may be in the past, but their wounds are ever-present. Whatever you have endured was unjust, brutal, and in no way your fault. Also unfair is that the burden of your healing falls on you instead of the perpetrator or events that have caused your pain. However, you are capable, brave, and supported. Together, we can change trauma’s impact on your life moving forward and liberate you from carrying that burden any further.

Shedding light on your trauma by talking about it at the pace you set, developing a strong rapport and trust with your counselor, being present with the sensations in your body as well as your mind, and “walking through the muck” of trauma work will eventually provide you with a sense of safety, self-appreciation, and peace you so very much deserve.

In the information below, you will find more information on types of trauma, why it is critical to process it, and some of the most effective interventions I utilize.

What are symptoms of trauma?

Below are some common indications of trauma, though there are others. Most, if not all of these symptoms will be new if dealing with a recent event, but for those with chronic trauma some of these symptoms may seem normal. If you have observed other thoughts, behaviors, or physical symptoms that concern you, it’s important to share this with me (or any mental health or medical professional). This list includes symptoms of PTSD and general trauma.

  • Hypervigilance, severe anxiety, being easily startled/jumpy

  • Fear responses, or “triggers,” brought on by real or perceived reminders of a traumatic event

  • Intrusive thoughts

  • Negative thoughts of self and the world

  • Nightmares

  • Flashbacks

  • Trouble concentrating

  • Dissociation

  • Anger, irritability, sadness (look for notable mood or behavioral changes)

  • Isolation, withdrawing from friends and family and enjoyable activities

  • Difficulty sleeping, digestive problems, headaches, rapid breathing, or feeling shaky

Trauma Therapy at Peace On You Counseling

Processing your trauma will be hard. It requires you to “walk through the muck” of immense pain and revisit things you would much rather forget. You may not think your experiences qualify as trauma or believe you don’t need to process painful episodes from the past or you may be all to aware of your struggles. Together, with proven interventions, we will safely and compassionately restore your sense of safety, ability to survive and thrive, and peace.

I utilize a variety of therapy methods with clients based on their preferences and comfort. Here are some of the interventions I most often use:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) & Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

  • EMDR (more information on the left of this webpage)

  • Psychodynamic Therapy

  • Mindfulness therapy

  • Somatic body work, breathwork, and polyvagal theory