Process Trauma

Symptoms of trauma and PTSD may include

• Avoiding people, places, or situations that remind you of a past situation

• Sudden feelings of panic that come out of the blue 

• Feeling hyper-vigilant to danger, and feeling as if you are constantly anticipating something bad will happen

• Experiencing nightmares 

• Trouble falling or staying asleep

• Feeling persistently tired, lethargic, or depressed 

• Feeling shame about who you are as a person 

• Difficulty trusting others 

• Engaging in unhealthy relationships 

• Feeling numb and disconnected from the body

Treating trauma takes more than talk therapy

As outlined in Dr. Van Der Kolk’s seminal book on Trauma, I believe that “The Body Keeps the Score”. This means that treating trauma cannot be done exclusively with a talk therapy approach. That’s because trauma is not “stored” as a cognitive experience. 

Many people may have some awareness of having gone through a difficult life experience but don’t experience it as a distinct memory and don’t see a connection between their current mental health symptoms and the past experience. Through our work, we can begin to make sense of how the present is influenced by the past, so you can find relief from feeling overwhelmed.  

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

The primary modality that I utilize to treat trauma is EMDR. The theory behind EMDR maintains that present mental health challenges are the result of a previous life experience (often but not always from childhood) that has people thinking, feeling, and acting in ways that are incongruent with their current life circumstances. 

Memories of feeling not good enough or out of control remain in the brain and body in ways that are often developmentally arrested, leading people to think, feel, and act in ways that may have been adaptive at one point in life, but aren’t adaptive at this time. 

Through “visiting” with past experiences that have been traumatic and applying bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements), the brain can move towards updating how the information is stored and help people feel that the trauma is now over. EMDR gives people the power to move on. 

EMDR is endorsed by the World Health Organization as an effective and evidence-based approach to treat trauma-related symptoms. EMDR is also known to clear trauma at an efficient rate, which means you may start to see significant changes after an experiential EMDR session. 

Types of trauma I treat

Emotionally absent, immature, or neglectful parents

While many people think that trauma is something that happens to you, trauma can also constitute the absence of attuned emotional support and nurturing. I often see clients who, from the outside, had happy, stable families. However, because of their own mental health challenges or hectic lives, their parents were not able to give them the attuned support that young people need to develop emotionally. Engaging in therapy can help you fill in the developmental gaps that may have been missing from your childhood, so you can feel mentally healthy, confident, and resilient.

Childhood abuse

If you have experienced physical or sexual abuse as a child, you may be experiencing shame, but please know that you are not alone. One-third of Canadians experienced some form of child maltreatment before the age of 15, including physical and sexual abuse by an adult, or witnessing violence between caregivers. The relationship between childhood abuse and adult mental health challenges and addictions is well documented. Processing these experiences in a non-judgmental and supportive space can help you explore the impact of a traumatic experience on your current functioning, and help you leave shame behind and move forward with confidence. 

Sexual assault and gender-based violence

Research shows that sexual violence most often takes place in the context of a relationship. This can lead to feelings of shame and blame on the part of the survivor, which can have a lasting effect on self-esteem and the belief that the world is not safe. Together we can process past experiences of sexual assault so that you can reclaim your relationship to your body, begin to trust others and feel safe enough to move on.

Trauma at school

Students are more susceptible to experiencing trauma because of how vulnerable it is to be in school or an educational program. There is a significant power imbalance that can exist between teachers/faculty and students, which creates an atmosphere where abuse is more likely. Students can often feel powerless because they risk failing if they speak out about injustices and can feel trapped in a scenario that may not be supportive. Students can also experience high levels of stress, as demands pile up and can begin to feel unmanageable. Together we can plan on how you can best handle a situation in a school context so you can begin to feel more empowered. 

Trauma in the workplace 

Many situations in the workplace can have a significant impact on mental health, including being bullied, harassed, or intimidated by a boss or co-worker, feeling like work is taking over your life, having unreasonable expectations put on you, or worrying about pay and job security. Workplace trauma is particularly common because many people feel trapped in their jobs, leading to feelings of hopelessness. Trauma in the workplace can lead to difficulty concentrating, anxiety or panic attacks, inability to maintain boundaries around work, and you may even begin to feel physical symptoms including headaches and digestive issues. If you’re feeling like work has taken over your life or you’re stuck in a situation that feels unsustainable, we can work together to find a way forward. 

Support is available

A traumatic experience can feel like it’s all-consuming. Reach out so you can reclaim your life.