Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime whether it’s a car accident, abuse or neglect, the sudden death of a loved one, a violent criminal act, exposure to the violence of war, or a natural disaster. Some traumas may be single-incidents, like a car accident or natural disaster, while others can be more chronic, longer-lasting traumas like chronic abuse and neglect, growing up in a violent neighborhood, or exposure to the violence of war.
While many people can recover from trauma over time with the love and support of family and friends and bounce back with resiliency, others may discover effects of lasting trauma, which can cause a person to live with deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or posttraumatic stress far after the event has passed.
In these circumstances, the support, guidance and assistance of a therapist is fundamental to healing from trauma.
Trauma Symptoms
According to the four types of symptoms listed in the DSM-5
Avoidance Symptoms
- Avoiding specific locations, sights, situations, and sounds that serve as reminders of the event
- Anxiety, depression, numbness, or guilt
Re-experiencing Symptoms
- Intrusive thoughts, nightmares or flashbacks
Hyperarousal Symptoms
- Anger, irritability and hypervigilance
- Aggressive, reckless behavior, including self-harm
- Sleep disturbances
Negative Mood and Cognition Symptoms
- Loss of interest in activities that were once considered enjoyable
- Difficulty remembering details of the distressing event
- Change in habits or behavior since the trauma
Research has proven psychotherapy to be the most effective form of treatment for trauma. I help people work through their trauma in an integrated way using findings from the neuroscience of trauma and drawing on mind-body therapeutic modalities, such as Gestalt, mindfulness, somatic experiencing, sensorimotor, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
If you or someone you know match the trauma symptoms listed above, I am confident that I can help and invite you to contact me today for a free phone consultation.