Trauma & PTSD

Trauma can be defined as experiencing any event, or a number of events that exceed an individual’s ability to cope (Sidran Institute, 2014).  It is arguable that most people have experienced some type of trauma throughout their life.  From the loss of a pet, to being bullied, to experiencing a car accident or natural disaster, to not having needs met, to surviving physical, emotional, sexual, or domestic abuse, trauma changes the way our nervous system operates. 

When we experience trauma, our nervous systems prepare our bodies for fight, flight, freeze by creating copious amounts of certain neurotransmitters such as cortisol and adrenaline.  While a specific level of these neurotransmitters are essential to life, large amounts dysregulate the nervous system.  If not able to process the traumatic incident(s), the nervous system remains activated which can lead to a variety of difficulties such as feelings like our emotions are taking over us, feeling startled or scared easily, experiencing ruptured relationships, or having nightmares, flashbacks, and body memories. 

As you can imagine, the chaos that accompanies these difficulties can make it difficult to cope.  The positive news is that we can heal from trauma, PTSD, and complex PTSD and their effects on our lives.  Working in a supportive and safe therapeutic relationship, I guide clients on a journey to recovery from the effects of trauma by using best-practice techniques from the latest research in trauma therapy such as EMDR and somatic therapies.  Neuroscience shows us that trauma is stored in the body (Levine, 1997).  As such, when indicated and desired, we can listen to the body and incorporate (often subtle) movement into session which not only helps to regulate the nervous system, but also helps to release trauma.  It is painful and it can take quite a bit of time, but healing is worth it.