Trauma Therapy

Something in your life happened. It was not good. In fact, it might have been very scary. It could have happened recently or many years ago. Trauma can be caused by an overwhelmingly negative event that causes a lasting impact on your mental / emotional stability and relationships. While many sources of trauma are physically violent in nature, others are psychological.

Some common sources of trauma include:

• Domestic violence
• Natural disasters
• Severe illness or injury
• The death of a loved one
• Witnessing an act of violence
• Sexual violence, rape, sexual assault, and/or harassment
• Watching traumatic events on TV, in films, or on the internet

Symptoms of trauma can show up as physical, cognitive, and emotional distress. These symptoms may include:

• Stomach aches, headaches or body aches
• Difficulty sleeping or nightmares
• Panic / anxiety, lethargy
• Heightened startle response
• Confusion
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fear
• Avoidance

Bad experiences don’t have to define you. Anxiety, racing thoughts and fears can be processed. Although they may stay with you as part of your history, they don’t have to be in the forefront of your mind and highjack your life. Working with a trained therapist can help you to regain your mental health and feel better.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Trauma and PTSD

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a common way to treat the symptoms of trauma and PTSD. CBT focuses on how your thoughts and feelings cause you to act in certain ways. It can teach you how to cope with bad thoughts and make changes in your behaviors to cope with the symptoms you are having. You can’t go back and change what happened to you, but you can change your future and how you react to your trauma triggers. CBT will teach you coping strategies to help you respond in a healthy way when you are triggered by the memories of your past.