Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime whether it’s years of enduring racism or sexual or gender prejudice, a medical incident that went poorly, a  car accident, long term sexual or emotional or physical abuse or neglect, in person or cyber- bullying, the sudden death of a loved one, a violent criminal act, sexual assault or rape, exposure to violence, experiencing a natural disaster or many other short or long-term events.

Many people discover the effects of lasting trauma after the event(s), which can cause a person to live with deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or posttraumatic stress far after the event has passed. Today we have two ways of categorizing the effects of trauma on an individual. Trauma that happened as a one time single event that lead to deep emotional pain and trauma symptoms is called Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. And trauma that happened repeatedly over a period of time that lead to deep emotional pain and trauma symptoms is called Complex-Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Trauma Symptoms

According to the four types of symptoms listed in the DSM-5.

Avoidance Symptoms

• Avoiding specific locations, sights, situations, people and sounds that serve as reminders of the event(s)
• Anxiety, depression, numbness, or guilt

Re-experiencing Symptoms

• Intrusive thoughts or memories, nightmares, or flashbacks

Hyperarousal Symptoms

• Anger, irritability, and hypervigilance
• Aggressive behavior, reckless behavior or self-harming behaviors
• Sleep disturbances

Negative Mood and Cognition Symptoms

• Loss of interest in activities that were once considered enjoyable
• Difficulty remembering details of the distressing event(s)
• Change in habits or behaviors since the trauma

These symptoms can be treated with various forms of therapy. This practice specializes in various forms of Trauma-informed Treatment, i.e. Somatic Experiencing, Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy and Narrative Exposure Therapy.

With the support, guidance, and assistance of a therapist, the promotion of healing from trauma can be worked on. I invite you to contact me today for a free consultation to discuss your concerns and questions.