TRAUMA THERAPY
“Traumatized people chronically feel unsafe inside their bodies. The past is alive in the form of gnawing interior discomfort. Their bodies are constantly bombarded by visceral warning signs, and, in an attempt to control these processes, they often become experts at ignoring their gut feelings and in numbing awareness of what is played out inside. They learn to hide from their selves.”
–Bessel van der Kolk
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE HAS EXPERIENCED A TRAUMATIC EVENT…
YOU KNOW HOW IT CHANGES YOU….
You are hypervigilant in new situations.
You worry about everything that could go wrong.
You push people away and wonder why you feel so alone.
Your sense of self diminishes to the point of telling yourself you are worthless and unlovable.
Your support people tell you this is not true, and your brain may even tell you this is inaccurate. But you FEEL it to be true with every fiber of your being.
You might also have chronic pain, digestive issues, sleep problems, weight gain, or heart disease because your fight-or-flight system is constantly activated.
The belief systems you develop after being in a traumatic experience need to be explored so you can let them go.
YOUR BRAIN IS BIOLOGICALLY DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH TRAUMA IN A PARTICULAR WAY.
When nasty shit happens to us, the logical part of our brain shuts down in an attempt to control the emotional escalation of the event.
The emotional part of your brain works overtime to contain the sensations and feelings, which keeps the other parts of your brain from rationally processing the event. Have you ever had an emotional experience so intense that your thoughts were completely non-existent? This is how trauma impacts your body. It’s a beautifully designed system… until it’s not.
After significant trauma, the brain shuts down when aroused physiologically, erecting a wall between your thoughts and emotions – your “mind” and your “heart.” This is why you keep doing things that are “bad” for you (according to your thinking mind):
Your heart is not ready to let go of whatever that “bad” thing is.
Navigating through it requires guidance from someone who knows how the trauma system works.
IN MANY WAYS, TRAUMA SHUTS OFF YOUR EMPATHY.
“If you never heal from what hurt you, then you’ll bleed on people who did not cut you.”
–Author Unknown
Trauma hardens your heart, so you don’t think about the impact of how you react to people who love you. In a moment of powerlessness, you lash out…
Call people names…
Say hurtful things you do not mean…
Only to attempt to apologize later… until the apologies are no longer enough.
THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO TO FREE YOU FROM THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA.
“Healing does not mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls our lives.”
–Akshay Dubey
This is the primary goal of therapy. While you will never forget the awful memories, there are ways to help integrate them into the parts of your brain that process information more rationally so that they don’t have such an intense impact on your daily life.
Within your session, you will share your story only as you are comfortable. We will discuss how the events that have happened to you have shaped your beliefs about the world. We will discuss the thoughts, feelings, and body sensations you now associate with the event.
I will teach you how to use coping skills to manage the anxiety and depression you may feel from your experience. I will also teach you how to use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help you process the uncomfortable memories. You’ll learn how to use EMDR as an effective tool to help you change your negative belief systems.
We will consistently focus on your thoughts, feelings, and body sensations until you can think about the negative memory without experiencing the discomfort of trauma.
“I survived because the fire inside me burned brighter than the fire around me.”
–Joshua Graham
COPING WITH TRAUMA IS NOT THE SAME AS RECOVERING FROM TRAUMA.
If you are seeking therapy, then you’ve not only survived, but you have also gained an awareness that you want more in life and need guidance on how to heal.
Whatever has caused you to seek treatment, know that you can overcome the physical sensations associated with past trauma. I am certain of this because you have already survived this far.
What would it be like to be surrounded by loved ones, enjoying intimacy and closeness?
What would it be like to have hope for the future?
What would it be like to believe in yourself enough to accomplish your dreams and goals?
It’s not just about surviving… it’s about your thriving in this world!
“Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence.”
–Peter Levine
Call or text 720-629-2729 to get scheduled.
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