Trauma-Informed Therapy

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. Additionally, just about everyone experiences ‘little-t trauma,’ or any one of a number of ways that we may have not had our needs met growing up, and these experiences can impact the way we feel and interact in the adult world and relationships.

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 experience the effects of lasting trauma, which can cause a person to live with deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or post-traumatic 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

• Are you avoiding specific locations, sights, situations, and sounds that serve as reminders of the event?
• Are you experiencing anxiety, depression, numbness, or guilt?

Re-experiencing Symptoms

• Are you having intrusive thoughts, nightmares or flashbacks?

Hyperarousal Symptoms

• Do you feel irritable over the smallest things?
• Are you finding yourself engaging in reckless behavior, including even forms of self-harm?
• Are you experiencing sleep disturbances?

Negative Mood and Cognition Symptoms

• Found you have lost interest for hobbies you once loved?
• Difficulty remembering details of the distressing event?
• Noticing a change in habits or behavior since the trauma?

Research has demonstrated very compellingly that psychotherapy is the most effective form of treatment for trauma. Most commonly, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) are used in treating trauma. Trauma-informed therapy is therapy provided by a therapist who is knowledgeable about the neurobiology of trauma, and also about best practices for working with individuals who may have a trauma history.

Sadly, I have found that most of the women I have worked with have experienced sexual trauma in some form at some point in their lives. I have not yet encountered any other providers out there who focus not only on healing the sexual trauma of their clients (using the gold standard of therapeutic modalities for treating trauma, EMDR) but who also focus on the sexual, sensual and erotic flourishing of their clients in the aftermath of their healing process.

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 consultation.