Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime. Trauma can be understood as "little t" trauma and/or "Big T" Trauma. Most of us can identify a Big T event: a car accident; a bombing; a natural disaster; a violent assault; witnessing the death of a loved one are among events that are characterized as Big T. The "little t" traumas may be less obvious, such as having been emotionally neglected as a child; having been made fun of in school; experiencing a painful end to a relationship; or having had a disability without receiving necessary support. The ongoing symptoms and maladaptive processing of these events can be extremely burdensome and often produce painful negative beliefs about ourselves and the world around us.

Many people can recover from trauma over time with the love and support of family and friends and bounce back with resiliency. More often than not, others discover effects of lasting trauma, which can cause a person to live with deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or posttraumatic stress far after the event has passed.

In these circumstances, the support, guidance, and connection with a skilled therapist is fundamental to healing from trauma. Successful trauma treatment encompasses a trusted client/therapist relationship, the understanding of neuroscience and survival, and the learning of skills designed to reorganize the nervous system and greatly reduce trauma symptoms. Above all, the trusted connection with a caring clinician is the first step on your pathway to healing.

Trauma Symptoms (as listed in the DSM-5)

Avoidance Symptoms

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

Re-experiencing Symptoms

• Intrusive thoughts, nightmares or flashbacks

Hyperarousal Symptoms

• Anger, irritability, and hypervigilance
• Aggressive, reckless behavior, including self-harm
• Sleep disturbances

Negative Mood and Cognition Symptoms

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

If you or someone you know matches the trauma symptoms listed above, I am confident that I can help and invite you to contact me today for a free consultation.