Trauma-Focused Counseling

Understanding Trauma

Trauma comes in many forms—whether it's a single distressing event or ongoing experiences of abuse, neglect, or oppression. It leaves deep imprints on our minds, bodies, and spirits, shaping our beliefs, behaviors, and relationships. Trauma can manifest in various ways, including PTSD, complex trauma, and dissociative disorders. Often we may have developed very sophisticated survival strategies (like isolation, intellectualizing, perfectionism, etc.) that kept us safe in the past but now throw our world into turmoil. Recognizing the intersecting impacts of systemic oppression, such as racism, sexism, ableism, and homophobia, on individual experiences of trauma is also an important aspect of trauma work. When we think about what happened, the intersection of your various personal and cultural identities is also often important to understand the full significance and impact of the traumatic experiences.

Trauma-Informed Counseling Approach

I prioritize creating a safe, non-judgmental, and validating space for survivors to explore their experiences and reclaim their power. The aim of trauma work is to restore security within ourselves and to mend the wounds of interpersonal violence so it feels safe to get back into living life and connecting well with others. The process of trauma work includes:

• Psychoeducation: Helping clients understand the neurobiology of trauma and its impact on their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Explaining the process through which survival adaptations are created and maintained. Identifying ways in which efforts to protect the self can replicate the original wounds.
• Skill-Building: Teaching coping skills, emotion regulation techniques, and grounding exercises to manage trauma-related symptoms.
• Body Reclamation: Re-establishing safety and autonomy over ones own body. Nurturing a trusting relationship with the self. Building the ability to access and remain present within the body.
• Part Collaboration: Creating space for the various parts of the self to be recognized. Building a healthy relationship between parts to promote internal sense of safety and tolerance of conflict and ambiguity. 
• Narrative Reconstruction: Assisting clients in reframing their narratives and creating empowering meanings from their traumatic experiences.
• Building Resilience: Cultivating self-compassion, self-care practices, and healthy boundaries to support ongoing healing and growth.

We will go slow enough to build up internal skills and resources so you feel safe, capable, and ready moving forward. Whether you're struggling with flashbacks, nightmares, or feelings of numbness and disconnection, you don't have to face your trauma alone. Together, we'll embark on a journey of healing, empowerment, and liberation.

Trauma focused counseling can be complex and we will work together to create a clear game plan towards accomplishing your goals. By the end of it you'll have new ways of relating to yourself and your history, better capacity to identify and address triggers, and increased ability to support and nurture yourself through hard moments. 

Ready to get started? Take the next step today! Contact me to setup your free initial consultation, and get ready to start your journey towards a life you love!