The impact of Trauma
"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but, if faced with courage, need not be lived again."
Maya Angelou
Overwhelming or traumatic events can have a profound impact on the mind and body.
You may have surprising, unwanted reactions to certain events or situations.
You may have intrusive thoughts and images about a traumatic experience.
You may have few memories of it at all.
You may have unexplained physical pain or may feel detached, disconnected and numb.
The residue of trauma impacts your sense of safety with others and with yourself.
The very thing you need, safety and connection within and with others, is the very thing that becomes most evasive.
For more than ten years, I have been working with those that have experienced trauma. I use a number of tools that facilitate healing and growth for the wounded spaces after trauma. These include EMDR, EFIT, parts work, mindfulness and mind-body methods.
Traumatic experiences may include:
childhood physical or sexual abuse
abandonment or neglect by caretakers
medical trauma
car or other accident
racism / discrimination
sexual assault or rape
pregnancy loss / miscarriage
combat trauma
EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
I am an EMDRIA certified therapist. EMDR is a model of therapy focused on treating the impact of trauma events on the mind and body. Research has shown EMDR to be an effective treatment for trauma and can be a short term therapy.
EMDR is a focused therapy that targets specific traumatic experiences. It helps to relieve symptoms of trauma like intrusive thoughts and flashbacks, emotional flooding, and numbing. While trauma often causes a disconnection, EMDR and other trauma focused therapy restores integration to promote healing and growth within.
