Trauma
Experiencing trauma means going through an experience that overwhelms your capacity to cope and leaves you feeling helpless, out of control, hopeless or unable to respond. What is traumatic for one person may not be for another and sometimes our resilience for coping with potentially traumatic events is impacted by our earlier life experiences. Sometimes people cannot identity one single traumatic event in their lives. Trauma can result from experiencing ongoing or multiple stressful experiences, especially if these began in childhood.
Signs that you may be experiencing problems relating to trauma include:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Feelings of shame or self-critical thoughts
- Angry outbursts and chronic irritability
- Feeling numb, disconnected or "spaced out" (dissociation)
- Feeling anxious or easily startled
- Flashbacks or nightmares
- Alcohol or substance misuse
- Impulsivity or recklessness
- Excessive risk-taking
- Self-harming
- Suicidal thoughts, plans or attempts
- Binge eating, anorexia or bulimia
- Difficulties with relationships
Therapy for Trauma
There are several types of trauma therapy. Different therapies work best for different people and there is no one right way to treat trauma. Some research studies suggest that the quality of the relationship that you build with your therapist is one of the most consistent predictors of therapy outcomes. It is therefore important to find a therapist that you trust and feel comfortable working with.
I specialise in providing a relational and integrative mind-body approach, which combines traditional talking therapy with mindfulness and somatic therapy techniques, which include trauma-sensitive mindfulness and yoga, as well as other somatic techniques and resources that help with trauma symptoms or overwhelming feelings. The techniques used will be tailored to your specific needs and goals and designed to promote grounding and avoid re-traumatisation or feelings of overwhelm. Other evidence-based therapies for trauma include Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT).
If you are considering starting therapy for trauma, please feel free to contact me and I will be happy to answer any queries or explain more about the way that I work and what type of therapy may be most beneficial for you.
