There is a common thread among the specific folks that come to my office. This common thread is trauma. It comes in all shapes and forms. It shows up in many different ways. When it all comes down to it, all of them have survived some level of trauma. In this blog entry, I talk about what trauma is, and how it impacts people like my clients.
What is Trauma?
“Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, crime, natural disaster, physical or emotional abuse, neglect, experiencing or witnessing violence, death of a loved one, war, and more” - American Psychological Association
There are so many different life experiences that can be considered traumatic and cause lasting Acute Trauma: Resulting from a single, distressing event (e.g., accident, natural disaster).
Chronic Trauma: Ongoing exposure to distressing events (e.g., abuse, neglect).
Complex Trauma: Multiple, often interrelated traumatic events over time
Developmental Trauma: Trauma during key developmental stages (e.g., childhood abuse).
Vicarious Trauma: Indirect trauma from exposure to others' experiences (e.g., caregivers, first responders).
Secondary Trauma: Trauma from hearing about or witnessing others’ trauma (e.g., therapists)
Historical Trauma: Collective trauma affecting groups over generations (e.g., genocide,
colonization).
Physical Trauma: Physical injury causing emotional or psychological harm.
Psychological Trauma: Emotional harm from experiences that challenge safety or identity (e.g., abuse).
Sexual Trauma: Trauma from sexual assault or abuse.
Relational Trauma: Harm from betrayal or abuse in significant relationships
Cultural Trauma: Trauma affecting entire groups, often due to discrimination or systemic violence. effects.
Just as there are a variety of experiences, there are also a variety of classifications for different types of trauma people can experience.
What are the Effects of Trauma?
Just as trauma comes in many forms, it also shows up in a lot of different ways in peoples lives. Here is a comprehensive list of various ways people can be impacted by trauma.
Intrusive Thoughts: Flashbacks, unwanted memories, or intrusive thoughts related to the trauma.
Dissociation: Feeling detached from one’s body or reality, experiencing “out-of-body” sensations, or memory gaps.
Avoidance: Steering clear of people, places, or activities that remind them of the trauma.
Hypervigilance: Being easily startled, always on edge, or feeling unsafe even in safe environments.
Emotional Numbness: Difficulty feeling emotions, detachment from others, or a sense of emptiness.
Nightmares or Sleep Disturbances: Frequent nightmares or trouble falling and staying asleep.
Mood Swings: Sudden emotional shifts, ranging from irritability to deep sadness.
Anxiety: Persistent worry, panic attacks, or a constant sense of fear or impending danger.
Depression: Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, or a lack of interest in activities once enjoyed.
Self-Blame or Guilt: Unjustified guilt or a belief that they are responsible for the trauma.
Physical Symptoms: Unexplained aches, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, or tension in the body.
Difficulty with Trust: Trouble trusting others, even in relationships or work settings.
Substance Use: Turning to alcohol, drugs, or other substances as a means of coping.
Low Self-Esteem: Feeling worthless, disconnected from one’s sense of identity, or inadequate.
Flashbacks: Reliving the traumatic event as though it’s happening in the present.
Difficulty Concentrating: Struggling to focus or feeling foggy in day-to-day activities.
Unexplained Anger: Outbursts of anger or irritability, often triggered by reminders of the trauma.
Avoiding Intimacy: Difficulty with physical or emotional closeness in relationships.
So we know what causes trauma, and how it shows up. What is important to know now is that there IS something that can be done about it. There is help available that helps people reduce the experiences mentioned above. In this next section, I will explain a little bit about how I personally approach trauma with my clients.
How Does Alexis Help with Trauma?
Therapists have a variety of ways of supporting their client through the healing process. This approach is what has been proving helpful for myself and my clients in the healing work that we do together.
In a nutshell, I conduct what is called Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. EMDR has helped my clients with the following:
Reduction in PTSD Symptoms
Improvement in Emotional Regulation
Decreased Dissociation
Reduction in Anxiety and Depression
Improved Cognitive Functioning
Reduction in Physical Symptoms of Trauma
Restoration of Self-Worth and Identity
Increased Resilience
Below is a roadmap and description of how we go from our first session to finding relief through EMDR.
Relationship Building: Something that we do throughout the entire therapy process that starts from the very first time we meet. This is where I get to learn about you and you are also learning about me as your therapist.
History Gathering: An important element of trauma work. Getting to know you on this level allows us to note patterns of emotions and behavior that connect to events that have been traumatic. I find this information very helpful to help us measure the effectiveness of the healing process.
Goal Setting: This is done super early in the therapy process so we know what direction we want to go. This way, we are continually working toward your goals in every session.
Orientation: Here is where I tell you more about what EMDR therapy does and what you can expect throughout the process. This is also where I will share with you how different parts of you play a role in your trauma reactions and what we can do about that with the parts piece of the therapy.
Calm Space: Before we go anywhere deep and challenging, we ought to make a space that feels calm and comfortable. A place to go for a break or refuge during difficult emotional times. Together we create and reinforce your calm place, to be used at any time, including during the most intense moments of EMDR. Learning additional grounding skills can also be done at this phase.
Meet the Parts: Now that we know where we are going, what we are doing, and how to get calm, it is time to step further into the water. This is the part of therapy where you look internally, meet, get to know and work with the different parts of you that have been trying to protect you for a long time. We need consent from ALL parts of you in order for EMDR to flow. The real goal of parts work with me is to get permission to help the whole system heal with EMDR.
EMDR Time! We start by bringing up a memory and using a brain simulation method, such as eye movements, to help you process the event. We notice emotions and physical sensations until the distress subsides, however much time it takes. Once the pain is reduced, we reinforce the feelings of relief that can come as a result of the processing that occurred. You repeat this process for other key events as needed in future sessions.
Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions. We can meet for a complementary consultation.
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