Like so many others struggling with trauma, you may question what really happened, criticize yourself for past choices and carry a great deal of shame.
You might want to distract yourself so you don’t have time to think or feel. Or, maybe you withdraw socially, neglect responsibilities or avoid activities in an attempt to remain safe. You may have turned to substances or compulsive behavior to escape your pain, even though that relief never lasts. Despite your best efforts, you may be experiencing mood swings that make you feel out of control and defeated.
In general trauma can be defined as a significant life event that leaves you feeling powerless and out-of-control. This can be as big as a natural disaster or as small as being locked in an elevator. Traumas like the second one often go unrecognized or are rationalized because they may be fairly common. However, their effects are very real. Ongoing toxic stress can build up, leading to increasingly severe PTSD symptoms.
It’s not really the objective facts of the experience that determine whether or not a person is traumatized from an event, but rather their emotional experience. The more scared, helpless and overwhelmed a person feels, the more likely they are to be traumatized. This is one of the many reasons why childhood trauma can be so devastating. Children, by the very nature of their developmental stage, are helpless and more easily frightened by unforeseen events.
Unprocessed trauma affects how we show up at work, in relationships and in our bodies. It affects our beliefs about the world and the people in it (e.g. the world is an unsafe place to be, people always seem to hurt me). It is often a root cause underlying other issues that prompt clients to come to see me.
The BalanCHIng Method and The Art Of Tapping address trauma specifically and effectively. As a holistic intuitive counselor and trauma coach, I work with the entirety of who you are, offering the compassionate guidance and support needed to heal your mind, body and spirit. I provide a supportive environment for you to explore deeply rooted experiences and acquire practical strategies that can positively transform your life.
Because it’s possible to change your brain, repair misfiring systems and heal at your core. I can teach you effective practices for soothing both physical and mental distress, using mindfulness-based self-care practices that connect you to a deep inner source of healing. Depending on your needs and interests, these might include mindfulness practices (breathwork), meditation (guided imagery), Qigong, aromatherapy and more.
Self-compassion is another essential component of trauma therapy. I began working with self-compassion in my late 20s, in part, because I experienced my own trauma and resulting PTSD and severe teenage depression. Therefore, I understand how powerless trauma can make you feel. But you are not to blame for what happened, and you really do have everything you need to live the life you’ve always envisioned.
I can help you locate the deep well of your inner resources, reclaim your personal power and find a new sense of agency. You are wiser and more resilient than you realize, and it is possible to live your life from your true self—the one you were always meant to be.