Many people struggle with anxious and/or depressed thoughts, and distressing sensations and symptoms that keep them from living their best lives.
Some people know the root cause or experiences that led to their debilitating thoughts and sensations in the present; others do not. Some have detailed, explicit memories of the past. More often, however, trauma survivors have symptoms, not memories (Harvey, 1990).
Trauma comes in many forms. Emotional, physical and sexual abuse; violence, acts of war, and natural disasters are what people most commonly think of as traumatic events or experiences. However, poverty, neglect, feeling chronically unsafe, living in families of addiction or mental illness, grief and loss, poor attachments with significant others, and so much more can contribute to single-incident or chronic trauma.
There is no need to justify or question what happened to you. Psychological trauma is a unique, subjective experience. Many people downplay the impact or validity of their experiences — doubting, comparing, or even dismissing what happened to them because they don’t remember the details, or because “So many people had it so much worse!”
Unresolved trauma, attachment wounds, and distressing developmental experiences can lead to unrelenting panic, anxiety, fear, sadness, worsening depression, and/or physical symptoms in the present. These responses might seem “too big” for what just happened, or they may not make sense to you at all. You may have problems managing your distress and regulating your mood. Relationships with others may suffer. The coping strategies you’ve come to rely on aren’t working anymore – and may be making things worse.
Looking at what’s “wrong” in the present through a lens of “what happened” in the past allows us to identify these problematic thoughts and behaviors as symptoms and their triggers, rather than judging them and ultimately condemning ourselves. It helps us understand why we might be having these sensations, behaviors, and symptoms, but more importantly, it helps us recognize the sensations, behaviors, and symptoms for what they are — roadblocks and boat-anchors in our present-day lives.
Further, it may give us: the ability to be more aware of what is happening in our bodies and thoughts in the moment; an understanding of the biological reasons for these responses; and the ability to figure out what we need in the moment to change things for the better.
In other words, knowing what’s happening in your brain (and why) can help you get “un-stuck” from the chronic panic, anxiety, fear, and unhealthy behaviors that keep you from moving forward in your life. It can help you connect and look to your mind and body for what you really need in those moments, and how to make it happen.
In our work together, we’ll look to the past (while in the safety of the present), but we’ll focus on traumatic effects, not events. You’ll learn how your brain responds to past trauma, attachment wounds, and distressing developmental experiences. We’ll focus a lot on the symptoms and behaviors that are now getting in your way. You’ll learn how to separate past from present, putting you in a much stronger position to utilize healthier skills and coping strategies to manage your distress. We’ll take advantage of your mind and body’s innate ability to heal. And most of all, you’ll learn to do this with a heart of self-compassion and love.
This treatment is for you if you’re tired and ready to open your mind to a healing perspective and strategies that’ll change how you think about and manage your pain.