Difficult experiences are an inevitable part of life, but sometimes those experiences are so upsetting they stay with us and cause ongoing harm. Trauma changes us emotionally, physically, and neurologically, often giving people a sense of being disconnected from themselves and the world.

Because of how trauma affects the brain and body, people can experience its effects even many years after the traumatic experiences occur. Traumatized brains operate as though the danger is still present, and take steps to protect us through anxiety, emotional dysregulation, dissociation (feeling like you or the world aren’t real), flashbacks, and a myriad of other physical symptoms. Problems emerge when the danger has passed, and our brains continue to operate like it hasn’t.

Healing happens when we reconnect with our bodies, confront feelings of shame, establish safety, and recreate the narrative of our life to include the trauma as one of the many things that has happened but is now over.

Trauma can occur from a single isolated incident, or as a series of events over time (often called Complex PTSD). It can result from any number of experiences, including:

• Childhood or adult physical, sexual, or verbal/emotional abuse
• Living in an unstable or toxic environment with others who are mentally ill or addicted to substances
• Not having basic emotional or physical needs met
• Death of a loved one
• Witnessing an event that threatens your well-being or the well-being of others
• Abusive, toxic, or simply complex experiences with religion
• Car accidents and natural disasters
• Any other disturbing life experience that has had a lasting impact

In my practice, I primarily use EMDR and Internal Family Systems to help clients heal from trauma. I prefer these modalities because of their effectiveness and lack of necessity to discuss the trauma in detail. I am very passionate about both IFS and EMDR, a feeling that continues to grow the more I see people heal and make groundbreaking changes in their lives as a result of that healing.

I know that trauma therapy can be a difficult process, but as I often tell my clients: You are capable of doing difficult things. Healing can be one of them.

Learn more about EMDR here, and get a great primer on IFS here.