Difficult experiences can sometimes continue to influence us long after they have passed. You may know that you are safe in the present, yet notice that certain situations, conversations, relationships, or emotions bring up reactions that feel difficult to understand or control.

For some people, this may look like feeling constantly on guard, becoming overwhelmed easily, shutting down during conflict, avoiding certain situations, or having difficulty trusting others. For others, it may be less obvious. You might appear to be functioning well while struggling internally with self-criticism, guilt, shame, difficulty relaxing, or a persistent feeling that you need to protect yourself.

Understanding patterns that once helped you cope

Sometimes the ways we learned to cope during difficult periods continue even when they are no longer serving us in the same way.

This might include avoiding difficult emotions, disconnecting from your own needs, trying to keep everyone around you happy, becoming highly independent, needing to stay in control, or finding it difficult to ask others for support.

Rather than viewing these responses as something that is “wrong” with you, therapy can help us become curious about where they came from, what purpose they may have served, and whether there are different ways of responding that feel more helpful in your life today.

Reconnecting with yourself

Trauma can sometimes affect the relationship we have with ourselves as much as our relationships with others.

Our work may involve developing a greater understanding of your emotional needs, recognizing and communicating boundaries, becoming more comfortable identifying what you feel, and exploring beliefs about yourself that may have developed through past experiences.

Depending on your individual needs, we may incorporate EFT-informed, CBT-informed, and mindfulness-informed strategies to help you better understand the connection between your experiences, emotions, thoughts, and patterns of responding.

Moving at a pace that feels manageable

Trauma-informed therapy does not mean that you need to immediately tell your entire story or revisit every detail of a difficult experience.

Our work can begin with understanding what is affecting you in the present, developing strategies for managing difficult emotions, and building a greater sense of stability and awareness.

We can approach more difficult experiences gradually and collaboratively, while paying attention to what feels manageable for you.

Therapy is tailored to your individual experiences, needs, and goals. There is no single way that healing is supposed to look.