Wondering if trauma therapy in San Diego might be good for you? Read on to see if  therapy for trauma is the right fit for your needs.

Trauma is an event or series of events that is distressing or disturbing, and is experienced by someone as either physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and has adverse effects on their level of functioning (mental, physical, social, emotional or spiritual). In light of the Covid Pandemic, all of us have been traumatized one way or another due to the life-threatening nature of the virus and the way in which it dramatically altered our lives both physically and emotionally (#ChangeIsHard! amiright?) 

Bessel van der Kolk, author of the well-know book on trauma The Body Keeps the Score defines trauma in this way:

“Trauma is an event that overwhelms the central nervous system, altering the way we process and recall memories …Trauma is not the story of something that happened back then…it’s the current imprint of that pain, horror, and fear living inside people.” 

Types of Trauma Exposures:

  • Child Abuse (physical, sexual, psychological, or neglect)
  • Mass Interpersonal Violence (including school and community violence)
  • Natural Disasters
  • Large-Scale Transportation Accidents
  • Fire and Burns
  • Motor Vehicle Accidents
  • Rape or Sexual Assault
  • Physical Assault 
  • Intimate Partner Violence (aka “Domestic Violence”)
  • Sex Trafficking
  • Torture
  • War (including military related stressors – injury, loss, POW)
  • Witnessing or being confronted with the Homicide/Suicide of another person
  • Life-Threatening Medical Conditions and/or Medical Procedures
  • Emergency Worker Exposure to Trauma
  • Historical, Collective, or Intergenerational Trauma such as:
    • Racism
    • Slavery
    • Forcible removal from a family or community
    • Genocide
    • War
  • Threats to psychological integrity such as:
    • extreme emotional abuse
    • major losses or separations
    • Degradation, humiliation, or bullying and 
    • Coercion/Psychological manipulation ( eg. coerced but not physically violent sexual experiences, undue influence/brainwashing or mind control)
  • Betrayal Trauma – i.e. when a partner or parents commits infidelity

Effects of Trauma

Being exposed to traumatic events can lead to the development of many different types of mental health challenges. Some people are more resilient than others. Not everyone develops mental health symptoms in response to a traumatic event. Some people experience brief symptoms that resolve within 1 month of the incident, while others experience stronger, more acute symptoms that may last several months to years. 

There is no right or wrong way to respond to a trauma. Everyone is unique in how they respond or react to what they’ve experienced. Many factors contribute to why some people develop Post-Traumatic Stress while others are able to bounce back more quickly.

What are some common symptoms of trauma or PTSD?

  • Intrusion thoughts, memories, or dreams
  • Avoidance of situations or memories that serve as reminders of the event
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Dissociative symptoms
  • Hyper-arousal
  • Hyper-vigilance
  • Panic
  • Somatization
  • Substance misuse or dependence

Can you relate to any of these? If you’re suffering from trauma-related symptoms or have recently experienced a traumatic event (or are a survivor of childhood trauma) I would love to support you on your road to recovery. As a trauma-informed therapist, I’m trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) which is a trauma-specific therapy model that is highly effective in the treatment of trauma and PTSD.

Schedule an appointment for trauma therapy in San Diego

Are you ready to start feeling better and take back control of your trauma symptoms? If so, click here to schedule a free, 15-minute phone consultation to see if I might be a good fit for your needs. I look forward to talking with you!