What Is Trauma?
Trauma happens when we experience an event or series of events that leave us feeling helpless or that our existence is being threatened. The nervous system bursts into action preparing us to respond to the threat – but with trauma we are unable to get away or remove the threat. The body freezes as it copes with overwhelm- all the bodily sensations and emotional responses get stored and imprinted in the nervous system.
Whether the trauma happened in childhood or in adulthood, the memory of the trauma is often locked in our bodies and nervous system. Something will happen in our daily life that triggers those memories and suddenly we are high jacked by a host symptoms: uncomfortable body states, difficulty concentrating, nightmares, hypervigilance, insomnia, feelings of hopelessness among others.
Once we are triggered, our bodies and minds respond as if we are currently in danger. The present becomes high jacked by our past,
How I Can Help
I have over 25 years experience helping people recover from trauma. I use an integrative approach including somatic and mindfulness practices such as Sensorimotor Psychotherapy to gently help the body release those traumatic memories as well as cognitive and psychodynamic strategies to help provide both immediate relief and longer term recovery from attachment or relationship wounds. My approach is gentle but effective. I can help.
