Trauma Therapy & Recovery

“76% of Canadian adults report some form of trauma exposure in their lifetime”(Trauma Informed Practice Guide, 2013).Trauma refers to experiences that overwhelm an individual’s capacity to cope.

Examples of trauma include childhood abuse (e.g., sexual, physical, emotional, abandonment, or neglect), witnessing violence, sexual violence (e.g., sexual abuse, sexual assault, rape, incest, childhood sexual abuse, rape during armed conflict, sexual harassment, stalking, indecent or sexualized exposure, unwanted touching, degrading sexual imagery, voyeurism,   cyber harassment, trafficking, sexual exploitation), domestic      violence, cyber violence, financial abuse, human or sex trafficking, war, race-based traumatic stress (e.g., racism and discrimination), medical interventions (e.g., critical illness, time in intensive care), historical trauma (e.g., residential schools, slavery, holocaust, etc.), sudden loss, car accidents, occupational (e.g., medical professionals & first responders repeatedly exposed to trauma & critical stress), and more.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a “natural emotional response to frightening or dangerous experiences that involve actual or threatened serious harm to oneself or others. However, for some people, the thoughts or memories of these events seriously affect their lives, long after any real danger has passed” (camh.ca). Some common symptoms of PTSD include intrusive thoughts about the traumatic experience, recurring nightmares, persistent worrying, sleep disturbance, irritability, difficulty experiencing pleasure, avoidance, and more.

While exposure to trauma is common, coping with the aftermath of trauma and recovering from trauma and PTSD is a process.Trauma does not have to be the end of your story. Post-traumatic growth refers to positive psychological growth period that can occur after a traumatic event or adversity. Research          indicates that close to 90% of trauma survivors have “reported to experience at least one aspect of  post-traumatic growth after the stressful encounter” (positivepsychology.com).

At Sacred Circle Counselling, I provide trauma therapy using evidence-based neuroscience-informed modalities such as EMDR, trauma- informed stabilization treatment, polyvagal theory, trauma-focused CBT, Indigenous focusing-oriented therapy, somatic therapy, mindfulness, and more. On your healing journey, I will help you process traumatic experiences and redefine your identity from being a trauma        survivor to a trauma ‘thriver’.

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