Trauma occurs when one’s ability to respond to a perceived life threat is overwhelmed. The origins of trauma include obvious things like military combat, or childhood abuse or neglect, and others such as:
- natural disasters
- car accidents
- physical injuries
- the loss of a loved one
- Routine medical procedures
- Emotional injuries
- Poverty
- Repeated exposure to stress
- Disconnection from community
These experiences can limit our choices in life as we avoid certain people, feelings, places or situations. They contribute to a loss of vitality and connection with ourselves and others.
Trauma resides primarily in the body, and symptomatic behaviors result when physical sensations become over-associated with feelings of terror, helplessness or emotional distress.
My work with trauma is respectful and gentle, and I utilize Somatic Experiencing and EMDR as my primary approaches. Both of these methods are powerful tools that access the body’s own inherent healing capacity to bring significant relief to the symptoms of trauma and chronic stress.
Although trauma and chronic stress are part of every day life, they are not a life sentence and recovery is possible.