FAQs

What is trauma therapy?  

Trauma therapy focuses on helping you recover from the physical and emotional effects of trauma, and the changes in beliefs trauma creates. It does not focus on re-living and dealing with traumatic memories. 

What is trauma?

Trauma is an incident(s) or event(s) that overwhelmed our capacity to cope (Dan Siegel). In addition, the effects of trauma often last weeks, months, years and even decades afterwards. 

What are the symptoms of trauma?

All of the following are considered symptoms of trauma: few or no memories; hypervigilance, mistrust; anxiety, panic attacks; chronic pain, headaches; substance abuse, eating disorders; feeling out of body or unreal; self-destructive behavior; loss of sense of “who I am”; depression; irritability; decreased concentration; numbing; loss of interest; insomnia; emotional overwhelm; loss of sense of the future, hopelessness; shame and worthlessness. 

I am not sure if something happened to me when I was a child, because I can’t remember my childhood. Am I crazy? 

No, you are not crazy and there is nothing wrong with you. Most trauma survivors are only able to recall fragments of their childhood, not whole memories or a narrative. Trauma is most likely to be remembered via emotions and sensations, without words.

I’ve never talked to anyone. I’m used to handling things on my own because I feel guilty and I am ashamed of what happened to me.

People who ask for help are courageous. Most trauma survivors live with shame and guilt and tend to blame themselves for their symptoms. But what happened to you was not your fault, you are not responsible for what you endured, and you did not ask for it. 

Will I need to talk about my trauma in detail?

No, trauma focused therapy does not focus on having clients talk about their trauma in detail, because that would make the traumatic effects worse. The details of your story are not necessary for your healing process, unless they are important for you to talk about them.

How long will it take?

Unfortunately, this is not possible to say in a general FAQs page. Trauma therapy is not linear, and because we are all unique individuals, the length of time depends on where you are in your healing journey and what you want to accomplish. 

I want to get the most out of therapy. What can I do to help?

I am so glad you are dedicated to getting the most out of your sessions. Your active participation and dedication will be crucial to your success.