Trauma
At some point in our lives, many of us will be impacted by trauma. You might have experienced childhood abuse or neglect, a natural disaster, a car accident, an abusive relationship, intergenerational trauma, a medical trauma, an assault, a traumatic loss, witnessed a violent act, or any number of other events. Trauma affects our minds, bodies, and hearts; it is a soul wound.
We experience trauma not only as distressing thoughts and feelings, but also on a sensory level in our bodies. Maybe you vividly recall every detail of the event. On the other hand, you might not remember the exact details of what happened to you, but because we store trauma in our bodies, you might have a lingering “felt-sense” memory. You might also notice that trauma has impacted your daily life: heightened anxiety, easily angered, feeling depressed, low self-esteem, inability to form healthy relationships.
My approach to trauma is healing-centered, holistic, and experiential. We can’t talk our way out of trauma; in fact, you might find it very difficult to find words to describe your trauma experience, or you tell the story over and over but it never lessens its grip. Using somatosensory (body and senses) activities including expressive arts, movement, mindfulness, and nature-based activities, in combination with talk therapy, we will work toward releasing the trauma held in your body and loosen emotional knots tied to the trauma story. We can’t erase memories or our past, but we can learn to let go of the energy attached to the memory so that it softens, becomes more distant and less invasive. As the author of your own life, you can then start to write a new narrative from this point forward.
Ultimately, the hope is that through our work together you will:
- expand your capacity for healing and growth
- feel more anchored in your sense of self and in your soul
- become aware of your inner strengths and discover a sense of safety within yourself
- break old patterns of thinking and behaving that no longer serve you, and develop new skills to help you move forward with a renewed sense of meaning and purpose
- deepen your relationships with others
- restore a sense of balance and resiliency
Recovering from trauma takes time, but you are not alone. I will be your companion on this part of your healing journey. Please reach out if you’d like to learn more.