Trauma Therapy
Today, we know that trauma is a big thing. Trauma happens to all of us in life, some more than others. Whether you have experienced trauma directly or indirectly through someone else's experience, the feelings remain the same once inside of you.
“Trauma is defined as any experience that creates feelings of overwhelmingness and/or an event that is perceived as life-threatening.”
Is everything trauma? Yes and no. Trauma has profound biological roots and can occur at any point in life. Trauma is more profound if it occurs in the formative years. Trauma is more than violence or assault. It is the little events that happen that keep us from feeling safe and connected.
How do you know if you have trauma? Have you had intense feelings of anxiety, depression, guilt, or shame? Do you act in ways that you just don’t understand.
If you’ve experienced trauma, you might discover that you have big emotions like anger and yelling in response to events that aren’t that big. You might also find yourself shutting down without understanding why. Your mind just goes blank.
In addition to very strong reactions of anger, fear, and sadness, you may experience flashbacks and nightmares so bad that you engage in risky behavior to block out what happened. You might try to escape your painful memories by using substances.
While these behaviors may provide short-term relief, they ultimately don't help you heal from trauma since they just replace one negative experience with another. You may have had to go to treatment because your use has gotten so bad.
Trauma hurts the body and mind over time. When there are many unresolved traumas, it can take a while to notice them because they have been part of your way of being for so long.
Trauma doesn’t go away however. When you have experienced trauma you are more likely to experience more. When you experience multiple traumas, you lose connection with yourself and others due to anxiety, depression, shame cycles, and self-medication attempts which usually involve addictions.
Symptoms of Trauma
Shock, denial, or disbelief.
Confusion, difficulty concentrating.
Anger, irritability, mood swings.
Anxiety and fear.
Guilt, shame, self-blame.
Withdrawing from others.
Feeling sad or hopeless.
Feeling disconnected or numb.
For Parents
Trauma can be hard to understand. If you have noticed that your son is experiencing Intense emotions or is engaged in risky behaviors or is addicted, there is a likely chance of trauma.
You really care about your child and you’re doing the best you can, but you are also human. If your child has experienced sudden loss of someone close to them, trauma could be a factor. Maybe you have gone through a divorce. Not only have you encountered trauma, so has your son.
Counseling can help with Trauma.
Trauma has to be healed on a deep level. I teach clients about how their bodies and minds may feel disconnected after a traumatic event.
Trauma can cause you to have intense emotions and shut down. It is possible to move through this and heal because there has been a substantial increase in understanding how trauma works.
The Ember Counseling Atlanta Approach to Trauma Therapy
I am passionate about healing trauma. I am trained in many methods to heal trauma. I work with Onsite Workshops. I use experiential methods to get to the root of trauma and find healing. I am also trained in Psychodrama, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Internal Family Systems (IFS). In our sessions, we will use different experiential techniques like drama, art, or music to help you heal at the root of the problem.
When we clear the traumas at the root of them, they no longer overwhelm and obstruct your way forward. This makes you more able to handle whatever comes next in your life without being overwhelmed. Recovery is not just about surviving, but about thriving and actively creating the life you want to live.
Begin Counseling for Trauma in Atlanta
Trauma has taken too much of your life away. You deserve to find healing and peace. You are worth the investment in yourself to be the very best that you can be.
If you want to feel better and find healing for trauma, reach out for a free consultation today!
Other Services at Ember Counseling Atlanta
Counseling for anxiety isn’t the only service I offer at Ember Counseling Atlanta. Other mental health services at Ember Counseling Atlanta include social anxiety therapy, depression therapy, anxiety counseling, counseling for teens, and Christian counseling.