TRAUMA

Survivors of traumatic experiences (such as life threatening accidents, natural disasters, witnessing or experiencing physical or sexual violence) can develop severe anxiety and depression that untreated can impact a person’s functioning for a lifetime. The severity of symptoms tends to relate to the stage in life the trauma occurred and the number of traumatic experiences a person has had. My approach to working with those who are struggling with trauma-related issues or symptoms is highly individualized. For some people, especially those who recently experienced a traumatic event, having a neutral space to process the experience without having to worry about judgment or reaction from friends or family can be very helpful. Brief or extended skills training in the management of acute symptoms of anxiety and/or depression is almost always where I start. I will work with you on understanding your best way of coping, use of supports and making suggestions and/or teaching you ways to adapt. This can often result in quick reduction in distress. Once you are comfortable with your ability to tolerate and cope with distressing emotions without significantly impacting your day-to-day functioning, we may shift to processing the traumatic experience. My approach is to help you deal with the “here and now”, understanding that past experiences do contribute to what you experience now but do not have to last indefinitely.