Trauma and PTSD 

Trauma often causes a sense of disorientation in relation to our bodies and in relation to time. So although the traumatic event (or events) has passed, your body may still be responding as if it were still occurring in the present, leading to ongoing hypervigilance, self-judgment, and attempts to either control or avoid the ensuing distressing symptoms. The paradox of control and avoidance behaviors (e.g. drinking alcohol, using excessive distractions, trying to push away intrusive thoughts or memories, etc.) however is that, while they provide temporary relief, they tend to increase distressing symptoms in the long run.

Using an integrated approach, I utilize trauma-informed modalities including Internal Family Systems as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, to help you:

  • Learn skills to reconnect with your body and with a sense of safety and “okayness” in the present moment.

  • Relate to different parts of yourself and your experience in more understanding and compassionate ways with the assumption that all of our parts are doing their best to help protect us but may be stuck in the past and not realizing that they are no longer achieving the helpful function that they used to serve - this is often best understood experientially.

  • Explore ways to get distance from your intrusive thoughts and memories and notice them as such - thoughts and memories as opposed to present moment reality.

  • Make space for difficult thoughts, memories, feelings, and sensations so that you put your energy towards investing more in people and activities that really matter to you.

  • Practice looking at your experience from different perspectives such as from the perspective of a loved one, from oneself 10 or 20 years from now, or from a different place in a room.

  • Connect with the part of you that can take a step back and observe your inner experiences without getting caught up in them - the part that notices that you are noticing an experience.

  • Clarify what is most important to you in your life and take small, specific actions in the direction of your values - life tends to be lived most fully when we move towards what is meaningful to us as opposed to away from what brings discomfort.

  • Offer lots of compassion to the parts of you that need it most!

    • While self-judgment can be a short-term motivator, self-compassion has shown to be a much more effective and helpful resource in bringing about positive, lasting change and resilience.

If this approach sounds good to you, feel free to reach out today!