Therapy for Trauma
EMDR & Brainspotting trauma POC therapists in Los Angeles, Pasadena, across CA & Washington
Trauma can deeply affect your feelings, often leaving you with a complex emotional landscape. You might experience overwhelming fear, anger, or sadness that seems to come out of nowhere. Feelings of shame and guilt can become pervasive, making you question your actions and worth. Anxiety and panic may become frequent companions, leading to constant worry and unease. Sometimes, you might feel numb, detached, or disconnected from your emotions altogether, making it hard to experience joy or contentment. This emotional turmoil can be exhausting and confusing. However, with the right support and strategies, it's possible to navigate these emotions and find a path to recovery. Reach out to one of our trauma-informed therapists today for a free consultation.
trauma Affects Us in Different Ways
you might be feeling one or more of the following:
A persistent sense of impending doom
An intense state of being on high alert and fear
Being overwhelmed by intense emotions
Feeling disconnected from oneself or others
Deep sorrow or sadness, often tied to loss
Paradoxical feeling of strength from surviving trauma
Feeling self-conscious or ashamed about the trauma
Feeling like your experiences or feelings are dismissed
A sense of confusion or feeling lost
Anger about what hasn’t or has happened
Frequent helplessness in everyday situations
A sense of hopelessness about the future
Frequent resentment
Insecurity
Mixed feelings about people, places, or events related to the trauma
Heightened emotional responses to stimuli
Wishing past events had been different
Intense aversion towards memories or triggers
Feeling irritable due to the inability to change or control aspects of the trauma
Feeling that recovery or relief is impossible
Distrusting others' intentions or actions
Longing for things to return to how they were before the trauma
Excessive inappropriate guilt
Feeling “numb” or “nothing”
Betrayal from people who you feel were responsible for your pain
Anxiety or panic
trauma is stored in your Body
The research on trauma highlights the intricate ways that traumatic experiences can alter your brain and body, specifically in the hippocampus (memory) and amygdala (emotion and memory processing) of the brain. Your body can retain sensory and emotional memories from past traumatic events which can lead to triggering automatic muscle tension, increased heart rate, and digestive issues, alongside predictable emotions, thought patterns, and reactions associated with them. These findings have informed our understanding of how trauma is stored in the body and why brain and body-based therapy approaches such as Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Brainspotting are necessary in supporting you to release trauma held in your body and reconnect with your body, reduce physical symptoms in collaboration with any relevant healthcare providers, and improve your overall well-being.
you might be experiencing one or more of the following symptoms:
Persistent pain in various parts of the body, often without a clear physical cause
Persistent tiredness and lack of energy, even after rest
Problems such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain
Persistent tightness, discomfort, spasms, or uncontrollable contractions in muscles
Frequent or severe headaches
Irregular or rapid heartbeat
Difficulty falling or staying asleep, nightmares, or restless sleep
Feelings of lightheadedness or vertigo
Ringing or buzzing in the ears.
Difficulty breathing or a feeling of being unable to take a deep breath.
Excessive sweating, often without physical exertion.
Uncontrollable shaking or trembling, especially during stress or anxiety.
Increased sensitivity to bright lights or loud noises.
Nausea, vomiting, or changes in appetite.
Pain or discomfort in the joints.
Itching, burning, or other unusual skin sensations
Feeling unusually hot or cold without an apparent cause
Uncomfortable sensations in the leg, often leading to an urge to move them
TrAUMA affects your behaviors
Trauma can profoundly impact your behavior in ways that might not always be immediately obvious. You might find yourself withdrawing from social interactions, and avoiding places or activities that remind you of the traumatic event. Sleep disturbances like insomnia or nightmares can become common, leaving you feeling fatigued and irritable. Hypervigilance, or being constantly on edge, can make you overly cautious and easily startled. You might even turn to substance use or risky behaviors as a way to cope with overwhelming emotions. You might also notice changes in your eating habits, either eating too much or too little. Understanding these behavioral changes is crucial in recognizing the impact of trauma and seeking the support needed to heal. Working with a trauma-informed therapist can help you address these behaviors and develop healthier coping strategies.
you might be coping in one or more of the following ways:
Avoiding places or people that remind you of a traumatic event
Numbing your feelings or shutting down feelings to avoid pain
Procrastinating tasks to avoid stressors linked to trauma
Being easily startled by loud noises or unexpected events
Exhibiting frequent irritability or outbursts of anger
Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing nightmares.
Experiencing flashbacks of reliving a traumatic event as if it’s happening again
Unwanted intrusive thoughts about the trauma
Struggling to focus on tasks or conversations
Engaging in repetitive behaviors to gain a sense of control or calm
Over-cleaning or organizing to manage anxiety
Being constantly on guard or watching for potential threats
Frequently scanning your environment to ensure safety
Withdrawing from friends, family, and social activities
Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
Turning to drugs or alcohol to cope with traumatic memories
Engaging in behaviors that cause physical harm, like cutting or burning
Engaging in dangerous or reckless activities, such as unprotected sex with strangers without considering potential consequences, driving under the influence, being violent toward others, gambling, or extreme sports without proper precaution
Neglecting your health issues or not taking care of yourself
Overeating or Undereating due to stress or emotional regulation issues
Experiencing rapid changes in mood
Difficulty trusting others, even those close to them
Experiencing frequent tension or conflict in personal relationships
TRAUMA affects your thoughts
Trauma profoundly impacts the way you think, often leaving you trapped in a cycle of negative and distressing thoughts. It can lead to relentless self-criticism and guilt, convincing you that you're at fault or could have done something differently. Your mind might replay the traumatic event over and over, making it hard to move on or find peace. There's a constant sense of fear and hypervigilance, always waiting for the next bad thing to happen. Trust can become a major issue, both in others and in yourself, leading to isolation and loneliness. These thoughts aren't just fleeting; they can become ingrained, affecting your everyday decision-making, emotional state, body, spirituality, and outlook on life. Working with a trauma-informed therapist at Oak and Stone Therapy provides a safe, non-judgmental space where you can explore these thoughts, challenge harmful thought patterns, develop healthier coping skills, and rebuild a sense of safety and trust in yourself and others.
you might be ruminating over one or more of the following thoughts:
"Why did this happen to me?"
"I can't trust anyone."
"I'm not safe."
"It's my fault."
"I should have done something differently."
"I can't stop thinking about it."
"I'm broken."
"I can't forgive myself."
"No one understands what I'm going through."
"I'm always on edge."
"I feel so alone."
"I can't escape these memories."
"I'm not strong enough to handle this."
"Everything reminds me of what happened."
"I don't deserve to be happy."
"I'm constantly waiting for something bad to happen."
"I can't relax."
"I'm damaged."
"I can't move on."
"I'm stuck in the past."
"I don't know who I am anymore."
"I don't trust myself anymore."
"What if it happens again?"
faqs about trauma therapy
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Our approach to trauma therapy as a therapist involves several key components:
Recognize the Symptoms
Trauma can manifest in various ways, including your physical body, spiritual body, emotions, mind, and behaviors. Being able to identify the full picture is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
Understand the Causes
Trauma can be caused by a combination of genetic, biological, psychological, social, intergenerational, and environmental factors. It's important to consider your family history of trauma, any chronic illnesses, life changes, personal trauma, and stressors that may contribute to your trauma. Sometimes it can be difficult to identify a specific traumatic event because your experiences can be complex and layered. You might be suffering from the impact of experiences that you’ve never had or experienced more subtly due to poverty, immigration, racism, discrimination, and more.
Assess the Impact
We want to evaluate how trauma affects your daily life, relationships, work, and overall well-being. Understanding the severity and impact of trauma can help tailor the treatment approach to the your specific needs.
Develop a Treatment Plan
Create a comprehensive treatment plan that may include insight-oriented talk therapy, somatic body-based approaches such as EMDR and Brainspotting, medication, lifestyle changes, and support systems. Collaborate with you to set realistic goals and monitor progress.
Map out your cycle of underlying emotions, coping mechanisms, and impact on yourself and relationships.
Gaining awareness of the pattern of how you specifically experience youran trauma and cope can offer important insight to what your treatment involves.
Provide Psychoeducation
Educate you about different types of trauma, its causes, symptoms, and treatment options. Support you in gaining insight to your history with your trauma and coping mechanisms.
Implement Experiential Exercises to Reclaim New Messages about your Pain
As therapists, we use our intuition, expertise, and creativity to help you to address your trauma with new messages, stories, experiences, somatic interventions, and truths so that you can live the life your deserve.
Introduce New Coping Strategies
Teach you new self-care practices and coping strategies to manage your symptoms. This may include mindfulness, exercise, somatic interventions, self-regulation skills, healthy eating, and stress management techniques.
Practice
Practice and integrate what you have learned in therapy, in different settings and situations from your everyday life until your new positive self-talk and coping mechanisms become automatic and more natural.
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1. Reach out to a therapist and/or psychiatrist to start your healing journey.
Therapist/Counselor: A mental health professional can provide strategies and support through therapy.
Psychiatrist: Medication might be necessary and should be managed by a psychiatrist.
2. Build a Support System
Talk to Trusted People: Open up to friends or family members who can offer emotional support.
Support Groups: Joining a support group can help you feel less isolated and provide a sense of community.
3. Lifestyle Changes
Exercise Regularly: Physical activity can boost endorphins and improve mood.
Balanced Diet: Nutrient-rich foods support overall health, including mental health.
Adequate Sleep: Establish a regular sleep routine to ensure you're getting enough rest.
4. Mindfulness and Relaxation
Meditation: Helps manage stress and improve emotional well-being.
Breathing Exercises: Simple techniques to calm the mind and body.
5. Healthy Coping Mechanisms
Creative Outlets: Engage in activities like drawing, writing, or playing music.
Hobbies: Pursue interests that bring you joy and provide a sense of accomplishment.
6. Set Realistic Goals
Small Achievements: Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Celebrate Success: Acknowledge and reward yourself for each accomplishment.
7. Limit Stress
Identify Stressors: Recognize and try to reduce sources of stress in your life.
Time Management: Plan and prioritize tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
8. Avoid Substance Use
Limit Alcohol: Alcohol can worsen depression symptoms.
Avoid Drugs: Drugs can have a negative impact on your mental health.
9. Positive Thinking
Challenge Negative Thoughts: Replace negative thoughts with positive, realistic ones.
Gratitude Practice: Focus on positive aspects of your life and express gratitude regularly.
10. Consider Alternative Treatments
Acupuncture: Some find relief through holistic treatments like acupuncture.
Supplements: Consult with a healthcare provider about potential supplements, like omega-3 fatty acids.
Remember, everyone's journey with anxiety is unique, and finding the right combination of strategies can take time. It’s important to be patient and compassionate with yourself throughout the process.