Therapy for Trauma

Do you experience distressing emotions that appear to you, and perhaps to others, to be excessive given the current situation? Do you tend to be highly reactive to certain triggers? Is there one or more dysfunctional belief that you believe about yourself that on an intellectual level you know is not true?

If so, you may still be a good candidate for EMDR therapy.

Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime. While many people can recover from trauma over time with the love and support of family and friends and bounce back with resiliency, others may discover effects of lasting trauma, which can cause a person to live with deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or post-traumatic stress far after the event has passed.

Symptoms of PTSD can include flasbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, avoiding reminders, emotional numbing or feeling emotionally detached, persistent negative thoughts and distorted beliefs about oneself, others, or the world (i.e. “I am bad,” “The world is dangerous”), memory problems, guilt/shame, loss of interest, difficulty concentrating, feeling hypervigilant, easily irritable or angered, engaging reckless behavior or self-destructive behavior and sleep disturbances.

Post traumatic stress disorder is a diagnosable mental health disorder that may occur in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a terrorist act, an act of war, a serious accident, rape, or any other violent personal assault.

• Natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, hurricanes)
• Serious accidents (e.g., car crashes)
• Physical or sexual assault
• Combat exposure
• Witnessing or being a victim of a violent crime
  

Big T Trauma

These events can lead to conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

"Big T" trauma refers to significant, often life-threatening events that are typically associated with a severe emotional and psychological impact. These are the events most people traditionally think of when they hear the word "trauma." Examples include:

• Divorce or breakup
• Bullying or harassment
• Emotional neglect or abandonment
• Loss of a pet
• Moving to a new location or changing schools
• Financial or job-related stress
  

Little T Trauma

While these experiences might not meet the clinical criteria for PTSD, they can lead to symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other emotional difficulties, especially if multiple "Little T" traumas accumulate over time.

Both “Little T” and Big T” traumas can significantly affect an individual’s well-being and may require therapeutic intervention. Treatments such as EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other forms of psychotherapy can be effective in addressing the impacts of both types of traumas.

"Little T" trauma refers to less severe but still distressing events that can accumulate over time and significantly impact an individual’s mental health. These might not be life-threatening but can still cause substantial emotional pain and can affect one's day-to-day functioning. Examples include: