Whether you have experienced trauma as the result of childhood abuse or neglect or after the sudden death of a loved one, a serious accident, a violent act or a natural disaster, there is help and hope.
If you’re living with the lasting impact of trauma, the support and help of a therapist can be the key to your healing.
Trauma Symptoms
According to the four types of symptoms listed in the DSM-5
Avoidance Symptoms
- Avoiding specific locations, sights, situations, and sounds that serve as reminders of the event
- Anxiety, depression, numbness, or guilt
Re-experiencing Symptoms
- Intrusive thoughts, nightmares or flashbacks
Hyperarousal Symptoms
- Anger, irritability, and hyper-vigilance
- Aggressive, reckless behavior, including self-harm
- Sleep disturbances
Negative Mood and Cognition Symptoms
- Loss of interest in activities that were once considered enjoyable
- Difficulty remembering details of the distressing event
- Change in habits or behavior since the trauma
Research has shown psychotherapy to be the most effective form of treatment for trauma. Often, this therapy is a combination of supportive counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in order to heal the ongoing pain and distress of trauma.