Trauma

“Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence” – Peter A. Levine

Trauma is a psychological response to an event perceived by our nervous system as life-threatening to oneself or others. Trauma affects our ability to process thoughts and make sound judgements.

In understanding the impact of trauma on mental health, survivors of abuse are more able to enjoy an increased quality of life. Without understanding the impact of trauma on an individual, you are more likely to feel something is wrong and that you need to be fixed. What you are in fact experiencing is a normal response to an abnormal situation.

I use 2 models when working with trauma clients. Namely attachment theory and the language of parts (Internal Family Systems). This will provide you with a narrative where there were previously no words.

In reaction to the trauma, you are likely to experience a whole host of emotions:

• Fear and anxiety

• Anger

• Sadness and grief for the loss of a life that might have been

• Numbness as a protective element to for the body and mind

• Shame as a result of the dysfunctional environment to which you experienced

By engaging with counselling, you will experience a warm environment where you at last feel safe. Over time you may want to revisit aspects of your trauma that continue to trouble you today.