What Is Trauma?

Trauma is the emotional and psychological response to distressing or overwhelming experiences. These events may involve a one-time incident, like an accident or assault, or ongoing situations such as abuse, neglect, or chronic stress. Trauma isn’t defined by what happened but by how it impacted you, leaving you feeling unsafe, powerless, or deeply shaken. It can affect the body, mind, and nervous system long after the event has passed.

How Trauma Can Affect You

Trauma can show up in many ways: flashbacks, anxiety, irritability, trouble sleeping, or feeling numb or disconnected. Some people feel stuck in survival mode or have difficulty trusting others. Others may not recognize their experiences as traumatic until they explore the deeper roots of emotional pain, relationship patterns, or physical symptoms. Whether the trauma is recent or long past, its effects can be confusing and isolating.

Trauma in Professionals and Families

Trauma-exposed professionals (TExP) who work in high-stress or caregiving roles (healthcare workers, police officers, firefighters, members of the armed forces, or social service providers) are often exposed to trauma through the nature of the work they do. This can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue, or vicarious trauma. Similarly, trauma-exposed families (TExF) can also experience significant challenges and carry the emotional weight together. Therapy can help individuals and families recognize these patterns, build emotional resilience, and break cycles of reactivity or silence that often surround trauma.

How Therapy Can Help

Therapy offers a safe and supportive space to begin processing trauma at your own pace. Through approaches like CBT, EMDR, and grounding techniques, we can help you understand your trauma responses, regulate your nervous system, and gently reconnect with parts of yourself that may have shut down. Healing from trauma doesn’t mean forgetting what happened; it means reclaiming your sense of safety, self-worth, and the ability to move forward with greater ease.