PSYCHOTHERAPY SERVICES
Trauma & PTSD Therapy
Expert Trauma Therapist in Vancouver
Overcome trauma, build confidence, write a new story and enjoy a more fulfilling life.
If you’ve experienced an overwhelming and distressing traumatic event that still impacts your daily life, you are not alone. ​
As a specialist Trauma Therapist in Vancouver, I am committed to helping individuals recover from PTSD, childhood trauma, neglect, emotionally immature parenting and Complex-PTSD.
I have seen the immense suffering in those who believe they are broken, feel shut down or hijacked by anxiety and toxic shame, think they are unlovable and that no matter what they do, they just don’t feel like they are enough. Trauma affects our sense of self and these core beliefs affect how we feel about ourselves and make relationships harder.
It is my most sincere wish, to help people realize that they are not broken and that there are new ways of seeing themselves.​ Change is not only possible, but very much within reach with the right kind of treatment.
Understanding PTSD: A Normal Response to Abnormal Events
Trauma creates intense emotional and psychological responses to physically and mentally harmful events, such as abuse, violence, or neglect. It overwhelms the nervous system, leading to profound effects on a person’s emotional and cognitive well-being.
Trauma, and the residue of trauma, called Post Traumatic Stress, can lead to persistent feelings of fear, anxiety and dysregulation in the nervous system, sadness, anger and distress intolerance. It can distort a person’s self-perception and beliefs, making them feel ashamed, worthless, or mistrustful.​
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​This can also result in behavioural changes, such as avoiding reminders of the trauma or withdrawing from social interactions.
Physically, trauma held in the body can cause chronic pain, fatigue, autoimmune issues and other stress-related symptoms.
Another painful symptom of trauma is the way we have learned to cope and protect ourselves form future pain, can often lead to withdrawal and distancing in our close relationships leading to more isolation and pain.
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These reactions to trauma are normal ways for your nervous system to respond but they do not have to persist forever.
As a Trauma Therapist in Vancouver, I understand these challenges and offer support to help you repair and shift the negative residue from trauma. You deserve to feel better, and recovery is possible with appropriate support tailored to you.
"Throughout our lives we develop ways to cope and protect ourselves. That is a very smart thing to do, especially if we have had hard experiences. The truth is you are not broken. Even though you may feel lost from your self, it never went away. We just need to clear the path."
~ Carly Goodfellow ~
Understanding the Symptoms of Trauma
Trauma can deeply affect your emotional and mental well-being, and its impact often manifests in several ways:
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Re-experiencing the Trauma: You might find yourself frequently reliving the trauma through intrusive memories, vivid flashbacks, or distressing nightmares.
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Shifts in Mood and Thinking: You may feel emotionally distant from others, overwhelmed by negative emotions, or burdened by distorted thoughts and beliefs, increasing a sense of isolation and affects how you see yourself and the world.​
Avoidance: It’s common to avoid people, places, situations, or even thoughts that remind you of the trauma. This can be a way to protect yourself from the emotional pain, but it might also limit your interactions and experiences.
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Hyperarousal: Symptoms of hyperarousal can include trouble sleeping, heightened alertness, irritability, angry outbursts, and difficulty concentrating. You might also feel constantly on edge or engage in reckless or self-destructive behaviours.
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Hypoarousal: On the other hand, you might experience physical lethargy, mental fog, and emotional numbness. This can lead to withdrawing from social interactions and losing interest in activities you once enjoyed.
“The pain of trauma can be the catalyst for personal growth, leading us to discover inner strength and resilience we never knew we possessed.”
~ Judith Lewis Herman ~
Integrative Trauma Healing: Recovery of Self and Aliveness
Navigating the aftermath of trauma can be incredibly challenging, especially when these events have shaped a worldview of constant threat or self-doubt. It’s common to feel stuck or disheartened with feelings of being on edge, hypervigilant, emotionally unstable, and struggling to feel like yourself again.
To help you process and integrate traumatic experiences, manage emotions effectively, and build resilience, I use effective, research based approaches to trauma treatment including Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (Somatic therapies), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Clinical Hypnotherapy, Mindfulness and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) tools.
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I offer a treatment uniquely tailored to you, to alleviate emotional pain and provide a rapid reduction in post-traumatic stress and anxiety symptoms.
As you engage in therapy, you may feel:
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Improved emotional regulation, better able to manage anger, fear, and sadness.
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Increased control over your nervous system, rapidly relieving stress and anxiety..
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A strengthened capacity for intimacy and more fulfilling relationships, alongside a heightened ability to set and maintain healthy boundaries.
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Integration of dissociative parts of yourself, promoting a deeper connection with your true self.
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A more profound sense of being in tune with yourself, empowering you to navigate life with greater ease and resilience.​
“Trauma changes you. Healing is about creating a new version of yourself, the one that is stronger, wiser, and more compassionate.”
~ Michele Rosenthal ~
Ready to Take A Step Towards Recovery, Growth and Vitality?
I offer a free online meet and greet to learn more and to get a feel for how I work and go through any questions you may have. You can book online by clicking below.
Contact me today to explore how we can work together to help you feel relief and connect with a more secure and resilient self.