Therapy for Trauma

Life brings us many unexpected moments. Some moments are joyful and sweet. Yet, others are deeply painful and can leave us with wounds that are difficult to heal. Trauma therapy can make a difference.

You may be carrying the pain of past experiences that stretched over the years, instead of a single incident. Perhaps you survived ongoing abuse or neglect as a child or spent time in an abusive romantic relationship. Or maybe you have weathered so many storms on your path that you can’t pinpoint where it all went wrong.

Trauma can happen to any of us.

But you don’t have to endure it alone. Therapy can help you navigate the lingering effects of trauma so you can take ownership of your life. Welcome to Hearst Psychotherapy where we are committed to helping adults heal. We strive to support BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and diverse communities in North Carolina by providing access to a safe and holistic therapy journey. As members of the BIPOC community, we understand what it’s like to grow up swimming against the current, constantly fighting to be seen, heard, and understood. We’re here to listen, give a voice to your unique perspective, and guide you to find long-lasting relief. You have the right to take time and space to mend. Let us help you move from surviving to thriving in the face of adversity. Contact us to book a free consultation or keep reading to learn how trauma therapy can help you and your loved ones.

What is trauma, exactly?

Trauma is the human reaction to an upsetting, terrifying, or distressing experience. This includes severe or life-threatening incidents, typically called “big T trauma,” and the less acute yet still painful events, otherwise known as “little T trauma.”
  • Bullying, harassment, or public humiliation
  • Childhood neglect
  • Discrimination (over gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, etc.)
  • Divorce or separation
  • Domestic violence
  • Emotional, physical, or sexual abuse
  • Forceful act or assault
  • Military combat or warfare
  • Motor accident (car, bike, plane, train)
  • Natural catastrophe or major adverse event
  • Harrowing injury, condition, or medical procedure
  • Witnessing others go through a traumatic event (also known as vicarious or secondary trauma)

What is complex trauma?

Complex trauma is the reaction to multiple, recurring, or prolonged traumatic experiences that may form an entangled web of psychological distress. It generally starts during childhood, transforming and leaving lasting effects during adulthood.
  • Numerous deaths or losses around you
  • Multiple accidents or dangerous surgeries
  • Frequent acts of domestic violence
  • Continuous childhood neglect or abuse
Regardless of what harmed you and how it has changed your life, trauma doesn’t have to define your story. Therapy can help you untangle the layers of unresolved trauma so you can process it and relish your future.

Do you need trauma therapy?

Trauma affects us all in different ways depending on our genetics, family history, and environment, as well as the specific event, frequency, and prevalence of trauma.

Our nervous system generally responds to danger with our fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response to protect ourselves from harm. Then, once the threat is handled, our system regulates, and we carry on.

Yet sometimes, even when the danger is gone, we remain in an alert survival state, struggling with the physical and psychological consequences of trauma. These effects are known as post-traumatic stress.

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress can be broken down into four categories:

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS SYMPTOMS

  1. Re-Experiencing Signs
    • Flashbacks
    • Nightmares or night terrors
    • Scary memories or thoughts about trauma
  2. Arousal and reactivity signs
    • Alertness
    • Excessive worry
    • Irritability or moodiness
    • Quickness to anger or frustration
    • Restlessness
  3. Avoidance signs
    • People
    • Locations
    • Objects
    • Feelings
    • Thoughts
  4. Cognition and mood signs
    • Difficulty remembering the traumatic episode
    • Guilt or shame about trauma
    • Low self-esteem or self-worth
    • No interest in activities you used to enjoy

While we understand you may want to hide, disregard, or pretend like your pain doesn’t exist, that doesn’t make it less real.

If you are suffering from any of these signs of post-traumatic stress, trauma therapy can significantly help you. Speaking about what hurts you may be confusing and scary, but it is the first step toward healing.

Are trauma and PTSD the same thing?

Experiencing trauma and signs of post-traumatic stress does not mean you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To be diagnosed with PTSD, your symptoms must meet the specific criteria for this clinical condition, interfering with your relationships and daily activities for at least one month. If you think you might have PTSD, therapy can help. Talk to a mental health professional (like us!) to gain insight into your symptoms and find ways to manage them.

How can therapy for trauma help you?

Therapy can support you to overcome the effects of trauma in three key ways:
  1. Re-Processing trauma
    • Therapy offers a neutral zone to explore your trauma, associated thoughts, and emotions. Your therapist will guide you to re-process unresolved pain and begin reconstructing your trauma narrative to find relief.
  2. Shifting negative patterns
    • Addressing your trauma will then help you become aware of any negative or distorted thought, emotional, and behavioral patterns you might have adopted. Together, we will look at whether those habits serve you and work on making any necessary shifts to improve your well-being.
  3. Learning coping skills
    • Ultimately, the goal of therapy is to ensure you can achieve sustainable wellness outside of therapy. During treatment, you will learn practical and evidence-based strategies to manage distressing symptoms and triggers in a healthier manner (e.g., mindfulness practices, grounding exercises, relaxation techniques).

Trauma therapy at Hearst Psychotherapy

Here at Hearst Psychotherapy, we provide teletherapy to adults of all cultures, religions, and backgrounds in North Carolina, including therapy for trauma. We also offer therapy for anxiety, depression, parenting, women’s and LGBTQIA+ issues.

We specialize in trauma and PTSD, particularly in survivors of racism, sexual abuse, domestic violence, and sexual orientation discrimination. Our mission is to make therapy safe and accessible to the community, especially those powerful groups targeted for oppression.

Our approach is eclectic, meaning we combine and draw from different theoretical perspectives to honor your individual needs. This includes trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), psychodynamic therapy, mindfulness, and holistic practices.

Ready to heal?

If fear and despair cloud your horizon, we can help.
Contact us or call (980) 289-6278 to schedule a free consultation.
Let’s work together to help you reach your life goals.