online trauma therapy in CALGARY, EDMONTON, HALIFAX & OTHER PLACES IN ALBERTA & NOVA SCOTIA
Calm after the storm.
Do you feel like your past wounds are holding you back?
Maybe something really tough happened to you before, and you just can't shake it off. It could be having a hard time growing up, seeing your parents fight a lot in your childhood, or being separated from your family. Maybe you had to see someone in your family or you care about, get very sick or pass away.
It might also have been a car accident, or a different kind of accident, or seeing someone else get really hurt. Maybe someone hurt you, scared you with threats, or said they'd do something terrible. Experiencing racial-based or identity-based discrimination or oppression can hurt deeply, too.
You might notice that sometimes, out of nowhere, scary thoughts or memories just pop into your head, and you can’t push them away. It’s like your brain keeps replaying the bad stuff, even when you try hard not to think about it. Or you might find yourself getting mad quickly, even over tiny things that shouldn’t be a big deal. Feeling sad or wanting to be alone more often might become your new normal.
Whatever it is that you’re experiencing, you’re beginning to notice the impact of this in every facet of your life:
Even when everything seems okay, you’re still always on edge, like your nerves are always buzzing, ready for something bad to happen
Sometimes you just feel totally numb, as if you’re not really there, making it hard to connect with friends or family.
You're always alert, looking out for anything that might go wrong, whether it's something in your surroundings, with people you know, or even within yourself
Disagreements turn into big fights more often, and you start avoiding responsibilities, just wanting to get away from all the pressure
Spending time on social media or alcohol might seem like an easy way out, a way to numb the overwhelm, make you feel a bit better, or just forget for a while.
Simple conversations can suddenly make you feel overwhelmed, turning socializing into something you dread.
Your emotions are all over the place — one minute you’re okay, and the next, you’re either really down or snapping at someone for no big reason.
Life feels like being on a rollercoaster that you never chose to ride, and you’re looking for a way to get off and find some peace.
It may feel impossible now, but you can reconnect to joy, take charge of your feelings, and find calm in moments that used to feel overwhelming. You can experience a sense of calm and stability that’s been missing, feeling solid ground under your feet again.You'll create a safe space for yourself wherever you are. And I can help you get there.
Our focus in therapy will be:
Pay attention to the potential triggers and your reactions, including physical reactions, feelings and thoughts
Reflect on why you react the way you do and understand that your feelings and reactions make sense given the trauma you’ve been through
Learn to identify and challenge beliefs that were formed to help you survive, such as how you feel about yourself, other people, and the world
Recognize your coping strategies that once served you dealing with difficult situations including disconnecting from your feelings, overthinking, trying to please everyone, or reacting with anger
Create your healing toolbox, integrating your cultural healing practice and evidence-based interventions
Practice expressing your needs and setting boundaries in relationships with kindness and without guilt
It might seem like you're stuck in this storm forever, but therapy can help you find your way to clear skies.
faq
What people have asked about trauma therapy?
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In psychotherapy, trauma refers to deeply distressing or disturbing experiences that can have a long-lasting impact on a person's life.
It could be having a hard time growing up, seeing your parents fight a lot in your childhood, or being separated from your family. It could also be seeing someone in your family get very sick or pass away. It might also be a car accident, or a different kind of accident, or seeing someone else get really hurt. Or maybe someone hurt you, scared you with threats, or said they'd do something terrible. Experiencing racial-based or identity-based discrimination or oppression can hurt deeply, too.
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Let's start by talking about why you're here for therapy and what you hope to achieve. We'll discuss the challenges you're facing right now and explore how they're linked to past traumatic experiences.
Then, we'll help you get ready for trauma work by making sure you feel stable and secure, and by providing you with tools to manage your distress better.
Once you're prepared, we'll use a method called EMDR to help you process and heal from your trauma.
Finally, after the trauma work, we'll support you in strengthening your coping skills, so you can build a better future and live the life you wish for.
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy that helps you deal with tough memories from bad experiences without having to talk about every detail.
It aims to make these memories less scary and to help you think better about yourself, despite what happened. With EMDR, we will work on seeing these memories in a new light, so they don't upset you as much anymore. This can make you feel safer and more positive in your daily life.
