Therapy for Trauma

The therapists at Horizon Psychological Services offer different types of therapy for trauma. But you may first be wondering what trauma is and whether you might benefit from therapy for it.

What Is Trauma?

Trauma is a reaction to a disturbing, stressful, harmful, or distressing experience. Trauma can be a very personal reaction – two people can go through the same experience and react very differently, with one person seemingly only affected for a short time while the other person deals with ongoing fear, horror, nightmares, and issues with avoidance. Traumatic events can range from neglect, to being in or witnessing a sudden accident, to being in a natural disaster, like a hurricane or earthquake. Sometimes, trauma is a regular part of one’s life due to being a first responder or military servicemember, or it can be due to be in an abusive relationship or home. Regardless of the exact nature of the trauma, it can have a negative impact on how someone sees themselves, how they see others, and how they view the world.

What is the Difference Between Big T Trauma and Little T Trauma?

In the trauma treatment world, professionals sometimes talk about Big T trauma and Little T Trauma. Big T trauma included things like being the victim of violence, surviving a natural disaster, or being in a serious car accident – these are life-threatening events. Big T trauma can also include losing a loved one or close friend suddenly. Little T traumas are stressful events that are not life-threatening, like going through a divorce or losing a beloved pet, and they can have just as much of an impact on a person as a Big T trauma.

It’s important to point out that trauma is trauma and if someone is having trouble dealing with the trauma they’ve experienced, they should not feel shy or embarrassed about seeking help. Whether it is Big T trauma or Little T trauma, the pain and impact can be just as problematic and crippling.

How Can Trauma Impact Someone?

Trauma can impact a person in every part of their life. From making it difficult to sleep, to increasing irritable and causing them to avoid others, to increasing depression and leading to suicidal thoughts, trauma can cause deep harm. Trauma can change how a person sees the world and how they see themselves.

Some types of trauma can lead to the development of disorders like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. You can learn more about PTSD here.

How Can I Process My Trauma and Keep It From Impacting My Life?

Unfortunately, not even the best therapist can make a past trauma simply go away. The good news is that there are many different kinds of therapies that can help a person to process trauma and improve their symptoms, helping them to return to the healthy, positive life. From Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Supportive Therapy, to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, therapy can help you to feel better.

The therapists at Horizon Psychological Services are trained to help you to take process your trauma and move forward from it. Our therapists are empathetic and can provide therapy using various approaches in order to help you start to feel better. But relief from trauma can’t begin until you reach out for help. Contact us today to get started.