Trauma Therapy
Because life is unpredictable and often out of your control, traumatic experiences can occur without warning. Traumatic experiences can also occur even with plenty of warning, it’s just an inevitable part of life. Things like abuse, assault, death, loss of loved ones, relationships and careers, health and natural disasters are all examples of traumatic experiences, often leaving individuals feeling helpless, isolated and feeling alone.
If you’ve experienced a traumatic experience, it’s completely normal to be feeling all different kinds of emotions, such as numbness, shock, anger, sadness, anxiety, flashbacks, intrusive memories, blame, or lack of interest in life. You might find it difficult concentrating or going about your everyday life. Whatever it may be, it’s important you are supported in a safe environment, which not only validates your experiences, but supports the impacts you are facing and how to work through them.
Given Amanda’s lengthy experience working in trauma – she understands the importance of creating a client directed space, where they can start to explore options, the stories attached to the trauma and the development of coping strategies and techniques to alleviate the trauma, and make meaning of the future. Amanda is specifically trained in trauma based interventions such as Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Schema Therapy, Trauma Informed CBT & Narrative Therapy and others.
Often people who’ve experienced psychological trauma eventually begin to feel OK again on their own. With time, patience, support and understanding from family and friends, some eventually heal and carry on with their lives. For others, professional Trauma Therapy and counselling is sometimes necessary, in order to get back to their normal selves. It doesn’t matter whether the trauma happened yesterday or a few years ago, Trauma Therapy can provide you with strategies and support to help you recover.
What is emotional/psychological trauma?
Before you decide if Trauma Therapy is right for you, it’s useful to understand exactly what emotional and psychological trauma is.
Emotional and psychological trauma occurs when an individual experiences an extraordinarily stressful event. It generally involves a threat to your life or safety, but any event that leaves you feeling utterly overwhelmed and alone can be traumatic, even without physical harm.
It can be caused by:
One-time events such as: accidents, natural disasters or a violent attack such as domestic violence or sexual assualt
Ongoing stress such as: the sickness of a loved one or battling a personal illness, domestic violence and sexual assault
Unnoticed causes such as: surgery, the sudden death of a loved one, a breakup, loss of a career or financial stability or a severely disappointing experience
When you should seek Trauma Therapy
No matter what kind of trauma you’ve experienced, recovery takes time and there’s no right timeframe for healing. However, if it’s been a few months or a year and your symptoms are affecting your everyday work and social life, it might be time to seek professional support to understand how these normal and common impacts are effecting you.
Signs you might need Trauma Therapy include:
Experiencing relentless nightmares, flashbacks or intrusive thoughts
Not being able to function at work, in your relationships or in your social life
Suffering from crippling anxiety or depression (hyper-vigilance, lethargy, withdrawing from others, self-doubt and loss of confidence).
Avoiding things that remind you of the traumatic event
Unable to feel a connection to others/emotionally numb
Using recreational drugs/alcohol/engaging in dangerous activities to feel better
Feeling unsafe in your environment or on your own
Intrusive thoughts about giving up on life, or using self-harm to cope
Reaching out to someone is often the hardest step but once you do, you’ll be on your way to recovery and feeling like yourself again.
Amanda is renowned and respected in the field of Trauma Therapy due to her many years of experience and authentic values. She strongly believes that everyone, no matter what their background, deserves the right to heal feeling in control and safe in their recovery and move forward with their life.