Trauma can be so difficult to label. We may cling to the word with hope that labeling it will set us free, or we may avoid the labeling, in fear that it might actually be true. Regardless, it’s safe to say that none of us are left unscathed in life and we’re all affected by trauma in some way.

Trauma is the scars you wear, visible and invisible, known and unknown.

It’s the core of the deep shame you carry, or the inexplicable fear, or the seemingly unjustified “over-reactions” you may have.

It’s the tears that come to our eyes when the truth of our trauma is revealed to you- through your own words, other’s reflections, or the show you were passively watching on TV.

It’s the anger, anxiety, sadness, and isolation you feel when someone makes a stupid joke. It’s the physical sensation of every ounce of your being feeling activated while somehow other parts feel numb or blind.

It’s the frustration of not understanding why you are acting the way you are.

It’s the depression and darkness you’ve come to know as your own self-worth.

It’s the story of your strength, even if it's one you don’t share. It’s become a part of you, even if you don’t want it there.

Whatever the cause of your trauma, or however far along you are in your journey of understanding and recovering from it, it’s a valuable part of you. But, it is not you. You may be frustrated. You feel like you keep repeating the same patterns over and over again, or that you’re stuck with this absence of peace in your life.

From a bird's eye view, you can understand it. You can pinpoint how the past has affected your present, but you're wondering why you can't change your issues yourself or move past it. It’s physical, it’s emotional, it’s mental. It takes time to understand and you are the perfect navigator. It’s a privilege for others to be a part of your journey. You don’t have to include them, but it may help. On the journey of navigating your trauma, you get to decide how far or how deep you go, and who you will take with you.

For those whose trauma is too scary and painful to touch

Don’t touch it alone. The darkest and scariest places are meant to be explored with a companion. If you’re not ready to touch it. That’s okay. We can learn how to make the most of your world around it. 

For those in the middle of trying to understand their trauma 

It might feel like you are stuck in the middle of the most confusing maze. You started this journey, but you may be wondering if there’s actually a way out. We can work so that you feel stronger and safer while in the maze. We might even find joy there! You certainly don’t have to walk this path alone.

For those who are doubting if their trauma is really trauma 

Self-doubt is a normal part of the game. Trauma is a full spectrum full of little T’s and Big T’s. All of your stories are worthy of being honored and explored. 

Trauma can be addressed in therapy in many different ways. A strong therapeutic relationship with your therapist is the most important factor. From managing triggers, to exploring your self-worth, the client is always in control of how far the trauma work goes. EMDR is a wonderful tool for exploring trauma (from the smallest to the biggest T) and rewiring a dysfunctional belief system. EMDR can help break frustrating behavior patterns you have, reducing triggers, and reprocessing emotions and physical sensations of the past.

I often have clients start therapy by telling me they had idyllic childhoods, wonderful parents, and no traumatic experiences. 

And yet, they experience panic attacks, ruminating thoughts, insomnia, or low self esteem.

How do these people with such lovely lives, develop such limiting, frustrating, even devastating or debilitating symptoms?

The answer? Unresolved and unprocessed experiences, aka “trauma”. 

Now, many may balk at that statement! Perhaps you too feel you’ve had a trauma-free life, and yet experience some of the symptoms listed above. You view yourself as strong and capable, not as a victim with trauma. 

Stick with me here! 

I'm not here to convince you that you are a victim, or that you have some horrific event in your childhood which you’ve suppressed. Nor am I here to ruin your view of your childhood and say you had terrible parents!

I am here to challenge you to look deeper than the surface. To begin to understand the root cause of these symptoms. To validate the significance of the small and often neglected experiences that could be the source of your current struggles. 

“Trauma is an invisible force that shapes our lives. It shapes the way we live, the way we love and the way we make sense of the world. It is the root of our deepest wounds.”

― Gabor Maté

You may have first heard of EMDR through Whitney Rose (RHOSLC) when she spoke recently of her experience with it in therapy, or soccer superstar David Beckham using EMDR to treat fear and anxiety. EMDR, which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is finally entering the zeitgeist as a profoundly healing therapy modality used to treat anything from insomnia to combat trauma, and everything in between.

So, What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Disensitation & Reprossessiong (EMDR) is a therapy technique used to preprocess unresolved or unprocessed negative experiences. This reprocessing is different than typical talk therapy, as it’s paired with bi-lateral stimulation through eye movement.

Does It Actually Work?

The jury is in. EMDR is one of the most effective forms of treatment for trauma. One study showed it was not only more effective than Prozac, but once treatment was complete, clients continued to be asymptomatic, unlike those who’d taken Prozac!