Is Trauma From The Past Following You Into The Present?

A lot of us are quick to write off painful experiences as “not that bad” or not meeting the criteria of trauma. We assume that if something is, by definition, traumatic, it is acute, life-threatening, or emergent. The reality is that many common obstacles fall under the category of trauma, being held in the body in ways that compromise our mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing.

What Is Your Experience?

Maybe you have a hard time feeling safe and trusting in otherwise “normal” situations. You may find yourself struggling with emotional dysregulation, imposter syndrome, and physical ailments like sleep disturbance and chronic pain. Perhaps you have a need to over-achieve in order to establish a sense of worthiness and feelings of control over your destiny.

You might often be disappointed in or resentful of others because you feel so overextended in every area of life, from your work to your relationships. Holding yourself to such a high standard, the voice of your inner critic is likely resounding–impacting not only your perception of yourself but also your perception of everyone else around you.

Yet, you may think that all of this boils down to stress or anxiety. These feelings of burnout and overwhelm have probably led you to believe that surface-level stress management tactics are all you need to find relief. But the truth is there is probably an adverse experience at the core of your struggles. Working together with a trained, experienced clinician who is trauma-informed in their approach, you can identify the root cause of your frustration and discomfort as you develop new strategies for coping, healing, and self-actualization.

Most Of Us Will Experience Trauma In Our Lives

Many traumatic situations are shocking, disturbing, and life-altering—but many are not. In fact, some of the most common traumas are subtle, chronic, and not always easy to detect.

Of course, our society acknowledges assaults, abuses, violence, and injury as being traumatic, but what about aspects of neglect, poverty, and identity-based microaggressions? Any situation that causes us to feel physically or emotionally unsafe, overwhelmed, or makes us question our worthiness has the potential to be traumatizing.

Unfortunately, many of us come from families that try to minimize our experiences by claiming, “That didn’t happen,” “It wasn’t that bad,” or “Back then, everyone did it that way.” This complicates and compounds the way that trauma is stored in the brain and body, worsening the cycle of stress, anxiety, and self-doubt.

Marginalized Individuals Experience Higher Rates Of Trauma

Due to discrimination and systemic bias, people in minority communities are much more likely to suffer trauma. These individuals face disproportionate rates of violence and oppression in a society that makes them constantly fight to be seen as human.

For example, studies show that LGBTQIA+ individuals develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at much higher rates than their cis, heteronormative peers. [1] Black individuals maintain the highest prevalence of PTSD when compared to other races. [2] And nearly half of families who immigrate to the United States report traumatic experiences due to violence and xenophobia as they attempt to assimilate. [3] This is hardly an exhaustive list of the marginalized groups that face trauma and discrimination—especially when taking into consideration neurodivergent populations—but these statistics nevertheless demonstrate the trauma people can experience if they don’t fit the mold of what is historically and socially expected of them.

At Prospect Therapy, we are not only trauma-informed in our approach; we are culturally competent and aware of what LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, neurodivergent, and other minority individuals experience. We recognize the barriers that these communities face in receiving effective, compassionate mental health support. That is why we are committed to offering counseling for trauma and PTSD that honors each client’s unique experience and goals for treatment.

Prospect Therapy Honors The Unique Experience Of Each Client Suffering From The Effects Of Trauma

Oftentimes, people put off therapy because they don’t want to have to explain themselves or their identity to a therapist. We welcome you to a sensitive, nonjudgmental counseling space where you can explore your trauma in a way that leads to lifelong healing and repair.

What TYPE OF TRAUMA THERAPY DO WE DO?

It’s essential for a safe space to be created in therapy for PTSD and other trauma-related issues. Your therapist will work to foster a sense of safety that can help you feel comfortable and vulnerable to share. Once established, your therapist will then provide you with tools for regulating your stress response, alongside education about trauma’s effect on your nervous system.

We draw from a range of trauma-informed, culturally aware treatment approaches that are designed to facilitate healing in your life. Looking at trauma from a somatic—or body-based—perspective, we can help you recognize how trauma is showing up in the body, offering you alternatives to the fight-flight-freeze mode you have been living in. We also incorporate parts work, narrative elements, and relational therapies to help you reframe your experiences.

Our therapists are here to listen and validate; we believe you. Whether you are looking for affirmation to accept your experience as traumatic, new strategies for self-care, or perspectives on how to reintegrate your trauma in a way that doesn’t feel so disruptive, we are invested in empowering you to tell—and own—your story. We know from firsthand experience working with clients suffering from trauma and PTSD in therapy that if you set your secrets free, they will do the same for you.

Still Unsure If Therapy Can Help You Manage The Effects Of Trauma In Your Life?

How long does treatment for trauma/PTSD take?

We get it. You’re ready for this to be over yesterday. However, it’s important to consider that if you are suffering from trauma-related symptoms, there is still a part of you that is “stuck” inside the experience. That part of you cannot tolerate discomfort and thus requires therapeutic repair, which is something a therapist can help you accomplish.

In therapy, we will move as quickly as the slowest part of you is willing to go, being very careful not to re-traumatize you in the process. Some periods may feel slower than others, but trauma treatment is designed to be both temporary and effective, yielding results that will last far beyond your time in counseling.

Can therapy actually help me?

The most common traumas our therapists work with are chronic relational traumas, which usually entail ongoing abuse and neglect from childhood, unhealthy or abusive relationship dynamics in adulthood, and chronic exposure to macro- and microaggressions based on identity.

Many clients believe that there is just one “worst thing” they can point to as the source of their struggles, but the reality is that a range of factors has compounded their trauma. We consider the whole picture when determining individual treatment plans, answering this question on a case-by-case basis.

Will my therapist be able to relate to my trauma?

The question you are really asking is “Will I be judged?”

Our therapists are highly trained in matters of trauma, cultural competency, and bias—we will do our very best to foster a therapeutic atmosphere that feels inviting and compassionate. All of us know what it is like to be afraid, ashamed, fearful, isolated, confused, and enraged, and we believe that most human experiences boil down to core emotions. So, while every situation is unique, we do know what it feels like to feel bogged down by trauma.

Take Your Power Back

The impact of trauma is likely being felt in every aspect of your life from your body to your relationships to your self-image, but therapy gives you permission to feel and heal in a new way.