Online and In-Person Therapy for Trauma

 

Going through life-threatening and challenging experiences is hard enough, but now that it’s over, you thought you’d be able to move on. Instead, you find yourself constantly thinking of the traumatic experience, and despite your best efforts to let it go and move on, you’re still struggling. First and foremost, this is totally normal. Dealing with the aftermath of trauma is complicated and difficult, and you shouldn’t feel like it’s up to you to fix all of this on your own. If you’re ready to start making positive progress to heal and move forward after trauma, the Lakeside Counseling team is here to help. You can learn a bit more about online therapy for trauma on this page or by contacting us to schedule a consultation.  

 
 

What Is Trauma? 

Let’s begin with a simple truth – trauma is more than one thing. Trauma is the way your mind and body respond to overwhelming stress, fear, or worry. When something frightening, dangerous, or emotionally fraught happens, the brain takes action to protect us. Traumatic events may include the big things like witnessing and experiencing violence, but everyday traumas can also have a negative effect. We all experience smaller traumas on a daily basis. That may sound like an exaggeration, but it’s true. Things like arguing with loved ones, driving in bad weather, or struggling financially can all signal a trauma response from our brains. While we can typically manage these small traumas individually, the cumulative effects can be as challenging as experiencing a violent or life-threatening event if these traumas aren’t processed.    

 
 

Whatever the source of trauma, it’s not always easy to move beyond, and you may experience a number of adverse effects, including: 

  • Emotional effects – anxiety, fear, sadness, hopelessness, numbness, disassociation, guilt, anger, mood swings, edginess

  • Cognitive effects – shock, denial, confusion, difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, nightmares, flashbacks

  • Behavioral effects – being easily startled, withdrawing from loved ones, eating too much or too little, sleeping too much or too little, abusing alcohol or other substances

  • Physical effects – exhaustion, racing heartbeat, sweating, trembling, muscle aches, unexplained aches and pains

What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? 

Following traumatic experiences, individuals may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This condition, like other emotional disorders, occurs when a natural response to difficult experiences lasts for many months, gets worse over time, or impedes your ability to function on a daily basis.

 

What is Complex PTSD?

Complex PTSD, often called c-PTSD, is a condition where an individual experiences PTSD symptoms as well as one or more additional side effects, including: 

  • Lack of emotional control 

  • Distrust and paranoia 

  • Severe depression with feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, or emptiness

  • Feeling as though you are a complete outcast, you don’t belong with other people, or no one understands what you’ve been through

  • Suicidal thoughts or planning

What is Childhood Trauma? 

Also called complex trauma (not be confused with c-PTSD), childhood trauma refers to traumatic experiences that occur during an individual’s development. From abuse, witnessing violence, surviving a life-threatening situation, being neglected, and even bullying can all lead to numerous long-term trauma effects that can impact the way that adults interact with other people and impede their ability to lead healthy, satisfying lives.

Who Can Benefit from Therapy for Trauma? 

If you’ve experienced any form of trauma or PTSD symptoms, therapy can benefit you greatly. It can be difficult for someone with unprocessed trauma to find a way to break free from the effects of this condition on their own, but therapy can help trauma survivors to heal and reclaim their fulfilling lives.

What Happens During Therapy for Trauma? 

We’ll begin therapy with a get-to-know-you session. This intake visit is all about helping your therapist understand the way that trauma has impacted you. However, it’s essential that individuals understand that their therapist does not expect them to talk in detail about their traumatic experience(s) until they’re ready. If they’re never ready to talk about it, that’s okay too. It’s possible to heal from the effects of trauma without putting yourself through the unnecessary stress of reliving it. If you want to talk about it, we’re here to listen. 

Throughout the course of therapy, your counselor will walk alongside you as you begin to process and heal from the effects of trauma. We utilize evidence-based approaches that are proven to lessen the impact of trauma and improve quality of life. It can be a difficult and lengthy process, but there is hope for individuals to heal and live as their most authentic selves. Your therapist may make use of a number of therapy techniques throughout the therapy process, including: 

 
 

Get Started with an Initial Appointment

At Lakeside Counseling, we begin the therapy process with a 55 minute intake session to explore the reasons you are seeking therapy and to set goals. When you’re ready to get started, we look forward to hearing from you.

Now Offering EMDR Intensives in Madison, WI

We are now offering EMDR Intensives in person in Madison, WI and online to all residents of Florida, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and internationally. If you are interested in cost-effective treatment that can lead to life-changing results in a matter of days, click below to learn more.