There are many different experiences that can create trauma. For example, one-off events like a car accident, natural disaster, or medical trauma can take a mental toll on a person. In addition, ongoing stress, such as living in in a dangerous area, or being the victim of bullying, can be traumatic even if it has become an everyday life experience.
Trauma can also be more enduring or complex such as in the cases of abuse and other things that may have happened in your life. Physical or sexual abuse can be clearly traumatic for children and adults, but emotional abuse and neglect can also cause long term problems both psychologically and physically, if they are not resolved.
Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer (Women’s Aid)
Trauma also doesn’t have to occur directly to the person. For instance, watching a loved one suffer can be extremely traumatic as well, and can lead to feelings of helplessness, guilt, and shame.
IMPORTANT: if you or someone you know is at risk of serious harm, you can call Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline. They offer free, confidential support, 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247. Visit the helpline website to access information on how to support a friend.
If you believe there is an immediate risk of harm to someone, or it is an emergency, always call 999.
How Can Therapy Help?
“Relational Trauma requires Relational Repair’
Dr Treisman (A Therapeutic Treasure Box for Working with Children and Adolescents with Developmental Trauma: Creative Techniques and Activities)
Trauma creates emotions, and unless we process these at the time the trauma occurs, they become stuck in our mind and body. The trauma stays trapped in our body (in our unconscious), affecting our lives until we uncover it and process it out.
In order to heal from trauma, it is essential to allow the healthy flow and processing of these distressing emotions, such as anger, sadness, shame, and fear. Art psychotherapy is a particularly powerful way to deal with this processing (read more about Art Psychotherapy here)
I have worked with people experiencing all kinds of trauma and abuse for over 20 years. I am able to sit with your pain in a sensitive and compassionate way. My training in specialist trauma models means I will always go at a pace that is safe and comfortable for you.