Trauma and PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Treatment can lead to post-traumatic growth.
This is our approach:
Post traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event, either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. PTSD can develop immediately after a traumatic event, or it can surface months or years later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PTSD?
PTSD occurs when the nervous system remains stuck in survival mode after a traumatic experience. Instead of integrating the memory as something that happened in the past, the brain continues to respond as if danger is still present.
Symptoms may include nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, avoidance, or sudden panic responses. Trauma responses are adaptive reactions to overwhelming events—not signs of weakness.
What counts as trauma?
Trauma is defined by the nervous system’s response, not by the event itself. Experiences such as accidents, medical procedures, abuse, neglect, loss, or chronic emotional stress can all be traumatic.
Two people may experience the same event and be affected differently depending on support, timing, and nervous system sensitivity.
How does trauma affect daily life?
Trauma can shape how a person perceives safety, relationships, and themselves. Loud noises may trigger panic. Conflict may lead to shutdown or rage. Seemingly minor stressors can feel overwhelming because the nervous system is already on high alert.
Children may reenact trauma through play or behavior. Teens may withdraw or take risks. Adults may struggle with trust, boundaries, or emotional regulation.
How does therapy help PTSD?
Trauma therapy focuses on restoring a sense of safety in the body and helping the brain process memories without re-living them. Clients learn regulation skills first, then gradually integrate traumatic memories in a way that reduces emotional charge.
As healing occurs, the past becomes something remembered rather than something relived.
Can children and teens have PTSD?
Yes. Children may regress developmentally, become clingy, or show behavioral changes. Teens may experience mood swings, numbness, or identity confusion. Therapy is adapted to developmental level, often using play, creativity, or body-based approaches.
Is trauma therapy re-traumatizing?
No. Modern trauma therapy prioritizes pacing, choice, and stabilization. Clients are never forced to relive trauma and are supported in staying grounded throughout the process.
