There are three main types of trauma: Acute, Chronic, or Complex. Acute trauma results from a single incident. Chronic trauma is repeated and prolonged such as domestic violence or abuse. Complex trauma is exposure to varied and multiple traumatic events, often of an invasive, interpersonal nature. Sometimes people experience post traumatic responses to adverse childhood experiences, a single event or living as marginalized identities in our society. That is, some people experience trauma response by dealing with recurring microaggressions, discrimination, bullying from individuals, communities and macro aggressions such as systemic oppression. We need to consider the impact traumatic experiences have on our mind, body and overall experience as a human navigating uncertain and challenging times.
Common post traumatic experiences include:
One important key is to recognize that in spite of any traumatic experience you are here, you can heal, you are resilient. As therapists, we can help you map out ways to heal that works for you including post-traumatic with awareness of personal strength, appreciation for life, new possibilities in life, spiritual change, and relationships with others. Our integrative therapy tools include art therapy, movement therapy, mindfulness practices and tools to help you feel safe and strong in your body, stabilization for emotional and physical distress, breathing techniques to help you feel grounded and centered in the present as you navigate your healing journey. We also have amazing virtual trauma support groups available including topics of religious trauma, queer identity, diet culture and martial arts group for those interested in movement and processing without words.
“A Brave startling truth, we must confess that we are possible, we are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world.” -Maya Angelou
Check out this resource to learn more about how traumatic stress from our childhoods can affect our experiences as adults.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can occur after people experience life-threatening or dangerous events that threaten our feelings of security. The National Center for PTSD provides resources for education, support, and treatment.
This comic, written by Steve Haines and illustrated by Sophie Standing, gives a brief explanation of what trauma is, how it can affect us, and how we can overcome it. Bonus points because there are pictures!
This workbook by Arielle Schwartz provides an introduction to complex trauma. There are strategies and exercise throughout the book that help us work through the effects of unresolved childhood trauma.
In this book, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk explores how trauma creates physical changes in our bodies and brains which deeply affect our lived experiences. He shares multiple treatments that have been shown to be effective in working with trauma, from EMDR to mindfulness and yoga.
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