What is Trauma Therapy?

Trauma Therapy Arizona

Are you looking for trauma therapy in Arizona? Trauma is not always what you think. Most people think of trauma and think of something horrific. While that is one way of defining trauma, trauma can include any extremely distressing event or situation beyond the normal human experience. I'm confident that I can help you heal from whatever trauma is holding you back. I have training from some of the best experts in the field such as Linda Curran & Frank Anderson. I provide online trauma therapy, including modalities such as EMDR and IFS, to the entire state of Arizona via my secure HIPAA compliant platform.

Trauma Therapy

Peter Levine

“TRAUMA IS A FACT OF LIFE. IT DOES NOT, HOWEVER, HAVE TO BE A LIFE SENTENCE.”

What is Trauma & PTSD?

Trauma is an emotional response to a deeply distressing or traumatic event. People who have experienced trauma may suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which can be characterized by intense anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, and other symptoms. PTSD can significantly interfere with day-to-day activities and increase the risk of developing other mental health problems. Treatment for trauma and PTSD often involves a combination of psychotherapy, medications, support groups, lifestyle changes, relaxation techniques, and other interventions. Knowing the signs and symptoms of trauma can help people seek out professional help and support to manage their condition. If you or someone you know is struggling with trauma or PTSD please reach out for help.

Symptoms of PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) is the direct experience of,  witnessing of, or learning of a traumatic event. We can also experience micro traumas  (little t) that others may not recognize as impactful but for you can still be distressing.

There are 4 main categories of symptoms of trauma as defined by the DSM-V-TR: 

  1. Avoidance Symptoms

  2. Re-Experiencing Symptoms

  3. Hyperarousal Symptoms

  4. Negative Mood & Cognition Symptoms

Symptoms may include things such as distressing dreams, flashbacks, body reactions to internal or external triggers; repeated, disturbing or unwanted memories, reliving the experience, avoidance of memories, or sleep difficulties.

Trauma Modalities Used

  • Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)

  • Narrative Therapy

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

  • Prolonged Exposure (PE)

  • Written Exposure Therapy

Types of Trauma

Acute or Single Incident Trauma

Results from exposure to a singular event or overwhelming experience including a single event of abuse, sudden loss, car accident, or witnessing of violence. 

Complex Trauma

Results from chronic, multiple, and/or prolonged exposure to overwhelming, compromising, distressing events. Usually within the context of an interpersonal relationship such as violence, neglect, or abuse.

Developmental Trauma

Results from earlier onset exposure to ongoing or repetitive trauma throughout one's childhood. Can include physical and/or sexual assault & abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, abandonment, or witnessing death or violence. 

Repetitive Trauma

Results from exposure to chronic/prolonged or multiple experiences of overwhelming traumatic events such as living with a chronic or terminal illness that requires treatment. 

Vicarious Trauma

Results over time from hearing or witnessing other people's suffering & needs. 

Intergenerational Trauma

Passed down from those who directly experienced an incident to the later or subsequent generations. 

Historical or Shared Trauma

Results from the traumatic events or experiences that a large group of people share with society or entire ethnicity, community, or national group.