What is trauma?

Trauma is any event or circumstance that causes a profound physical or emotional harm, or a threat to life and safety. Trauma can be personally experienced, or witnessed occurring to someone else.

Types of trauma:

• Physical Trauma: physical or sexual assault/abuse; car accidents; combat; natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, wildfires)

• Emotional Trauma: bullying; gaslighting; name calling; put-downs; neglect; manipulation; betrayal

• Loss of a Loved One: death of an important person, whether expected or unexpected

• Complex Trauma: the experience of multiple types of trauma, or prolonged/chronic trauma

It is important to note that what is perceived as traumatic is subjective: an experience that one person may be able to easily move on from may be profoundly disturbing to someone else. My goal as a trauma therapist is to work from your personal worldview, to get to know the experiences you have had and how they have affected you.

Do you experience any of the following?

• Intrusive and unwanted thoughts or memories associated with the event(s)

• Distressing dreams of the event(s)

• Emotional or physical reactions to reminders of the event(s)

• Avoidance of external reminders or internal thoughts and feelings

• Negative beliefs about yourself, other people, or the world

• Negative emotions such as fear, depression, or anxiety; difficulty regulating emotional responses

• Difficulty engaging in activities you used to enjoy

• Difficulty relaxing or feeling on edge

• Problems with concentration or sleep

• Problems in relationships

Trauma can have a profound impact on your relationships, ability to engage in a life worth living, and view of yourself, other people, and the world. You may have tried for years to put traumatic events behind you, only to realize that they have impacted you more than you suspected. You may find yourself feeling alienated from loved ones, unable to engage in valued life activities, and feeling bad about yourself. It is often in this realization that people may seek treatment.

It is possible to overcome trauma and live a valued life through trauma-focused treatment. People who experience recovery from trauma are often able to think about past events with a tolerable level of emotions, develop a new perspective on what happened, and reconnect with life, activities, and loved ones.

About Trauma Recovery Services

Trauma Recovery Services was founded by Dr. Brynne Johannsen. Dr. Johannsen has 18 years of experience in the mental health field and has specialized in the treatment of trauma-related disorders/PTSD and grief/bereavement since 2017. Dr. Johannsen worked with Veterans and First Responders through the Department of Veterans Affairs for 13 years and has received specialized training and certification in a number of evidence-based treatments for PTSD, including EMDR, Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy.

To schedule an appointment, please contact here or through my Psychology Today profile linked below.