What is Trauma
and how do we treat it?
“Trauma is not what happens to you. Trauma is what happens inside you as a result of what happens to you.”
(Gabor Mate)
Trauma can be defined as any experience that overwhelms the brain's capacity to cope at the time it occurs.
While many people associate trauma with extreme events—such as threats to life or safety—it can also stem from experiences that leave a person feeling helpless, alone, or emotionally overwhelmed, even if no physical harm occurs.
What makes an event traumatic isn’t the objective facts, but how it is experienced. The more anxious, trapped, or powerless someone feels during the event, the greater the likelihood of lasting impact. Just as importantly, the level of support available at the time plays a key role in how the experience is processed and integrated.
Trauma isn’t always a single event. Complex trauma refers to the accumulation of distressing experiences over time, often rooted in chronic instability, lack of secure attachment, emotional neglect, abandonment, or unresolved grief and loss. It is a widespread yet often overlooked phenomenon.
Maybe life feels fine—until something unexpected tips the balance.
Suddenly, you're flooded with old memories that interrupt your day.
You feel a heaviness settle in—depression, a loss of interest in the things that once mattered.
Panic or anxiety creeps in, especially in social situations, leaving you on edge.
You struggle to sleep, or find it hard to concentrate.
Your mind might race, replaying interactions over and over, wondering what others think of you.
You may feel disconnected from the people you love, unsure how to explain what you’re feeling—or why you’re feeling it at all.
You want to get back to “normal,” but you’re not even sure what that is anymore.
No matter what you try, the sadness and pain won’t lift.
There’s a persistent voice inside whispering, “You’re not good enough.”
These are all common responses to trauma.
You might catch yourself thinking, “I should be over this by now,” or “This shouldn’t affect me so much.”
But trauma impacts both the mind and body in ways that don’t just fade with time. It needs care, support, and healing.
How do we treat trauma?
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​With trauma, traditional talk therapy approaches are often not enough. Talk therapy may provide some relief but it can be harder to heal the root of the trauma. Many clients report that they’ve been in therapy for years and still aren’t seeing the results they want.
If you’ve tried other types of therapy in the past, it may be time to consider more specialized trauma therapy.