Trauma is a very personal experience, and what is traumatic for one person may not be for another. The effects of trauma can result from a wide range of events that are physically or emotionally overwhelming and may make us feel powerless or helpless. Some common types of events that can be traumatic are:

• The sudden loss of a loved one through death or separation
• Physical or sexual assault, abuse, or violence
• Accidents such as car crashes, falls, or workplace injuries
• Work related exposure in the 911 field or combat related service
• Medical trauma such as serious illnesses, surgeries, or birth trauma
• Covid related struggles
• Childhood trauma, including neglect, emotional, physical or sexual abuse, or growing up in a household with addiction, mental illness, or domestic violence
• Racial, gender or LGBTQ+ discrimination, oppression, and hate crimes

If you have experienced any event like the ones listed above and are now noticing symptoms such as flashbacks, increased anxiety, or feelings of detachment, therapy can help provide the guidance, clarity and support you need.

Trauma can be a difficult thing to process and it takes time to fully heal. It is important to be gentle with yourself throughout the process and remember that healing is a journey. At Intentional Outcomes, we will:

• Provide a safe and judgment-free space where you can express your thoughts and process your emotions.
• Help you work through any unresolved feelings or belief that may be keeping you stuck.
• Teach you coping skills to help manage trauma-related symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts.
• Address negative self-beliefs, such as feeling helpless, hopeless, or unworthy. We will help you identify and challenge these beliefs and develop a more positive and self-compassionate outlook.
• Provide education and resources to help you better understand your experience and its impact on your life.

Overall, therapy can provide you with the support and guidance you need to manage the impact of trauma on your life and move towards healing and recovery.

At Intentional Outcomes, we use a variety of evidence-based approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to help you process and make sense of your trauma.

Trauma can have a wide range of effects on individuals, and the impact can vary depending on your unique experiences and circumstances. Some of the common effects of trauma:

• Anxiety and Panic Attacks.
• Depression.
• Flashbacks and Nightmares.
• Anger and Irritability.
• Avoidance.

The most effective way to manage the symptoms of trauma is to learn and develop skills to stop them from escalating. In therapy, we will guide you through effective techniques such as deep breathing, EMDR, and cognitive behavioral exercises, and grounding techniques to help you manage symptoms as you heal.

Healing from trauma is a journey, and while progress is not always linear, there are some indicators that healing is taking place as you move through therapy.

To start, you might start to notice that you have more energy, and you feel peaceful more often than before. Overall, you feel safer within yourself, as well as in the outside world.

Flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety attacks will start to diminish as you develop more coping skills. As situations arise in your everyday life that used to trigger distressing emotions, you may find that you are able to use the skills you have learned at therapy to manage the symptoms without feeling overwhelmed or dissociated.

Healing from trauma is a unique and individual process. While the signs of healing differ for each individual, you should find that over time, you are less hyper-vigilant and more able to relax and enjoy life.