Trauma Therapy / Trauma-Focused Therapy

Understanding Trauma

​

Trauma is not defined only by what happened, but by how an experience overwhelmed a person’s capacity to cope at the time. Trauma can develop in different ways and across different stages of life.

​

Trauma may be acute, chronic, complex, or vicarious.

​

Acute trauma may follow a single overwhelming event, such as an accident, assault, medical crisis, or sudden loss.

Chronic trauma develops through repeated or ongoing exposure to stress, threat, or harm, where there is little opportunity for recovery.

​

Complex or developmental trauma often occurs in childhood or within close relationships and unfolds over time. It may involve emotional neglect, inconsistency, betrayal, or a lack of safety during key developmental periods.

​

Vicarious trauma can affect people who are repeatedly exposed to the suffering, trauma, or responsibility of others, such as healthcare providers, first responders, caregivers, leaders, and helping professionals.

These forms of trauma can occur alone or together, and their effects often accumulate.

​

​

Trauma May Develop From:

 

• Childhood emotional neglect or inconsistency

• Chronic exposure to stress, responsibility, or threat

• Interpersonal violence or coercive relationships

• Repeated experiences of powerlessness or betrayal

• Cumulative stress that overwhelms coping capacity

• Ongoing exposure to others’ trauma or suffering (vicarious trauma)

​

Common Effects of Trauma

 

Trauma often shapes the nervous system, emotional regulation, relationships, and sense of self. Common effects may include:

• Emotional overwhelm or emotional shutdown

• Hypervigilance or chronic anxiety

• Difficulty trusting or depending on others

• Intense shame or persistent self-criticism

• Impulsive or avoidant coping strategies

• Feeling “on edge,” disconnected, or emotionally numb

 

These responses are not signs of weakness or pathology. They are adaptive survival strategies that developed in response to overwhelming conditions.

​

A Phase-Based Approach to Trauma Therapy

 

Trauma-focused therapy is guided by a phase-based approach, meaning that treatment is paced according to safety, stability, and readiness rather than a fixed timeline.

​

Early work often focuses on building capacity — strengthening emotional regulation, reducing patterns that increase distress, and creating enough stability for therapy to be effective. As this capacity grows, therapy may shift toward addressing trauma-related patterns that continue to affect emotions, relationships, and sense of self. Later work focuses on integration, consolidation of gains, and building a life that feels more aligned and sustainable.

​

Not everyone moves through these phases in the same way, and not all clients need or want trauma processing. Progress is defined by increased stability, choice, and quality of life — not by completing a particular stage or type of trauma work.

​

​

​

​​

​

​