Trauma Therapy
Trauma: Let’s start with exploring WHAT Trauma is.
Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that can have a lasting impact on a person's mental and emotional well-being. Trauma can be caused by a single event, such as a natural disaster or a car accident, or by ongoing events, such as physical or emotional abuse.
Symptoms of Trauma Include:
Flashbacks or intrusive memories of the traumatic event
Avoidance of places, people, or activities that remind the person of the trauma
Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
Negative changes in mood or thinking
Difficulty trusting others
Difficulty feeling positive emotions
Feeling detached or emotionally numb
Difficulty maintaining close relationships
Symptoms of anxiety or depression
Trauma can also manifest itself in physical ways, such as through body aches and pains, headaches, and digestive problems.
People who have experienced trauma may feel a range of emotions, including shock, disbelief, anger, guilt, and shame. They may also feel a sense of vulnerability and a loss of control over their lives.
Trauma can also manifest itself in physical ways,
such as through body aches and pains, headaches, and digestive problems.
People who have experienced trauma may feel a range of emotions, including shock, disbelief, anger, guilt, and shame. They may also feel a sense of vulnerability and a loss of control over their lives.
If you’re wondering what psychotherapy for trauma can look like, here are 2 examples. One using CBT and the other using Psychodynamic Therapy.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy For Trauma
In a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) session for trauma, the therapist and the client work together to identify and challenge negative thought patterns and behaviors that may be maintaining the client's distress related to their traumatic experience. The therapist may also help the client develop coping strategies and gradually expose themselves to their traumatic memories in a controlled setting.
During the session, the therapist may ask the client to describe their traumatic experience and the symptoms they have been experiencing. The therapist may also ask the client to rate the intensity of their distress on a scale from 0 to 10, with 10 being the most intense.
Once the therapist has a better understanding of the client's trauma, they may help the client identify negative thought patterns, such as catastrophizing or all-or-nothing thinking, that may be contributing to their distress. The therapist may ask the client to come up with evidence for and against these negative thoughts, in order to help the client see that their thoughts may not be entirely accurate.
The therapist may also help the client develop coping strategies to manage their distress, such as deep breathing exercises or progressive muscle relaxation.
The therapist may ask the client to practice these strategies outside of session and report back on their effectiveness.
As the client becomes more adept at managing their distress, the therapist may encourage them to gradually expose themselves to their traumatic memories in a controlled setting. This process, called exposure therapy, helps the client confront their traumatic memories and learn to cope with their distress in a safe environment.
Throughout the CBT process, the therapist may encourage the client to set goals for themselves and track their progress. The therapist may also provide the client with homework assignments to complete between sessions, such as keeping a journal of their thoughts and feelings or practicing relaxation techniques.
Overall, a CBT session for trauma aims to help the client identify and challenge negative thought patterns, develop coping strategies, and gradually expose themselves to their traumatic memories in order to manage their distress more effectively.
Psychodynamic Sessions for Trauma
In a psychodynamic therapy session for trauma, the therapist and the client work together to explore the unconscious conflicts and past experiences that may be contributing to the client's distress related to their traumatic experience. The therapist may use techniques such as free association and dream analysis to help the client gain insight into their unconscious thoughts and feelings.
During the session, the therapist may encourage the client to speak freely about their thoughts and feelings without censoring themselves. The therapist may listen carefully for patterns in the client's thoughts and behaviours and help the client make connections between their past experiences and their current distress.
For example, the therapist may help the client explore any past traumas or unresolved conflicts that may be contributing to their distress related to their current traumatic experience.
The therapist may also help the client identify any defence mechanisms, such as repression or projection, that they may be used to avoid facing their emotions.
The therapist may encourage the client to express their emotions and thoughts in the session, even if they feel uncomfortable or difficult to talk about. The therapist may also help the client recognize any negative thought patterns or maladaptive behaviours that may be contributing to their distress.
Throughout the psychodynamic therapy process, the therapist may encourage the client to reflect on their experiences and emotions in between sessions and may provide the client with homework assignments to help them continue their exploration.
Overall, a psychodynamic therapy session for trauma aims to help the client gain insight into the unconscious conflicts and past experiences that may be contributing to their distress related to their traumatic experience and learn healthier ways of coping with their emotions.
Take The First Step Today
Treatment for trauma is varied based on the needs of the client. For single exposure traumatic events, we usually apply cognitive-behavioral therapy or exposure therapy, which helps individuals confront their traumatic memories and develop coping strategies. In other cases, we approach trauma work with psychodynamic therapy. Some clients seek out body work such as Sensorimotor Therapy. Medications may also enter the picture to assist.
It is important for individuals who have experienced trauma to seek support from not just a regulated/registered mental health professional, but one that is experienced and knowledgeable. Both Ashley and Zell at YYZ Talks are Certified Clinical Trauma Professionals. With the right treatment and support, people who have experienced trauma can learn to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Your therapist will work with you to apply an integration of these two approaches or additional approaches. There is no one approach that works for everyone and that’s why Psychotherapy has to be tailored to the individual.
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Issues We Work With
At YYZ Talks, we offer comprehensive support for a wide range of mental health concerns and life challenges. Our experienced therapists are equipped to address various issues that may be impacting your well-being and quality of life.
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If your life is being impacted by your difficulty paying attention / impulsivity / hyperactivity / disorganization, reach out and we can help you figure out where to go from here. In some cases, formal assessment and medication are warranted. We go beyond coaching to explore how ADHD affects all domains of your functioning. We work with clients to understand and process the complex impacts that ADHD has upon their self-image.
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We provide anger management, PAR program, and various combinations for both Court ordered cases and personal development purposes.
We approach anger as a symptom, and work with you to uncover what's really going on. We provide strategies, and psychotherapy to help you better gain control of yourself. We don’t just explore anger in the here and now, but also the origin story of your emotional world
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There are different types of anxiety disorders, including phobias, panic disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy is shown to be an effective approach to anxiety. One goal of therapy would be to learn how your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours work together and to change the thought patterns that feed anxiety.
We also dedicate part of the process to understand how your anxiety came to be by exploring your childhood
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Being in a relationship can be challenging. Whether with a romantic partner, a good friend, or family members, each can be marked with struggle that can be confusing and frustrating. We can offer an unbiased external perspective, without any agenda other than your happiness and well-being, to help manage these relationships in the best way possible.
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Feelings of deep sadness, lack of motivation or interest, and apathy are all characteristics of
depression or a depressive mood and it can be very distressing. We can help manage this gray,
heavy, or empty feeling by implementing small changes in your day to day life, as well as
approach broader issues in a safe, supportive, and comforting environment.
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Gaslighting is a confusing process to be the victim of. Between the loss of self, confusion, and disoriented narrative, we can often feel erratic and out of sorts long after we've moved on from those relationships. Work with an experienced Psychotherapist to find yourself again and make sense of your narrative.
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Our grief and loss services are primarily provided by Laura, who holds an Advanced Grief Certification, and a certificate in emotional regulation strategies.
Loss can occur in many forms, from a sudden and terrible shock to a slow or painful decline. Some losses are literal, such as losing a loved one, relationship, job, or home, while others relate to one’s identity such as loss of identity, independence, and hope. Loss therapy focuses on helping individuals take the time to explore the impact of loss on one’s emotions, thoughts, and perceptions, to process emotional responses, and to empower clients with resiliency to move forward while preserving the memory of what has been lost.
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Interpersonal conflict is inevitable in our lives. How we deal with it, both within ourselves and in communication with others, can make all the difference. This form of therapy explores our reactiveness, helps to understand ourselves more deeply, and seeks to find compassion for ourselves and the other. Through learning how to navigate conflict, we aim to develop stronger, healthier relationships.
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Evolving views on religion and spirituality can unfortunately lead to conflict within social and familial groups. There can be the loss of support systems, loss of meaning making, and the loss of routines, roles, and responsibilities. Our approach for individuals going through this rooted in helping you pursue meaning in your life. This involves making sense of your relationship with multiple domains, and managing changes to your identity.
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We all know that life is full of change, but to really accept that and adapt to changing circumstances and expectations takes a lot of work. A new role whether it’s at work or at home requires us to adjust many variables such as expectations, hopes, and responsibilities. This can be quite stressful and lead to conflict, disappointment, and communication issues.
Our Psychotherapists can help you navigate this by helping you identify blindspots, manage expectations of yourself and others, and develop a greater insight into why you’re experiencing something the way you are.
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Unless you live in a hammock, you're going to face stressful situations. A little bit of stress is normal and the stress response can be helpful. Having a lot of stress all the time is not helpful. It means your mind and body are running in overdrive, and that is taking a huge toll on your resources. It's not sustainable and more and more studies are showing the negative impacts stress can have on you.
We work with you to create a custom stress-management plan. Together we'll identify your stressors and existing patterns, develop a self-care routine, find healthy outlets, and develop resilience.
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¼ of our caseload is students. We love working with you before the world has made you jaded. Being a student is a fascinating and difficult transition. Issues like feeling homesick, academic pressure, time management, test anxiety, social struggles, family and career expectations, and more can arise. Talking to a Psychotherapist can provide support and a safe space to problem solve to ensure you get the most out of your post-secondary experience.
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Traumatic events can have wide-reaching effects on your life. Whether you have been diagnosed with PTSD or not, whether your trauma stems from physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, we can help. Traumatic events overwhelm the brain, and lead to symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks, being easily startled, avoidant, numbness, emotional volatility, cognitive issues, and feeling distant from life.
Our team is experienced in working with trauma in all its forms to help you get back into your life and your relationships. For Individuals suffering from complex trauma, our Certified Clinical Trauma Professionals are always available to help you on your recovery journey
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Life is full of unknowable factors, and dealing with uncertainty is a part of life we can't avoid. Some people are more sensitive to uncertainty, hating it and trying to control it as much as they can. This can lead to a lot of avoidance, distraction, procrastination, impulsivity, and anxiety. We approach uncertainty through multiple angles to improve your insight, and tolerance and build better-coping strategies.
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If your struggle isn’t captured by this list, reach out to us anyway to discuss if we can help. If we can’t, we’ll try our best to find you help at another practice. We’re bad capitalists and will happily refer you to another practice if we think they can help you better than we can.
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