Trauma - Focused Psychotherapy

Healing Trauma with Empathy: A Journey Through Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy

Trauma-focused psychotherapy helps people who have been through difficult or overwhelming experiences, such as trauma, PTSD, anxiety, or depression. This type of therapy is based on safety, compassion, and understanding. Healing takes time, and it involves both the mind and the body.

In therapy, we start by helping you become more aware of your body and emotions. Trauma can sometimes feel “stuck” in the body, which can lead to feeling disconnected, tense, or overwhelmed. Learning to notice your body’s signals can help you feel more grounded and safe.

One approach that may be used is EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). EMDR is a trauma therapy that helps the brain process painful memories that have not fully healed. During EMDR, you focus on parts of a memory while following gentle eye movements or taps. This helps the brain reprocess the memory so it feels less intense and upsetting over time. You do not need to relive everything in detail for EMDR to be helpful.

We may also use Narrative Therapy, which helps you explore and understand your life story in a new way. This can support healing by helping you feel more in control and connected to who you are. Exposure-based techniques may be used slowly and safely to reduce fear and emotional distress linked to past experiences. Awareness Integration Therapy (AIT) may also be used to help release emotions connected to old memories.

Throughout therapy, you will learn skills to manage strong emotions, challenge negative thoughts, and build resilience. We will also talk about how trauma affects the brain and body, so you can better understand your healing process.

Trauma-focused psychotherapy is not only about the past. It is about helping you feel stronger, more confident, and more connected in your life today. The goal is to support healing, growth, and a sense of safety within yourself.