Trauma therapy
Let the difficult past not affect your life today
Let the difficult past not affect your life today
Understand trauma
All trauma is subjective and in the eye of the beholder. Traumatic experiences can take just a moment and then affect your life many years later. Car accident, assault, death of a loved one, war or even natural disasters can leave you nervous and anxious. They take your peace of mind and sense of safety away.
Many of our clients witnessed or experienced something traumatic many years ago, some of them – in their childhood. Sometimes, time is not enough to heal from past trauma. That’s because traumatic experiences are stored in your brain and nervous system.
If you want to regain your peace and feel safe again, our therapists are here to help. Find out more about trauma therapy.
Different types of trauma
Bonnie Badenoch defines trauma as any
experience of fear, overwhelm, and/or pain
that doesn't have the support it needs to be
digested and integrated into the flow of our
developing brains.
Trauma is unique as a fingerprint. People process experiences differently, and not everyone has the same reaction to any event; what one person experiences as trauma may not cause distress for another.
Different types of trauma
Bonnie Badenoch defines trauma as any
experience of fear, overwhelm, and/or pain
that doesn't have the support it needs to be
digested and integrated into the flow of our
developing brains.
Trauma is unique as a fingerprint. People process experiences differently, and not everyone has the same reaction to any event; what one person experiences as trauma may not cause distress for another.
Why seek trauma therapy?
Your difficult past left a mark on your mind, but it’s not permanent. You can get rid of it and enjoy happy life again. And that’s the goal of trauma therapy. With our help, you will:
- Learn how to control negative emotions and panic attacks and minimize them
- Reclaim peace of mind and a sense of safety
- Regain a sense of control over your life
How is this possible? Thanks to therapy supported by an evidence-based psychotherapeutic approach known as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). EMDR Canada defines this approach as “a type of therapy that helps individuals with concerns, whether they stem from the past, present or future, feel better now. It is a collaborative process that does not require an individual to share their entire story or to share details of the traumatic event/s. It is effective across cultures and ethnicities, from children to adults and seniors.”
Trauma treatment with EMDR
EMDR is often referred to as "dual attention stimulation" because various aspects of the trauma are held within the body and nervous system and the memory needs to be reprocessed.
EMDR processing is based on the fact that we have two hemispheres in our brain that process incoming information in fundamentally different ways. Trauma research indicates that trauma can hinder the brain's ability to process information. When we experience trauma, we react by flight, fight or freeze, which results in the traumatic event becoming "stuck".
EMDR helps this traumatic event become "unstuck", which makes it possible to remove it from your functioning or minimize its impact on your life.
When is trauma treatment effective?
Many studies show that by using EMDR people can experience the benefits of what once took psychotherapy years to make a difference. EMDR can be used to treat many different conditions and traumatic experiences, such as:
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Disturbing memories
- Eating disorders
- Panic attacks
- Phobias
What does an EMDR session look like?
The procedure involves the client focusing on old memories while guided by a trained psychotherapist who is certified in EMDR. EMDR involves attention to three time periods:
- The past
- The present
- The future
During an EMDR session, the client focuses their attention on the targeted issue that they want to resolve. They are given the choice of guided eye movements, alternating taps on hands or knees, and/or alternating auditory stimulation.
A typical EMDR session lasts between 60 and 90 minutes to allow for adequate time to relax after the procedure and de-brief as necessary. Additionally, the therapist will provide you with relaxation skills that will help you achieve a feeling of being in control and empowered.
Our therapists who are certified to conduct EMDR sessions
Are you ready to reach out?
Past traumatic experiences don’t have to define who you are and how you feel today. You can regain the sense of peace and stability and lead a happy life. Melanie and her team of empathetic and experienced therapists are here to support you and show you the way out. Let’s work through this together.
If you're ready to take the first step – we're here for you. We invite you to schedule your first initial 15-minute phone consultation with Melanie. This consultation is free, and you are not required to start the therapeutic process with us. We want you to feel comfortable with this decision and dispel all your doubts about trauma therapy and EMDR. That's what this call is for.
All you need to do is select the time and day that works for you. Here’s Melanie’s calendar:
You can also reach out to her directly via email:
office@rosemaryheightscounselling.com