Are you carrying the weight of a past wound that won't seem to heal?

• How much longer will you let an old wound dictate your peace?

• Have you been convinced that your trauma is something you have to face alone?

• What part of you is ready to move from surviving to truly thriving?

What is trauma?

Trauma is the profound emotional and psychological response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event, series of events, or chronic circumstance that overwhelms an individual's ability to cope. It is critical to understand that trauma is not just the event itself, but the lasting impact it has on the person's mental, emotional, and physical well-being. This can include single incidents like an accident or assault (Acute Trauma), or prolonged, repeated experiences such as childhood neglect or abuse (Complex Trauma). If you are struggling with persistent symptoms like flashbacks, hypervigilance, or intense anxiety, trauma therapy offers a path to process these experiences, find emotional safety, and move from a place of survival to a life of healing and resilience.

Sometimes it can be difficult to identify whether you have experienced trauma. There are the obvious events that happen and which everyone readily labels as trauma. These can include sexual and physical abuse, witnessing violence, being in war, or having an accident, to name a few. These events are big and impactful enough that they are easily labeled traumatic. However, there are also many events that “feel” like they cannot be labeled trauma because they don’t seem impactful enough. The truth is that trauma can come in big ways and small ways. Bullying, frequently moving as a child, emotional neglect, financial ruin or poverty, being overweight or obese, and even breakups, being cheated on, getting divorced, or losing a job can all be traumatic.

When you encounter a situation that is shocking to your nervous system, or that is outside the norm, and you experience one of the four trauma responses—fight, flight, freeze, or fawn—then you know you have experienced trauma. If you are having a hard time adjusting back to normal life, or if you feel like you are also experiencing anxiety, depression, and perhaps other symptoms such as OCD or addiction, then you have most likely experienced trauma.

How can therapy help with healing trauma?

Speaking with a professional trained in trauma-informed therapy can unlock the healing process for a person who has been through trauma.

Unprocessed trauma, or unhealed trauma, can show up in ways that the conscious mind is not even aware of. It can feel like disconnection from the world, dissociation, avoidance, freeze or fawn response, and many other ways. In therapy, discussing and unpacking your past can bring everything to the conscious plane, where change can happen. Doing trauma informed therapy is a very courageous act, because it is not easy to uncover the past, especially a traumatic past that left you wounded. But it is only possible for change to occur if awareness and consciousness are being brought into the equation. 

Therapy is a powerful path to healing trauma by providing a structured, safe environment to process distressing memories and regain control of your life. Through evidence-based approaches, our therapists help you reprocess overwhelming experiences, regulate your nervous system, and dismantle the negative beliefs that trauma has cemented. Seeking professional trauma treatment empowers you to move beyond feeling stuck, build essential coping skills for anxiety and flashbacks, and restore your sense of safety and emotional well-being. Finding the right trauma therapist is the first crucial step toward lasting trauma recovery.

How does trauma affect your life?

Most people have gone through a traumatic event at least once in their lifetime. Trauma can profoundly affect nearly every aspect of your life, extending far beyond the initial upsetting event. For many, the long-term impact on the nervous system can lead to persistent anxiety, hypervigilance (always feeling on edge), and the development of conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Untreated trauma often interferes with daily life, resulting in difficulty with sleep, concentration, and emotional regulation, sometimes manifesting as mood swings or emotional numbness. Critically, trauma frequently damages your sense of safety and trust, creating challenges in forming and maintaining healthy relationships. If you find yourself struggling with these lasting effects of trauma—from intrusive memories to chronic physical tension—seeking trauma-informed therapy can provide the essential tools for processing the past and reclaiming your life.

Although having a good, strong, supportive community is essential for healing from trauma, sometimes professional help is the missing component in your healing process. People may not want to burden their loved ones with the pain they've experienced and may hold back from expressing their thoughts, feelings, and the symptoms resulting from trauma. People who have gone through trauma may also withdraw from their social circle; instead of leaning on their loved ones, they may feel compelled to go through this all alone. This can be due to shame or feelings of inadequacy, or the inability to understand what they are experiencing after a traumatic event or series of events.

What if I don’t want to talk about my trauma?

It's completely normal and okay if you don't want to talk about the details of your trauma, especially when first starting therapy. Healing from trauma doesn't always require you to relive every painful moment. Our first priority is always your safety and comfort.

We utilize numerous trauma-informed therapy approaches that focus on healing the lingering effects of trauma without demanding a detailed narrative of the event. 

We can work on:

• Building coping skills to manage anxiety, flashbacks, and triggers.

• Regulating your emotions and feeling safe in your body.

• Identifying and changing the negative beliefs that trauma created (e.g., "I am not safe," or "It was my fault").

We will always proceed at your pace, honoring your boundaries every step of the way. When you feel ready, we may explore memories gently, but only with techniques designed to process them without becoming overwhelmed. You are in control of your healing journey.

How long until I heal from trauma?

The time it takes to heal from trauma varies significantly for every individual, and it's essential to understand that healing is a non-linear process, not a fixed destination.

The total duration depends on factors like:

• The nature of the trauma (single-event vs. complex/developmental trauma).

• Consistency of therapy attendance.

• The safety and support in your current environment.

We aim to help you achieve a place where the memory of the trauma no longer dictates your life, and you can engage fully in the present. This goal is absolutely achievable, and we commit to supporting you for as long as you need to build true, lasting trauma recovery and resilience.

What if unpacking my trauma feels uncomfortable?

It is completely normal for the process of unpacking trauma to feel uncomfortable—in fact, discomfort is often a sign that deep healing work is taking place. Trauma involves deeply ingrained patterns in your brain and body, and shifting those patterns naturally involves emotional and physical sensations that can be unsettling.

We are highly trained to ensure this discomfort remains tolerable, manageable, and productive.

If you ever feel too overwhelmed, you are always in control. We can pause, switch to a grounding exercise, or pivot to a different topic. Discomfort is expected; feeling re-traumatized is not the goal. We are here to navigate the discomfort with you, ensuring it leads to lasting relief and healing.

Don't let past pain control your future

Take the courageous first step toward trauma recovery and schedule your consultation today.

(646) 535-8260

info@EvolveCounselingGroup.com