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Trauma

Trauma Counselling  Kamloops | MindWise Counselling

Trauma is the lasting emotional response that often results from living through a distressing event. Experiencing a traumatic event can harm a person’s sense of safety, sense of self, and ability to regulate emotions and navigate relationships. Long after the traumatic event occurs, people with trauma can often feel shame, helplessness, powerlessness and intense fear and can leave a lasting impact on an individual's mental and emotional well-being, making it crucial to seek support for healing and personal growth.​ Support from a trained trauma therapist can help you reconnect to your nervous system and body and have meaningful relationship with others. Finding a therapist you connect with and trust is really important.

Trauma Counselling & Mental Health Services In Kamloops

Trauma counselling is a powerful resource to help clients understand the impact of the trauma, access ways to heal, and reconnect with themselves. By focusing on empowerment and embodiment, clients can feel more grounded and present in their bodies, even while uncomfortable emotions, thoughts, or physical sensations from the past arise. Whether you're dealing with past trauma or want to connect more deeply with yourself, trauma counselling can be an incredibly valuable process to release you from the grip of the past.

What Are The Different Types Of Trauma?

The word "trauma" derives from the Greek word for "wound" or "hurt." 

Trauma may be experienced either through direct involvement or indirect (by witnessing or learning of such an event happening to others), and is often accompanied by a sense of shock, helplessness, or loss of control. Trauma can be categorized into 3 types of experiences: acute, chronic, and complex. It’s important to note that the three types of trauma refer solely to the traumatic experiences rather than a person’s trauma response. Knowing the type of trauma helps to identify the best support.

Acute Trauma

Acute trauma is the trauma caused by a single distressing event. The acute trauma response or acute stress reaction is characterized by a short-lived sympathetic (nervous system) response to a real or perceived threat that typically results in a "fight or flight" response. 

When trauma symptoms persist for more than a month and begin to cause impairment in everyday functioning, this may be a sign of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Vicarious Trauma

Vicarious trauma (VT) and Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) are frequently used interchangeably to refer to indirect trauma; the impact of indirect exposure to difficult, disturbing and/or traumatic images and stories of the suffering of others – humans and sometimes animals, and they way that it might impact us as individuals or as workers in high-stress and trauma-exposed fields.

Chronic Trauma

Chronic trauma happens when people experience similar traumatic events over and over again. Just like with acute trauma, chronic trauma survivors can react to these events differently. Unlike acute trauma, where someone experiences an isolated incident, chronic trauma survivors endure the same trauma over and over. As such, they never get a chance to process the situation thoroughly and are caught in a perpetual cycle of traumatic responses.

Developmental Trauma

The nervous system of an infant is completely dependent upon caregivers to help them feel safe, connected, and calm. Growing up with parents who were dysregulated, abusive, or neglectful shapes a child’s vulnerable nervous system. This can lead to long-lasting patterns of emotional and physiological distress that get carried into adulthood. 

Complex Trauma

Complex Trauma is defined as the exposure to multiple, often interrelated forms of traumatic experiences AND the difficulties that arise as a result of adapting to or surviving these experiences. The layers of multiple traumatic experiences and interpersonal conflicts feed off each other and work to keep survivors stuck in subconscious, protective states. Complex trauma often overlaps with other co-occurring disorders and stressors.

​Historical Trauma

Historical trauma occurs when trauma caused by historical oppression is passed down through generations. The cultural genocide committed by the Canadian federal government continues to affect the well-being of many Indigenous individuals, their families and their communities.

What Does Unprocessed Trauma Or Unresolved Trauma Look Like?

If left addressed the effects of a traumatic event, the  "symptoms" of trauma can manifest in ways that affect your mental & physical health, and your relationships with yourself and others.

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Some of the symptoms of unresolved trauma are:

Intrusive Thoughts

These may be consistent and persistent thoughts, memories, nightmares, or flashbacks that cause intense stress and interfere with daily life by activating fear, guilt, shame, anger, grief, or other painful emotions. To stop being triggered, avoidance is used as a coping mechanism: places, activities, or people that are reminders of the trauma.

Hypoarousal

Trauma can cause individuals to be stuck in patterns of disconnection, isolation, or shut-down. This can feel like depression; low mood and energy, desire to be alone, or putting up walls. If left untreated these patterns continue and get in the way of healthy relationships and enjoyment of daily life. 

Physical Symptoms

Common physical symptoms of trauma include headaches, fatigue, muscle tension, rapid heartbeat, and changes in appetite or sleep patterns. Some people also experience gastrointestinal problems, such as nausea or diarrhea, or chronic pain conditions. 

Emotional or Physical Numbness

Numbness - although a protective mechanism of the nervous system, it can cause individuals to feel zoned out, disconnected from others, floating out of the body, or difficulty accessing emotions. Present moments are hard to enjoy. The mind might feel vacant or blank and emotions may feel as if they are 'turned off" or have to be "pushed away."

Hyperarousal

Trauma can cause some individuals to become highly alert, irritable, and prone to "fight-flight" patterns. This can feel like anxiety, while others experience it more as anger. If left untreated, these patterns continue and get in the way of healthy relationships and enjoyment of daily life. 

Relationship Difficulties

Trauma can cause individuals to struggle with trust, communication, problem solving, and closeness with others which can create misunderstanding, emotional reactivity, and conflict in relationships. 

What Is The Best Type Of Counselling For Trauma?

There’s more than one way to treat trauma, each with a unique approach and advantages. Many different types of trauma-focused and trauma-informed treatments exist today. These may also be referred to as trauma-focused interventions. One intervention type is not “better” than another, but rather each was developed to meet the different needs of individuals. Trauma-focused treatments may look different based on age, trauma experience, or personal preferences.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT for trauma breaks down associations between reminders of the event (e.g. situations, people), conclusions about the event (e.g. “I can’t trust others”), and responses to triggers (e.g. fear or feeling numb). The combination of strategies that this treatment offers enables clients to retrain their mind, body and spirit to understand & interpret trauma responses differently.

Somatic Therapy

In somatic therapy, the body is the starting point to achieve healing. This form of therapy cultivates an awareness of bodily sensations; clients learn to feel safe in their bodies while exploring thoughts, emotions, and feelings related to traumatic experiences.

Through the use of movement and guided exercises, clients are taught to recognize how stress and trauma are stored in the body, the ways in which the mind and body are connected, and specific exercises they can use to release the emotional pain stored within the body.

Attachment Therapy

Attachment-based therapy focuses on resolving past traumas and attachment wounds stemming from childhood. Grounded in attachment theory, it emphasizes the role of early interactions between children and caregivers and the subconscious patterns that were created. It aims to help clients heal past attachment wounds, improve emotional regulation, enhance social and communication skills, and form healthier relationships.

Exposure Therapy 

Exposure therapy is a behavioural treatment for PTSD - it aims to support the client to target learned behaviours they engage in (usually avoidance) in response to situations or thoughts and memories that are viewed as frightening or anxiety-provoking. The goal is to reduce fear and anxiety through direct, imagined, or interoceptive exposure. 

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Unlike other treatments that focus on directly altering the emotions, thoughts and responses resulting from traumatic experiences, EMDR therapy focuses directly on the memory, and is intended to change the way that the memory is stored in the brain, thus reducing and eliminating the problematic symptoms. EMDR incorporate the use of eye movements and other forms of rhythmic left-right (bilateral) stimulation (e.g., tones or taps). While clients briefly focus on the trauma memory and simultaneously experience bilateral stimulation (BLS), the vividness and emotion of the memory are reduced.

Canadian Mental Health Statistics

According to the findings from the Survey on Mental Health and Stressful Events (SMHSE).

  • Nearly two-thirds of Canadians have reported experiencing some kind of traumatic event at some point in their lives.

  • 23% of Canadians aged 15 and older reported high levels of stress on most days.

  • 8% of Canadians reported that they experienced moderate to severe symptoms of PTSD.

  • Substance abuse and heavy drinking were more common in people who were experiencing PTSD.

  • 13% of young adults aged 18 to 24 are more likely to report high levels of stress compared to seniors aged 65 and older.

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Trauma, when left unprocessed, can manifest in various ways, including intrusive memories, emotional numbness, avoidance, isolation, physical health issues, and relationship difficulties. Understanding how trauma has created patterns of thinking and feeling, and  the impact on your relationships, including the one with yourself, are crucial steps in the healing journey. By acknowledging these pieces and accessing support, you can begin your journey towards healing and peace of mind.

MindWise Counselling in Kamloops is dedicated to providing a safe and compassionate environment for clients to process their experiences, address symptoms and fears resulting from trauma and then empower individuals with the skills and information necessary for long-term healing and resilience. With tailored approaches designed to meet individual needs, the team at MindWise Counselling is committed to helping clients regain control over their lives and feel connected to themselves. We can talk about the changes you want, identify how to get there, and then together, take steps to help you create a life where the past no longer interferes with your present.

Trauma Counselling Kamloops: Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do you diagnose ADHD?
    We are unable to diagnose ADHD at our centre. A comprehensive ADHD diagnosis done by a physician, psychologist, or psychiatrist should involve a lengthy discussion of current difficulties you are facing, past challenges and childhood experiences, and life events or situations that may be occurring. Questionnaires or assessments would also be part of the diagnosis. Feel free to schedule an appointment with one of our therapists who are trained in ADHD. They can help you understand what to expect for a diagnostic assessment, explain what forms you may be asked to complete, and answer any of your questions to the best of their ability.
  • Are you born with ADHD?
    ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition that can present in childhood and continue into adulthood. Sometimes ADHD is not evident until adulthood. While the exact cause of ADHD is not fully understood, it is generally believed that genetics play a significant role. This means that yes, individuals can be born with a predisposition to ADHD, which is influenced by various genetic and environmental factors. At MindWise Counselling, we specialize in providing tailored support for individuals with ADHD. Our team of skilled therapists offers both in-person and virtual therapy options in Kamloops, and across British Columbia. We are committed to helping adults, teens, couples, and kids manage ADHD symptoms more effectively and to create more ease in daily life. Our approach includes a combination of evidence-based techniques & strategies designed to improve executive function and overall quality of life. Whether you have ADHD or your loved one does, understanding ADHD and getting practical strategies to manage its challenges is possible. MindWise Counselling is here to support you every step of the way. Reach out today.
  • At what age does ADHD peak?
    ADHD symptoms can peak on and off throughout one's lifetime, usually when life levels up and we face increased responsibility or a change in environment (ie. going from high school to a full time job or post-secondary program). During school years, typically when children face increased demands and expectations for attention and self-regulation, symptoms of ADHD will emerge. For some, symptoms become more evident when the consistency and routine provided by high school comes to an end. The responsibilities and expectations common to this age and the life transition starts to highlight difficulties with executive function. Some professionals refer to this as, "Failure to launch". Sometimes individuals consistently experience difficult times into adulthood but were unaware of ADHD running in the background. They unknowingly learned to use coping tools that reduced the impact of ADHD. Often when one of their children get diagnosed, these adults begin to notice symptoms of ADHD in themselves.
  • What are the worst ADHD symptoms?
    There is no straight forward answer to this. The severity of ADHD symptoms can differ from person to person, and there are many reasons for this. Some of the most talked about symptoms are challenges with procrastination, impulsivity, directing attention (when uninterested), and emotionality - all of which impact relationships and self confidence.
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