Post-Traumatic Growth and Recovery

What is trauma?

Post-Traumatic Growth and Recovery

Trauma is being talked about more these days.

But what is trauma?

Trauma refers to the lasting adverse effects on a person's emotional, mental, and physical health, and social well-being.

"Trauma is a term used to describe the challenging emotional consequences that living through a distressing event can have for an individual. Traumatic events can be difficult to define because the same event may be more traumatic for some people than for others."           Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/trauma)

Sometimes people like to classify trauma into two categories: big "T" and little "t" trauma.

Big "T" trauma are major events like serious injury, sexual violence, or life-threatening experiences, where one's life or bodily integrity is threatened. Threats of serious physical injury, death, or sexual violence can cause trauma as well, even if the person is not physically harmed. Witnesses to big "T" events or people working directly with those impacted by traumatic events can also be affected, like police officers and paramedics. The result can be PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Essentially, big "T" events leave the person feeling powerless or hopeless.

Little "t" traumas are highly distressing events but don't fall into the big "T" category. However, these events do exceed a person's capacity to cope. Often little "t" trauma is overlooked as the person has adjusted to it and there is often a tendency to shame oneself for "overreacting" which can indicate denial of its impact. Too many little "t" traumas can have a cumulative effect to the point a person has exceeded their ability to cope. Examples are non-life threatening injuries, bullying, harassment, death of a pet, divorce, financial worries, interpersonal conflict. Often people end up in therapy due to an accumulation of little "t" traumas.

Other examples of trauma:

  • Past childhood emotional neglect and abuse
  • Sexual violence or domestic abuse
  • Divorce (particularly if it is not amicable)
  • Family difficulties and estrangement
  • Mental and physical health issues
  • Isolation and loneliness (this was quite prevalent during the pandemic due to forced “bubbles”, making it particularly hard on those living alone).

Therapy can help.

Counselling and psychotherapy can help you work through the difficult thoughts and feelings post-trauma that can benefit you in your recovery. Healing is a process that can result in a new way of feeling and being in the world, what people refer to as "post-traumatic growth."

As a survivor of sexual violence, I understand the pain of living through a painful experience. While every experience is different, it is common to feel isolated, as if nobody understands you. And there can be a lot of shame. Some traumatic events are difficult to get through afterwords.

Which is why I say that I help people speak the things they are too ashamed to speak of. 

I use a trauma-specific approach, grounded in the tri-phasic trauma recovery model. This approach begins with building a foundation of trust and learning about your specific needs. I help you explore what you need to move through the discomfort of living through trauma and its aftermath. My intention is to help you understand what you need to move forward in a life that makes sense for you.

Please note: If you are a victim of a violent crime, you may be eligible to receive financial support from the BC government's Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP) to cover counselling fees. Read more on the booking page here.

Contact me to book a consultation.

What is trauma?

Trauma is being talked about more these days.

But what is trauma?

Trauma refers to the lasting adverse effects on a person's emotional, mental, and physical health, and social well-being.

"Trauma is a term used to describe the challenging emotional consequences that living through a distressing event can have for an individual. Traumatic events can be difficult to define because the same event may be more traumatic for some people than for others."           Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/trauma)

Sometimes people like to classify trauma into two categories: big "T" and little "t" trauma.

Big "T" trauma are major events like serious injury, sexual violence, or life-threatening experiences, where one's life or bodily integrity is threatened. Threats of serious physical injury, death, or sexual violence can cause trauma as well, even if the person is not physically harmed. Witnesses to big "T" events or people working directly with those impacted by traumatic events can also be affected, like police officers and paramedics. The result can be PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Essentially, big "T" events leave the person feeling powerless or hopeless.

Little "t" traumas are highly distressing events but don't fall into the big "T" category. However, these events do exceed a person's capacity to cope. Often little "t" trauma is overlooked as the person has adjusted to it and there is often a tendency to shame oneself for "overreacting" which can indicate denial of its impact. Too many little "t" traumas can have a cumulative effect to the point a person has exceeded their ability to cope. Examples are non-life threatening injuries, bullying, harassment, death of a pet, divorce, financial worries, interpersonal conflict. Often people end up in therapy due to an accumulation of little "t" traumas.

Other examples of trauma:

  • Past childhood emotional neglect and abuse
  • Sexual violence or domestic abuse
  • Divorce (particularly if it is not amicable)
  • Family difficulties and estrangement
  • Mental and physical health issues
  • Isolation and loneliness (this was quite prevalent during the pandemic due to forced “bubbles”, making it particularly hard on those living alone).

A path to recovery

Whether it's big "T" or little "t" trauma, both can result in uncomfortable feelings that prompt someone to ask for help. As a survivor of sexual violence, I understand the pain of living through such a difficult experience. While every experience is different, it is common to feel isolated, as if nobody understands you.

Therapy can help.

I work with people in recovery from trauma using a trauma-specific approach, grounded in the tri-phasic trauma recovery model. This approach begins with building a foundation of trust and learning about your specific needs. I help you explore what you need to move through the discomfort of living through trauma and its aftermath. My intention is to help you understand what you need to move forward in a life that makes sense for you.

Please note: If you are a victim of a violent crime, you may be eligible to receive financial support from the BC government's Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP) to cover counselling fees. Read more on the booking page here.

Contact me to book a consultation.

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