Treating Trauma

Trauma can occur when a person experiences or witnesses an event that feels overwhelming, threatening, or beyond their ability to process at the time. These experiences can leave lasting imprints on how we think, feel, and relate to others. While some people recover naturally with time and support, others find that reminders of the event trigger distress, fear, or avoidance long after the danger has passed. This may develop into posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), where symptoms such as intrusive memories, hypervigilance, and emotional numbing interfere with daily life and relationships.

Complex trauma (C-PTSD), by contrast, typically results from ongoing or repeated exposure to distressing experiences—such as chronic childhood neglect, emotional abuse, or prolonged interpersonal violence. Rather than one distinct event, complex trauma reflects long-term patterns of threat or instability. Individuals with C-PTSD often struggle not only with fear and avoidance, but also with difficulties in emotion regulation, trust, self-image, and relationships.

Effective treatment begins with understanding how trauma has impacted your mind and body, building safety and stability, and working at a pace that respects your readiness to process difficult experiences. Evidence-based approaches such as those listed on this page—often combined with mindfulness- and body-based methods—can help reduce distress, integrate traumatic memories, and restore a sense of control, connection, and meaning.