Trauma Therapy
Are You Struggling With The Fallout From A Traumatic Event Or Experience?
Has a painful experience left you feeling lonely and isolated?
Do you feel as though no one around you truly understands what you’ve been through?
Have you noticed yourself increasingly engaging in negative life patterns, such as:
Unhealthy coping mechanisms like substance abuse?
Unsatisfying or empty romantic partnerships?
Toxic relationships with friends or extended family?
Or perhaps you have been affected or held back in other ways. Maybe you’ve been having issues finding community and feel exhausted by unfulfilling dating apps and never-ending social media. Or maybe you’re feeling unfulfilled at work and are looking to make a career shift but don’t quite know how. You may have wanted to make some important changes for a while now but have started to feel hopeless that things will ever improve.
Unresolved Trauma Can Negatively Impact Many Areas Of Your Life
Without properly addressing trauma from your past, trauma responses can seep into nearly every aspect of your daily life. For instance, you may have an unhealthy relationship with food and are looking for ways to better practice nourishment and self-care. Or maybe you are having issues with finances and spending, and you are interested in making more responsible and productive decisions moving forward.
It's likely that you’ve experienced some strained relationships as well. Maybe you keep going out on too many dates or saying yes to friends to the detriment of your week again and again. Or perhaps family members have been questioning your decisions, criticizing your home, or otherwise over-inserting themselves. You may have also been looking for a community of like-minded people to connect and recharge with after outgrowing friends who engage in toxic or self-destructive behaviors.
Know this, though: the aftereffects of trauma are treatable, and you can move forward with confidence and peace of mind. At Third Nature Therapy, we help heal trauma by practicing mindfulness to reconnect you with the most authentic version of yourself.
“Trauma is not what happens to us.
It’s what happens inside of us.”
- Dr. Gabor Mate
Trauma Is Alarmingly Common, Especially For Women
Our collective perception of traumatic events tends to see them as rare and isolated incidents that only happen to an unlucky few. Sadly, though, the experience of trauma is actually all too common, especially for women.
In fact, 50 percent of women experience at least one traumatic experience at some point in their lifetime. Furthermore, addiction has been proven as a common response to trauma and not merely a genetic disease. And the reality is that many never receive any treatment at all for their trauma or its associated responses.
Many Who Experience Trauma Lack Resources And Support
In many cases, survivors of trauma struggle to cope in part because they were simply never taught how to investigate their psyche and process their emotions effectively. Other times, there is a normalization among friends toward poor coping behaviors like partying. And, of course, there are larger factors that can contribute to trauma and complicate the healing process as well, like societal pressures placed on women, unrealistic expectations placed on the female body, and an overall lack of resources and support systems.
This is where we come into play. We practice a holistic, integrative, and somatic approach to trauma counseling that gives you a safe space to stop, reflect, and ask yourself all of the difficult (but necessary) questions. In this way, we can help you actively change your life by taking ownership of it. As is often said of both trauma and therapy: the only way out is through.
Trauma Therapy Can Help You Heal And Move Forward
The act of healing is often a complex process. That’s why we at Third Nature Therapy encourage what we call the Pause: that moment in time when you stop and reflect on some important questions about yourself. The Pause allows for your most authentic self to come forth, enabling you to take control over your own decisions and actions.
Rather than merely focusing on the cognitive, we favor a holistic and somatic approach. We know all too well that the brain and the body are deeply connected and actually need to work together in the process of healing. And we are here to provide a gentle and loving push in the direction of more positive and healthier thoughts and behaviors.
What You Can Expect From Trauma Therapy Sessions
Prior to beginning therapy, you will fill out some paperwork and a brief questionnaire. Your initial intake session will be more structured than the regular sessions that will follow, as your trauma therapist will field any questions while building a robust understanding of your history.
During your subsequent counseling sessions, your therapist will first identify the core of your trauma and help you experience your own emotions without getting overwhelmed. You will learn how to befriend and understand your own nervous system, which will allow you to feel more grounded when shut down or anxious and will give you the ability to move into a more regulated and connected place.
Treatment Approaches That Fit Your Situation And Needs
Your trauma specialist will lean on multiple treatment methods, depending on your specific circumstances including:
Somatic Therapy
By using various mind/body techniques, somatic therapy works to identify and release psychological trauma stored in the body. It also helps you become aware of the wisdom of your body and helps you slow down and pay attention to what your body is trying to communicate to you.
Mindfulness
An awareness-driven practice that takes many forms, mindfulness allows you to feel more present in your mind, body, heart, and soul. You’ll gain real-time practice and experience in therapy sessions that’ll help you apply mindfulness in your everyday life.
Polyvagal Theory
Rooted in an understanding of the automatic nervous system, Polyvagal Theory helps you understand that behaviors and emotional experiences, especially those related to trauma, are determined by physiological factors. Polyvagal Theory helps you understand that you are, in fact, completely normal and more than okay.
We also prioritize fostering community connections that can fulfill you outside of therapy and further help you make lasting changes. We want you to recognize that there are other like-minded people out there (in addition to your trauma therapist) and help you connect with your community in authentic, regulated, and healthy ways.
For us, this is the essence of connecting with and cultivating your third nature. Your third nature is the way that you consciously choose to live your life and share your unique talents with the world. It is an opening of your most authentic self. And we are here to help you embark on a more joyous, present, and embodied experience of yourself.
You May Still Have Some Questions About Trauma Therapy…
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We believe that going deep is precisely how you grow! Therapy should not feel like simply a vent session met with disinterested nods and “uh huh”s. Instead, it should provide a safe and loving setting where you’re guided to be your most authentic, deepest, truest self, even if that feels a bit scary at times. We nudge people toward their most authentic selves through a variety of tools beyond just talk therapy. Our approach is holistic, integrative, and even a bit spiritual.
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Yes, of course! We’ve all experienced moments, both large and small, that have left a lasting impact on who we are. Sometimes these moments are stored right on the surface while other times they are hidden deep beneath, waiting to be found. In any case, we believe that all forms of trauma are emotionally valid and that trauma therapy can be healing for anyone and everyone, regardless of the specifics of their experiences.
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We hear all the time from people about aversions to mindfulness or meditation. And we totally get it. Though often misunderstood, mindfulness is simply a practice that can yield lasting results if you give it a try. Are you against feeling present? Are you against feeling your body? Are you against taking a deep breath? There’s not that much to really be against—it’s a fairly neutral tool that can have major positive impacts on your life. We’d love to show you!
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With online trauma therapy, everything is virtual - from the initial consult call to the wrap-up session. You’ll do an initial consultation on the phone then set up weekly appointments on Zoom. You’ll receive all the intake paperwork in a secure online platform that will also process your payments. You’ll get appointment reminders and have access to all your billing info online.
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Therapy is a big investment with potentially big returns. The sooner you invest in your healing, the more likely you will see a return on your work. Chances are, you might spend less on impulsive spending and feel more in control of your finances because you feel more in control of your life.
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As a client, you are in charge of the frequency of your therapy sessions. We recommend attending therapy weekly for 4-6 weeks when starting out, and after that, coming as frequently or infrequently as you feel is right. We empower you to make decisions in your own healing journey.
Healing from trauma is a slow and steady process - rather than racing towards the finishing line, we encourage people to be like a tortoise, walking towards the healing path in a slow and steady fashion.
We utilize Dr. Judith Herman’s three-phase approach to trauma and recovery:
Phase I: Developing Safety and Stability
You’ll learn to identify your defensive behaviors and develop mindfulness practices for self-acceptance and compassion. We ensure all clients are grounded and resourced before doing deeper trauma work (don’t worry, we help you get there).
Phase II: Strengthening Resources
Here, you’ll learn to strengthen your resources so you can access them more easily when trauma symptoms arise. You’ll increase your ability to tolerate distress and gain better insight into your history. Processing your trauma in this phase allows you to gain distance and liberation from your past.
Phase III: Tending to shame and helplessness
Here, you’ll work through grief related to your past and your unique experiences. You’ll integrate your trauma work into your life and leave with an empowered, embodied sense of self.
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Many traditional modes of therapy target symptoms rather than the root causes. While it’s helpful to gain practical coping skills to manage symptoms of anxiety or depression, the root cause of your anxiety or depression might never actually be tended to.
At Third Nature Therapy, we look at your symptoms as totally normal responses to abnormal events. We help you get to the ROOT of your symptoms and process distressing events of your past, so your present-day symptoms dissipate.
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If you are doing EMDR on yourself, there is a lot to manage and keep track of, like the length and duration of BLS, your negative cognition, the level of disturbance, and bodily sensations.
OUR RATES
While we don’t accept insurance in our practice, we do offer Superbills to all clients, which they can submit to insurance for out-of-network reimbursement.
KIND WORDS
BLOGS ON TRAUMA THERAPY
You Can Cultivate A More Peaceful And Mindful Life
It’s hard being a human.
Whether you need support in moving through trauma, navigating totally normal stressors in life, or are interested in expanding your consciousness, Third Nature Therapy can help you heal and connect with your most authentic self.
Call us at 720-689-2706 or visit our contact page to set up a complimentary 15-minute consultation session and begin your healing journey.