Trauma, whether something done to you or something you were involved in, makes it difficult to manage your emotions and to engage in intimate relationships.

The impact of trauma affects how people behave, think and feel about themselves. Common symptoms in traumatized individuals can include:

• nightmares
• flashbacks
• anxiety/depression
• feelings of guilt and shame
• difficulty trusting and getting close to others

Situations and circumstances that can bring about a traumatic stress response include but are not limited to:

• Sexual abuse or assault
• Domestic Violence
• Transportation accidents
• Military combat
• Natural disasters
• Childhood physical, verbal, sexual and psychological abuse
• Frequent exposure to threatening situations such as those experienced by First Responders (EMS, police, firefighters, ER nurses & physicians).
• Second-hand trauma (also known as Vicarious Trauma) – learning about or witnessing threatening or abusive events from loved ones, that causes a change in your worldview.
• A possible and proven therapeutic approach to trauma is EMDR Therapy. See EMDR Counselling for more information.