Trauma and EMDR Therapy

Coming Back to You

Trauma is a suspension of discomfort, fear and shame; it is a thief of joy and feelings of safety, and if it goes unprocessed, unaddressed, it can rule your life. That’s not how things always have to be, though, and if you’re ready to start working through your trauma, Small Victories is ready to help you.

There are no age or gender restrictions on trauma, and there are no traumas too small to address in therapy. 

Trauma is such a nebulous phenomenon that it sometimes takes sitting down with a counselor and recounting your troubles to realize just how impactful those troubles were or have been, and whether or not they weren’t just troubles, but deeply traumatizing events.

Patients who have benefited from EMDR therapy report more ease in overcoming trauma and regaining control of their lives and minds.

There are three types of trauma; Acute Trauma, Chronic Trauma, and Complex Trauma.

Acute Trauma stems from a singular event, such as witnessing a death, being robbed, getting in a collision. Chronic Trauma is more on-going, such as having suffered domestic abuse, having faced childhood neglect, or been exposed to combat conditions. Complex Trauma occurs when multiple traumas (acute and/or chronic) happen in one lifetime, and/or overlap with each other.

The body sometimes better remembers our traumas than our conscious minds, and so physical manifestations of trauma are common; tics, chronic symptoms (unexplained chronic pain, IBS, headaches), psychosomatic symptoms, or hypervigilance. 

People with unprocessed trauma may experience intense spells of anxiety, or despair, they may suffer from mood disorders, obsessive compulsive or intrusive thoughts, or find themselves dissociating, or looking for relief through self-medication or self-harm.

Unprocessed trauma can look like so many different things, and presentation can vary as much as an individual’s personality. This is where a professional can help.

There are many different ways to process and treat trauma, each journey to wellness will be specific to the individual seeking treatment, but at Small Victories, we are uniquely equipped to help you.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, which requires a specialization to administer, is a special, phased and focused therapy designed to reintegrate the body and mind, alleviate feelings of despair or fear, and help you process your trauma without necessarily having you relive it or recount it in a way that could be re-traumatizing. 

EMDR therapy is highly effective in treating anxiety disorders of all kinds (OCD, Panic Disorder, PTSD, CPTSD, Phobic Disorders), eating disorders, depressive disorders, those with medical trauma, and many other conditions. 

People who have pursued EMDR therapy have largely reported finding it more effective, with more immediate results than most other treatment styles. Patients who have benefited from EMDR therapy report more ease in overcoming trauma and regaining control of their lives and minds.

Make an appointment with Small Victories today – we’ll conquer this together.

Next Steps

  • Check out the Our Team page to learn about our therapists.

  • Schedule a phone consultation to chat about the intake process and schedule an appointment.

  • Have a glass of water and own your small victory of seeking therapy.