“The essence of trauma is disconnection from ourselves. Trauma is not terrible things that happen from the other side—those are traumatic. But the trauma is that very separation from the body and emotions.” Gabor Mate
To heal from trauma, first we must connect with a sense of safety. Trauma-informed therapy prioritizes clients feeling of safety, and from there change and healing can occur.
What does it mean to be a trauma-informed therapist?
“Trauma occurs when the nervous system does not have enough time or space to process stimuli;
when there is a loss of control. ”
To me, being a trauma-informed therapist means giving back the element of control that was taken during the traumatic situation.
This means clients decide what they share with me, when they share it, and how much of it they want to share.
I use invitational language and ask permission before broaching difficult topics, and clients are in charge of the pace and depth of our work together.
I believe that client is the expert in what feels safe for them; I encourage and honor clients’ assertion of boundaries.
I believe that being trauma-informed means being receptive to feedback and adjusting my approach to each client’s preferences.
I have advanced training in the treatment of trauma, and I am very passionate about continuously learning more about new research, ways to support trauma survivors, and how trauma changes the nervous system.