WHERE TO BEGIN
WHAT IS TRAUMA THERAPY?
Have you tried therapy before, and it didn’t seem to help? Do you feel stuck, unable to move forward in life? You may be dealing with the residual effects of trauma.
Trauma occurs when a person experiences a distressing event that threatens his or her emotional, psychological, or physical well-being.
Almost everyone will experience a traumatic event at some point in their lives. Many people recover with time and support from loved ones. But others experience lasting effects and may continue to live with deep emotional pain, confusion, fear, or post-traumatic stress (PTSD) far after the event has passed.
Traditional talk therapy is often ineffective if you’ve experienced trauma. There are physical, chemical, and psychological responses that can keep you feeling stuck. Working with a trauma-informed therapist who has specialized training and tools can help you heal, grow, and regain peace in your life.
CONFLICT
Conflict with others — whether it's ongoing tension or one big fight — can leave lasting effects that influence your sense of safety, trust, and connection.
Abuse
Verbal, physical, spiritual, emotional, and sexual abuse can leave deep wounds. Our counselors are trained to help you process and find healing.
HOSPITALIZATIONS
A hospitalization involving you or someone you love can create stress not only in the physical body, but also in your heart and mind.
Childhood trauma
Past experiences from years ago, big or small, can hold you back from living fully — but they don’t have to define your future.
TRAUMA LOOKS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE
Trauma therapy can help you work through all different types of trauma (and there’s a lot of them).
WHAT DOES TRAUMA LOOK LIKE?
Symptoms to watch out for
In the most basic terms, trauma is anything that happened to you that caused you to live your life differently from that point forward. Trauma can range from social rejection to witnessing tragic events, from the death of a loved one to exposure to violence.
Trauma can feel “big” or “small,” but its impact is the same. Unprocessed traumatic events can leave you feeling any of the following:
- Poor Concentration
- Nightmares
- Flashbacks
- Anxiety
- Panic Attacks
- Mistrust
- Hypervigilance
- Addictions
- Eating Disorders
- Self Harm
- Depression
- Hopelessness
- Shame
- Feeling worthless
- Anger
- Irritability
- Identity Confusion
- Numbing
FINDING THE BEST TREATMENT FOR YOU
Christian trauma treatment
Here at Cornerstone, we offer two specific forms of treatment for trauma: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Brainspotting.
FIND THE ANSWERS YOU’RE LOOKING FOR
Frequently asked questions about trauma therapy
There are many different ways trauma can present itself in your daily life. Because of this, trauma therapy is a very nuanced specialty. To help you understand, here are some frequently asked questions about dealing with trauma and traumatic events through counseling.
WHAT IS PTSD AND HOW DOES IT RELATE TO TRAUMA?
Post-traumatic stress is “the psychological reaction to a severely stressful and physically threatening event that often results in anxiety, flashbacks, hypervigilance, depression, suicidal ideation, and other mental health concerns for an extended period of time.” People who experience PTSD may continue to feel afraid or anxious even when no danger is present.”
Often post-traumatic stress occurs after a traumatic event and can cause disruption in your everyday life. Learn More
DO I NEED A TRAUMA INFORMED THERAPIST?
“I haven’t really experienced trauma in my life…”
“It wasn’t really that bad…”
“Everyone goes through hard things, why can’t I get over it?”
Have you heard yourself saying those words? Even if you haven’t considered trauma to be a part of your life, there are a number of events that can still be considered traumatic.
Trauma-informed therapists help you explore your past in a safe space, even if the trauma itself is not as seemingly overt. Through therapy, you may find that some things you thought were normal are actually rooted in trauma. Many clients find themselves saying, “It’s just how it is,” or “That’s the way I’ve always been,” when, in fact, they developed that habit as a reaction to past trauma.
Healing from trauma is a process that leads to freedom and a refreshed outlook on life. Trauma-informed counselors are highly trained in this entire process of addressing trauma and how it’s shaped you today. The real path towards healing is a gentle, safe, and trusting one.
WHY A CHRISTIAN COUNSELOR FOR TRAUMA?
“Why did God let this happen?”
“Where was God in this experience?”
“How can a good God allow bad things to happen?”
As Christians ourselves, we understand the ache of these questions. When you’ve experienced pain and trauma, it becomes increasingly difficult to separate the situation and God’s role in it. We believe that a Christian trauma-informed therapist can help you navigate both your relationship with God and also healing from past trauma.
Our goal is to be both clinically excellent and Biblically sound. Many of our counselors also hold degrees in theology, and all are comfortable praying with you, talking with you about your faith, and answering hard questions.
Here at Cornerstone, we believe that the deepest healing comes at the intersection of safe, trauma-informed care and the genuine love of Jesus.
A.M., Online Counseling Client
