Trauma Therapy Bucks County, PA

What is trauma?

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Trauma is defined as an emotional response to a physically- and/or emotionally-threatening or harmful event. Traumatic events are those such as an accident, rape, sudden death of a loved one, or natural disaster. 

 

Responses to traumatic events vary significantly among people.

Some of the common results include:

• PTSD

• Dissociative disorders

• Substance abuse problems

• Emotional outbursts

• Nightmares

• Insomnia

• Nausea

• Dizziness

• Altered sleep patterns

• Changes in appetite

• Headaches

• Gastrointestinal problems

• Feelings of sadness, anger, fear, and shame

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A traumatic experience can shake your reality, impacting your beliefs about yourself, others, and the world. It can disrupt your previous schemas, thoughts, and plans. You might believe that others can’t be trusted, you are tainted, or the world is not safe place.

 

Many times, trauma can be derived from interpersonal relationships; these often include long-term abusive relationships, (emotional abuse/narcissistic abuse), childhood abuse (physical/ sexual/emotional abuse), or childhood neglect. Ultimately, trauma caused by people is usually more difficult to cope with and can result in greater suffering.

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How to Cope with Trauma

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Trauma often causes difficulties in relationships with others or your relationship with yourself. Trauma can evolve over time, manifesting as depression, anxiety, and/or low self-esteem. Unhealed trauma can look like codependency or a low sense of self-worth; alternatively, it may instigate feelings of shame, fear, or difficulty with setting boundaries. 

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When dealing with this issue, you may feel as though you should have overcome your past trauma due to the time that has passed. However, it is crucial to recognize that time alone doesn’t heal traumatic wounds. Individuals experiencing trauma highly benefit from trauma therapy such as Brainspotting, or undergoing therapy that is trauma-focused or trauma-informed. 

 

Effective Trauma Therapy in Bucks County

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Brainspotting therapy has been found to be very effective in reducing the effects of trauma.

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What is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting is a therapeutic technique designed to help individuals access, process, and release trauma and emotional pain. It operates on the principle that “where you look affects how you feel”. By using this concept, Brainspotting helps locate, focus on, and release stored emotional and physical pain by focusing on eye position. It guides your gaze to establish a clear connection between your body and mind, facilitating the processing and release of deeply held emotions and memories. Because it helps people access deeper emotions quickly, Brainspotting can be more rapid and effective than traditional talk therapy. 

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Drawing upon my trainings in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Relational Life Therapy (RLT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I tailor my approach to meet the unique needs of each client. I provide a safe environment where clients can share their stories and navigate their trauma with support. I utilize inner child work, grounding techniques, mindfulness, and offer psychoeducation to provide tools and coping skills to reframe negative core beliefs, and transform destructive thought patterns. ​​

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