What is trauma?
Trauma is defined as a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that overwhelms our ability to cope. Traumatizing experiences can take many forms, such as physical, sexual, psychological, or emotional abuse, childhood neglect, sudden breakups or losses, accidents, natural disasters, or violence from others. We may not recognize these as traumatic events right away, but they can leave a lasting impact on our sense of security and safety, our identity, our relationships, and our ideas about what the future might hold.
Whatever form a traumatic event takes, it can cause a wide array of difficult and distressing reactions and emotions.
You may be experiencing:
Anxiety
Flashbacks
Nightmares
Avoidance of reminders of the trauma
Low self-esteem
Guilt or shame
Irritability
Numbness
Use of substances to cope
Sleeplessness or fatigue
If you have experienced trauma, you may be noticing its effects in many areas of your life.
Perhaps you are struggling in your relationships, having difficulty setting boundaries or communicating, finding yourself connecting with people who aren’t healthy for you, or disconnecting from others because you don’t believe they can understand what you’ve gone through. Maybe you are experiencing persistent feelings of fear or panic that are having a negative effect on how you function at work and in life. Or you might find yourself feeling numb, or pulling back from activities you used to enjoy because they feel unsafe or remind you of the trauma you experienced.
Trauma therapy can help you better understand the impact of your traumatic experiences on your life, develop coping skills to respond to triggering events and memories, make sense of what happened to you, and identify a path toward the self-confidence and wellbeing you deserve.
We help men, women, and children who have experienced:
Physical, sexual, psychological, or emotional abuse
Childhood abuse or neglect
Interpersonal violence or assault
Domestic/partner violence
Accidents or traumatic injury
Traumatic loss
Pregnancy and infant loss
Relationship loss
Our Approach to Trauma Therapy
In order for trauma therapy to be effective, it is critical that you first feel safe and secure with your therapist.
The therapists at BPC have advanced training and extensive experience in using effective, evidence-based, and evidence-informed treatment approaches for different kinds of trauma, including traumatic events that occurred during childhood or adulthood. Different kinds of therapy work better for different kinds of trauma experiences and reactions, so we do not take a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we listen deeply and empathically to what your experience has been, and work collaboratively with you to chart a course for the treatment that will work best for you.
With trauma therapy, you’ll not only experience relief from trauma reactions, but learn to trust yourself and your own inner voice, connect with your strengths, and map out a renewed sense of meaning and purpose in life. Through building new coping skills, support in your efforts to make sense of what happened to you, and developing strategies to integrate your difficult experiences into the overall story of your life, you can gain mastery over trauma symptoms, enjoy more fulfilling relationships, and feel more confident, secure, and joyful as you move forward in your life.
Clinicians Specializing in Trauma Therapy
Click a photo to learn more about each therapist.
Support for Helping Professionals
If you are a mental health or medical provider who has experienced burnout or vicarious traumatization due to the nature of your work, we can help. Learn more about Bridgepoint’s Wellness Program.