PTSD & Trauma Counselling

Any overwhelming event can result in a range of distressing symptoms such as jumpiness, flashbacks, loss of confidence, wariness, anxiety, emotional volatility, insomnia, nightmares, or spacing-out. While time often provides healing, this is not always the case. Unresolved trauma may lead to anxiety, depression or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Causes of Trauma

Events including:

• Natural disasters (e.g. Christchurch Earthquake)
• Motor vehicle or other accidents
• Physical assault, domestic violence, war, murder, imprisonment, etc. 
• Sexual assault, rape or childhood abuse
• Childhood events (premature birth, serious illness, loss or separation from parents, neglect, abuse, etc.)
• Prolonged emotional or mental abuse
• Serious illness or surgery
• Traumatic loss of a loved one
• Intergenerational, racial & colonisation trauma

Long term impacts

The effects of trauma can be delayed — often it is only later that we realise later how deeply we were impacted. Just like a physical injury, a psychological injury may not fully heal without some help. Like a broken bone, trauma may cause a break in our minds that might not knit together correctly. The resulrng psychological scar may continue to impacts our lives, especially when we are under stress, or stop us doing everything we would like to do. Over time this may have wide-ranging effects on our lives and relationships.

Unresolved trauma is a common contributor to many psychological and emotional issues including insomnia, anxiety, depression, anger, relationship difficulties & PTSD. Such events can continue to affect us for many years or all our lives.

Treating PTSD & trauma

You are not alone in your struggle. There is hope for recovery and a better life. The first thing to do is to find a therapist who you feel safe with and supported by, someone understands the mental, emotional and physical impacts of trauma. As psychotherapists, we have a deep understanding of this. Just like working with a physical injury, working with a psychological injury is unlikely to be painless and requires a certain amount of courage. However and will work with you to manage the symptoms, understand what has happened, get you back on your feet and stand beside you on your recovery journey.