Treatment of Trauma

Professional Therapy for Trauma in Washington, D.C.

What is Trauma?

Trauma is any event that places an extreme amount of stress on us on our minds and emotions. A difficult break-up, losing a job, or the death of a loved one can be traumatic. A trauma could be a moment in which you were in great danger or your life was threatened.

You may have experienced a relationship with a family member, significant other, friend, or employer in which you frequently felt criticized, unsafe, or yelled-at. Rather than being any specific sort of event, determining whether an event was traumatic is based on the extent to which the event has impacted you and your feelings of safety and well-being.

Significant trauma may also lead to more persisant and severe symptoms, like those experienced by people with PTSD.

Some Symptoms of Trauma:

  • Losing your temper easily or feeling irritable
  • Difficulty in relationships
  • Increased worry, anxiety, nervousness
  • Nightmares about the event, or flashbacks in which you feel you are re-experiencing the event
  • Physical symptoms such as headaches or digestive issues
  • Trouble sleeping, and feeling fatigued
  • Difficulty concentrating

How our Brains and Bodies React to Trauma

Our brains and bodies are designed to help us survive extremely stressful and dangerous events; we are naturally able to detect threats very quickly, and respond with a rush of adrenaline, no matter what type of threat it may be.

However, if an event involves the wrong combination of surprise or pain, and exceeds our ability to cope, we can become traumatized, and may not naturally know how to become calm again. For those of us who have experienced trauma, our brains and bodies have decided that we should never assume we are safe, and will stay in a near-constant state of alarm.

Healing from Trauma with Therapy

Healing from trauma is very possible. When you find a therapist with whom you feel comfortable, working through the impact of your trauma can result in significant improvement in your symptoms.

Therapists at Rock Creek Therapy are competent trauma therapists. While we will not shy away from anything you need to share with us, we utilize a trauma-informed approach that ensures you are able to share about your experiences at a pace you’re comfortable with.

In-Person and Online Therapy for Trauma

If you’d like to speak with one of our Washington D.C. therapy associates about the benefits of in-person or online therapy to help heal from trauma, then reach out to us today to schedule in introductory conversation.

We are currently accepting appointments for new clients. Contact us today about finding a psychotherapist who is a fit for you.

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