Trauma Therapy

Reclaiming Your Sense of Safety After Trauma: A Path to Healing

When you’ve experienced trauma, the pain can feel overwhelming. You may struggle to process what you’ve been through or wonder where to even begin your healing journey. Trauma affects people of all ages and can leave lasting emotional and physical imprints, making it difficult to feel safe and secure again. But healing is possible.

Understanding Trauma’s Impact on the Brain

Trauma doesn’t just affect your emotions—it physically changes the way your brain functions. When a traumatic event occurs, your brain’s alarm system goes into overdrive, leading to hyper-arousal and heightened alertness.

• The amygdala, the part of your brain responsible for detecting threats, becomes overactive, making you more likely to experience fear, anxiety, or distress in response to triggers.

• The prefrontal cortex, which helps regulate emotions and logical thinking, may become less active, making it harder to manage overwhelming feelings.

• The hippocampus, which processes memories, can be affected, leading to flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, or difficulty distinguishing between past and present danger.

This neurological response can result in hypervigilance, emotional numbness, difficulty trusting others, and a persistent sense of danger, even when you’re safe. Recognizing these responses is the first step toward reclaiming control and healing.

You Are Not Alone: Seeking Support for Trauma Recovery

The effects of trauma can be profound, but you don’t have to navigate them alone. Seeking professional support is a powerful step toward healing. Therapy provides a safe, non-judgmental space where you can explore your experiences, process emotions, and develop coping strategies.

At Genesis Counseling, we specialize in trauma-informed therapy for individuals of all ages. Our therapists are trained in evidence-based approaches such as:

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – Helps reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their emotional intensity.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Trauma – Identifies and reframes unhelpful thoughts and behaviors stemming from trauma.

• Somatic Therapy – Focuses on healing the body’s response to trauma through movement, breathwork, and mindfulness.

• Play Therapy (for children) – Helps young clients express and process trauma through creative, developmentally appropriate methods.

Healing takes time, but with the right support, you can regain a sense of safety, resilience, and empowerment.

Symptoms of Trauma Across Different Ages

Children (Ages 0-12)

Children process trauma differently than adults, often expressing their distress through behaviors rather than words. Some common signs include:

• Emotional Symptoms:

  • Excessive fear, anxiety, or sadness

  • Difficulty regulating emotions (frequent tantrums or mood swings)

  • Separation anxiety or extreme clinginess

  • Withdrawal from family, friends, or activities

• Behavioral Symptoms:

  • Regressing to earlier behaviors (e.g., bedwetting, thumb-sucking)

  • Increased aggression or defiance

  • Difficulty sleeping (nightmares, night terrors, insomnia)

  • Acting out themes of trauma in play or drawings

  • Avoidance of reminders of the trauma

• Physical Symptoms:

  • Stomachaches, headaches, or unexplained physical complaints

  • Changes in appetite

  • Increased sensitivity to noise, touch, or movement

Teens (Ages 13-18)

Adolescents may struggle with trauma in ways that impact their emotions, behaviors, and relationships. Symptoms may include:

• Emotional Symptoms:

  • Persistent sadness, hopelessness, or numbness

  • Increased irritability or anger

  • Feelings of shame, guilt, or self-blame

  • Extreme mood swings

  • Difficulty trusting others

• Behavioral Symptoms:

  • Self-isolation or withdrawal from family and friends

  • Risky behaviors (substance use, reckless driving, unsafe sex)

  • Self-harm or suicidal thoughts

  • Difficulty concentrating or decline in academic performance

  • Avoidance of places, people, or situations that remind them of the trauma

• Physical Symptoms:

  • Changes in sleep patterns (insomnia or excessive sleep)

  • Unexplained headaches, body aches, or fatigue

  • Heightened startle response or hypervigilance

Adults (Ages 18+)

Trauma in adults can manifest in emotional distress, behavioral challenges, and physical symptoms that impact daily life.

• Emotional Symptoms:

  • Persistent anxiety, fear, or panic attacks

  • Depression, numbness, or difficulty experiencing joy

  • Feelings of shame, self-doubt, or worthlessness

  • Difficulty managing emotions or frequent mood swings

  • Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts about the traumatic event

• Behavioral Symptoms:

  • Avoidance of reminders of the trauma

  • Struggles with maintaining relationships or emotional intimacy

  • Increased substance use, overeating, or other unhealthy coping mechanisms

  • Work-related difficulties (difficulty focusing, absenteeism)

  • Hypervigilance (constantly on edge, scanning for danger)

• Physical Symptoms:

  • Chronic fatigue, headaches, or muscle tension

  • Sleep disturbances (nightmares, insomnia)

  • Gastrointestinal issues or unexplained pain

  • Increased heart rate or trouble breathing when triggered

Healing Is Possible

If you or a loved one are experiencing trauma symptoms, you don’t have to face it alone. Trauma-informed therapy can provide tools to process emotions, build resilience, and reclaim a sense of safety.

How Therapy Can Help Clients Heal from Trauma

Experiencing trauma can leave lasting emotional, psychological, and even physical effects, making it difficult to feel safe, trust others, or navigate daily life. Therapy provides a structured, supportive space where individuals of all ages can process their experiences, develop coping skills, and reclaim their sense of control and well-being.

1. Understanding and Processing the Trauma

Trauma can feel overwhelming and confusing. A trained therapist helps clients:

• Make sense of what happened in a safe and supportive environment.

• Identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts (e.g., self-blame, guilt, or shame).

• Separate past trauma from present experiences to reduce triggers.

2. Regulating Emotions and Reducing Symptoms

Trauma can dysregulate emotions, leading to anxiety, depression, or mood swings. Therapy helps:

• Develop skills to manage overwhelming emotions.

• Reduce symptoms like nightmares, flashbacks, and panic attacks.

• Build resilience to handle stress in healthy ways.

3. Restoring a Sense of Safety and Control

Many trauma survivors feel a loss of control. Therapy empowers clients to:

• Recognize and regain personal agency over their lives.

• Learn grounding techniques to stay present in the moment.

• Build a sense of emotional and physical safety.

4. Rebuilding Healthy Relationships

Trauma can make trusting others difficult. Therapy supports:

• Strengthening relationships by improving communication and trust.

• Overcoming fears of intimacy or connection.

• Recognizing unhealthy relationship patterns that may have formed as a result of trauma.

5. Changing Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms

Many people turn to avoidance, substance use, or self-harm to cope with trauma. Therapy offers healthier alternatives, such as:

• Mindfulness and relaxation techniques.

• Cognitive-behavioral strategies to shift negative thinking patterns.

• Expressive therapies like art, play, or movement for non-verbal healing.

6. Addressing Trauma Responses in the Body

Trauma isn’t just stored in the mind—it can affect the nervous system. Therapists use:

• Somatic therapy to release trauma held in the body.

• Breathwork and movement therapy to regulate nervous system responses.

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories safely.

7. Personalized Healing at Any Age

• For Children: Play therapy helps kids express trauma non-verbally.

• For Teens: Trauma-focused therapy builds emotional resilience and healthy coping.

• For Adults: Therapy helps process past trauma while improving daily functioning.

Take the First Step Toward Healing

You don’t have to navigate trauma alone. Therapy provides a path to healing, empowerment, and renewed well-being.

Book An Appointment For Trauma Therapy

To take the first step towards your healing journey, reach out to us through our contact form or by calling 561-408-1098. We offer both telehealth and in-person therapy sessions to suit your needs.