What is Trauma?
Trauma is an emotional and physiological response to experiences that feel deeply overwhelming, threatening, or unsafe. Trauma can happen after a single event, such as an accident, assault, or loss, or it can develop gradually through repeated exposure to distressing situations like abuse, neglect, instability, or chronic conflict.
Trauma affects everyone differently. Some individuals may experience anxiety, emotional numbness, hypervigilance, panic, shame, difficulty trusting others, or feeling disconnected from themselves and their surroundings. Others may notice challenges in relationships, self-esteem, emotional regulation, or daily functioning.
What is Abuse?
Abuse refers to patterns of behavior used to gain power, control, or dominance over another person. Abuse can occur in romantic relationships, families, friendships, workplaces, or caregiving relationships.
Common forms of abuse include:
Physical Abuse
Using physical force to hurt, intimidate, restrain, or control another person.
Emotional or Psychological Abuse
Behaviors such as gaslighting, humiliation, blame, threats, manipulation, criticism, or controlling behaviors that undermine a person’s confidence, reality, or independence.
Sexual Abuse
Any sexual contact, pressure, coercion, or behavior that occurs without clear and freely given consent.
Financial Abuse
Controlling access to money, employment, resources, or financial independence.
Neglect
Failing to provide adequate care, emotional support, safety, medical attention, or basic needs, especially in caregiving relationships.
Verbal Abuse
Using words to shame, intimidate, threaten, degrade, or control another person.
What Are PTSD & Complex PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Symptoms may include:
- Intrusive thoughts or memories
- Nightmares or flashbacks
- Avoidance of reminders
- Hypervigilance or feeling constantly “on edge”
- Irritability or emotional numbness
- Difficulty sleeping
- Feeling unsafe or disconnected from the present
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)
Complex PTSD is often associated with prolonged or repeated trauma, particularly in situations involving power imbalance, childhood abuse, domestic violence, chronic neglect, or long-term emotional abuse.
In addition to PTSD symptoms, individuals with C-PTSD may struggle with:
- Shame and low self-worth
- Difficulty trusting others
- Emotional dysregulation
- Identity confusion
- Relationship difficulties
- Challenges with boundaries and safety
How Trauma Therapy Can Help
At Symmetry Counseling, we understand that healing from trauma is not about “getting over it” or forcing yourself to move on quickly. Trauma-informed therapy focuses on creating emotional safety, trust, collaboration, and compassionate support throughout the healing process.
Therapy can help clients:
- Better understand the impact of trauma and abuse
- Process painful memories and emotions
- Reduce anxiety, hypervigilance, and emotional overwhelm
- Develop healthier coping strategies
- Improve emotional regulation
- Build stronger boundaries and self-trust
- Feel more grounded, stable, and connected in daily life
Trauma-Informed Therapy Approaches
Our therapists use evidence-based, trauma-informed treatment approaches tailored to each client’s needs. Therapy may include:
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Trauma-informed therapy
- Grounding and nervous system regulation skills
- Mindfulness-based strategies
- Boundary and relationship work
- Cognitive and emotional processing
- Relational support and coping tools
EMDR is a research-supported therapy approach that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they feel less emotionally overwhelming and disruptive in the present.
Trauma & Abuse Therapy at Symmetry Counseling
Healing from trauma often takes time, patience, and support. At Symmetry Counseling, our therapists strive to provide a supportive environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered throughout the therapeutic process.
We recognize that trauma and abuse are deeply personal experiences, and we work collaboratively with clients to help them reconnect with safety, self-trust, and emotional stability at a pace that feels manageable and supportive.
Talk to a Trauma Therapist
If trauma, abuse, PTSD, or emotional overwhelm are affecting your daily life or relationships, therapy may help. Contact Symmetry Counseling today to be thoughtfully matched with a trauma-informed therapist who fits your needs.
