Trauma Therapy
Exposure to adverse events or situations, be it a single event or multiple, prolonged circumstances over time, can overwhelm our emotions and coping capacities. The effects don’t always surface right away—they may emerge months, years, or even decades later.
Traumatic experiences can cause us to feel a range of emotions, including confusion, anger, helplessness, guilt, shame, and fear, to name a few. Some signs of trauma include exhaustion, irritability, impulsivity, limiting internalized beliefs about ourselves, dissociation, and problems in relationships. Trauma can also lead to unconscious and repetitive patterns of reliving and warding off traumatic memories. It’s completely normal to feel a mix of these emotions, patterns, and feelings. Discovering the pathway between the mind and body can be a powerful way to shed light on our emotions and limiting patterns or beliefs.
Discovering the pathway between the mind and body can be a powerful way to shed light on our emotions and limiting patterns or beliefs.
Relational trauma refers to the emotional and psychological wounds that occur within the context of close relationships. It commonly stems from early attachment disruptions with primary caregivers but can also result from harmful dynamics in romantic relationships, friendships, or workplace interactions. Unlike a single traumatic event, relational trauma typically develops over time, shaping a person’s sense of self, trust in others, and ability to form healthy connections. Without healing, it can lead to patterns of insecurity, emotional dysregulation, and difficulties in relationships.
Trauma-aware therapy gently and slowly weaves mindfulness and somatic (body-centered) approaches to support you in healing from traumatic experiences and relational trauma. An emphasis is placed on the therapeutic relationship, where we co-create new experiences through mindfulness to see what catches your attention. We connect emotions and beliefs to physical sensations to understand how you experience yourself and the world around you. Understanding these connections can help build your capacity to see yourself more clearly and thrive in your life.
Trauma-aware therapy is heart and body-centered. Our bodies carry our stories and experiences.
By listening to their subtle cues, we can uncover long-held emotions, wounds and beliefs that influence our relationships to ourselves and the world around us. We can learn to speak on behalf of our wounds rather than from them.
Begin Counseling for Trauma in San Francisco, CA
The skilled therapists at our Bay Area counseling center have helped many individuals overcome trauma and learn more about how traumatic experiences and relational trauma have impacted their lives. We offer in-person therapy in downtown San Francisco and online therapy throughout California. Use the button below to book a free 20-minute consultation call at California Integrative Counseling Center.
Other Services at California Integrative Counseling Center
Your mental health needs are the priority at our Bay Area located counseling practice. Our professional therapists specialize in working teens and other talented individuals just like you in our community. We are experts in helping ADHDer’s understand themselves so they can embrace the true creatives they are. Further, we have seen how powerful marriage counseling and couples therapy can be for improving support systems in our clients’ lives. You can receive any of our therapeutic services in-person or virtually using online therapy. If you have questions about our practice and the services we offer, including career counseling, please contact us.