When we experience trauma or abuse, whether emotional, physical or sexual, it has profound effects on our whole self. Our threat response (fight/flight/freeze) is triggered with far reaching effects throughout our body and brain. If the trauma or abuse is a one-off event it can be a real challenge to regain a sense of safety and balance after the event as we struggle with post-traumatic stress. If the trauma or abuse is ongoing over months or even years, we can experience seriously adverse health effects, physically, emotionally and cognitively, from being stuck almost permanently in threat response as we struggle with complex post-traumatic stress. If we experienced trauma or abuse in childhood, especially early childhood, it can interfere with our normal development, leading to difficulties in adult life with many different issues, physically, emotionally and cognitively.
In therapy I provide neuroscience psychoeducation so that my clients can fully understand what’s going on and why, that their bodies and brains are reacting in biologically correct and predictable ways: they are not broken or suffering from a disorder. I then teach them how to notice that their threat response has been triggered and what kind of people/situations/places/relational dynamics tend to cause that (different for each of us). Then we focus on the skills, tools and tactics needed to find their way to rest and digest, as soon as possible, so that they can think straight and feel comfortable, both physically and emotionally. We also spend time considering new choices about developing healthy habits (physical, emotional and cognitive) which will help to ensure that their threat response is less sensitive (less easily triggered, less often).
The combination of gaining new perspectives about what’s going on and why, making new choices about what to do about the things you want to change, developing new skills and healthy habits, and feeling the benefits of those can lead to a real sense of freedom and agency, which is so important for our wellbeing: you can discover a fulfilling life after trauma and abuse, not just surviving but thriving.
You can find out more about abusive relationships from my blog here https://www.theexetercounsellor.com/aug-2022-how-we-can-support-someone-who-is-in-an-abusive-relationship/.
You can find out more about my therapy and fees here https://www.theexetercounsellor.com/how-it-works/ and options for contacting me here https://www.theexetercounsellor.com/contact-me/.
