Trauma Types
Shock Trauma
Occurs when we experience a potentially life threatening situation that overwhelms our capacity to respond effectively.
Developmental Trauma
Refers to the psychological issues resulting from inadequate nurturing and guidance through the critical developmental periods of childhood.
EXAMPLES OF TRAUMA
Falls and concussions
Motor vehicle accidents
Attack, rape, mental, physical or sexual abuse
Medical/dental procedures
Surgery and anaesthesia
Near drowning, electrocution, hallucination, psychosis, high fever
Poisoning
Loss/abandonment
Natural disasters including fire, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes
Torture and ritual abuse
War and hostage situations
When confronted with a life threatening situation, we may have been so overwhelmed we froze and could not act or our rational brains may have overridden our instinctive impulses to fight or flee. We may not have had the resources, enough time, or the ability to respond effectively. We may have been physically compromised through medication or a poison. In short, our body's natural instinctive response to take survival action, to fight or flee, did not occur at the time of the event. Energy that would have been discharged by completing a fight or flight response is amplified and bound up in the nervous system.
Traumatic symptoms are caused by the stored energy mounted in the nervous system at the time of the triggering event that has not been resolved and discharged.
Can Trauma be Healed?
"Not only can trauma be healed, but with appropriate guidance and support, it can be transformative.
Trauma has the potential to be one of the most significant forces for psychological, social and spiritual awakening and evolution."
Peter Levine, Ph.D.
Author of Waking the Tiger
Talk therapy can feel supportive, but the symptoms of trauma are never fully relieved unless attention is given to the effect of trauma on the nervous system. Just talking is not enough.
It is unnecessary to dredge up old memories and relive their emotional pain to heal trauma. In fact, cathartic treatment methods, which involve the re-experiencing of intense emotion, are not only ineffective but may be harmful in that they are re-traumatizing and increasing activation energy in the nervous system rather than decreasing it.
Carolyn Donnelly, M.Ed. is a highly trained trauma therapist who practices a safe and effective treatment approach called Self Regulation Therapy (SRT). This approach is referred to as a psychophysiological therapy and is based on the most current neurobiological research. It is an evidence based therapy that has been proven to be effective.
Self Regulation Therapy
Self Regulation Therapy (SRT) is a non-cathartic, gentle, safe and effective mind/body treatment approach aimed at diminishing excess activation stored in the nervous system as a result of experiencing overwhelming events at any time in one's life.
SRT encourages you to focus on your physical sense of self and the physical sensations associated with your thoughts and feelings. The thwarted, instinctual responses of fight, flight or freeze can be completed in a safe and contained way, bringing greater balance and flexibility to the nervous system.
During SRT you may experience a discharge of stored, excess energy in the nervous system through heat, tingling or trembling. Occasionally, you may experience an increase in physical discomfort or pain, but this is typically short-lived.
You can expect to feel a sense of control and a general sense of well being at the end of a session.
SRT facilitates the development of new neural pathways that are positive in managing stress and individuals are able to experience greater joy, closeness in relationships, vitality and resilience in the body following SRT treatment.