A Guide to Trauma Therapies Used by Our Counsellors

At Tidal Trauma Centre in Surrey (Cloverdale), we understand how deeply trauma can affect your sense of safety, connection, and well-being. Trauma is not just an emotional experience. It can leave lasting imprints on the mind and body, often disrupting everyday life in unexpected ways. Our approach to trauma therapy is rooted in compassion, expertise, and a belief in each individual’s capacity for healing.

Understanding Trauma and Its Effects

Trauma occurs when a person experiences an overwhelming event or series of events that surpasses their ability to cope. The aftereffects can include persistent anxiety, emotional numbness, hypervigilance, depression, difficulty in relationships, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Recognizing the impact of trauma is a vital first step. Healing begins when individuals feel safe enough to explore and process these experiences with the support of a skilled trauma therapist.

The Role of a Trauma Therapist

A trauma therapist provides guidance in navigating the complexities of healing. We offer a structured, yet flexible, space to explore painful memories and develop practical ways to regulate the nervous system. Therapy is always paced to suit the individual. Together, we work toward restoring a sense of agency, connection, and emotional safety.

Trauma Therapy Techniques We Offer

1. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is a highly effective, research-supported therapy for treating trauma and distressing life experiences. Using bilateral stimulation, often through guided eye movements, EMDR helps clients access and reprocess traumatic memories. Over time, this reduces the emotional charge of those memories and creates space for new, more adaptive beliefs and responses. EMDR is frequently used to treat post-traumatic stress, single-incident trauma, and complex trauma.

2. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

DBT is designed to support individuals who struggle with intense emotions and relational challenges often rooted in trauma. It combines mindfulness skills, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. DBT helps clients build new patterns of thinking and behaviour that allow them to navigate difficult emotions and situations with more stability and confidence. We integrate DBT as part of trauma-focused work for clients who benefit from structured skills training alongside deeper therapeutic processing.

3. Somatic Approaches to Trauma Therapy

Trauma is not just held in memory, it is also held in the body. Our therapists are trained in somatic therapies that support clients in noticing, understanding, and gently releasing trauma that has become “stuck” in physical patterns or sensations.

Somatic approaches we offer include:

• Somatic Experiencing (SE): A body-awareness method aimed at gently discharging the trapped survival energy caused by trauma, helping to restore regulation and ease in the nervous system.

• Somatic Attachment Therapy: A relational and body-centred approach that addresses the impact of early relational trauma and attachment disruptions, using attuned therapist-client interactions to repair and rebuild a sense of safety.

• Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: A method that integrates talk therapy with mindful awareness of bodily experiences to help clients process trauma memories and release chronic tension patterns or dissociation.

4. Observed and Experiential Integration (OEI)

OEI is an advanced trauma therapy technique developed in British Columbia. It works by using specific visual field techniques to reduce the distress associated with traumatic memories. OEI is particularly useful for clients who may find verbal processing overwhelming. It offers a structured, yet gentle, way to desensitize painful memories and enhance emotional regulation. Many clients find OEI to be a powerful complement to other therapies such as EMDR or somatic work.

5. Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a powerful, evidence-based approach for working with the complex emotional impacts of trauma. IFS helps clients explore and build relationships with their internal “parts,” or sub-personalities, that carry emotions, memories, or roles developed in response to past experiences. These parts often hold protective or reactive strategies that once served a purpose but may now contribute to distress or avoidance.

In therapy, we create a compassionate space to help you access your core “Self,” the grounded inner presence that can lead and support these parts toward healing and integration. IFS is especially helpful for individuals who feel fragmented, overwhelmed by inner conflict, or stuck in patterns of anxiety, shame, or self-criticism. Many clients find IFS offers deep insight, relief, and a renewed sense of wholeness.

The Healing Process

There is no single timeline for healing from trauma. Each person’s journey is unique. Some individuals may experience notable relief in a matter of weeks, while others benefit from longer-term support as they navigate complex layers of trauma and recovery. What remains constant is our commitment to walk alongside you with care, respect, and evidence-based support.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does trauma therapy take?
The length of trauma therapy depends on the nature of the trauma, your goals, and the therapies used. Some individuals notice changes in a few sessions, while others engage in longer-term work. Your therapist will collaboratively design a plan that suits your needs.

Is trauma therapy helpful for childhood trauma?
Yes. Childhood trauma often requires specialized approaches that include working gently with nervous system dysregulation and attachment wounds. Many clients find relief and reconnection through EMDR, OEI, and somatic therapies.

Can I access trauma therapy online?
Yes. We offer both in-person trauma therapy at our Surrey (Cloverdale) clinic and secure online trauma therapy for clients across British Columbia. Online sessions provide the same level of care and connection, adapted to your comfort and convenience.

What happens in a first trauma therapy session?
Your first session focuses on creating safety and understanding your goals. Your therapist will explore your trauma history and current challenges at a pace you set. It’s also an opportunity for you to ask questions and decide if our approach feels like a good fit.

Ready to Begin?

If you’re seeking trauma therapy in Surrey or online across British Columbia, we invite you to complete our New Client Form. Our intake coordinator will recommend a few counsellors who may be a good fit for you.

Or book directly through our secure scheduling platform.

Still on the fence? Read more about our approach to trauma therapy and discover how it may help you.