Trauma Therapy

What We Mean By “Counselling” vs “Trauma Therapy”

Counselling is our field, practice and profession,  As defined by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association:

“Counselling is the skilled and principled use of relationship to facilitate self-knowledge, emotional acceptance and growth and the optimal development of personal resources. The overall aim of counsellors is to provide an opportunity for people to work towards living more satisfyingly and resourcefully. “

There’s no agreed upon difference between counselling and therapy, and many people use the terms interchangeably. However, much of the counselling we do is specifically referred to as “trauma therapy.”

What Is Trauma Therapy

We believe the most effective way to help people is by understanding how traumatic and stressful experiences leave lasting effects, and knowing how to remedy them.

In the past, therapists used to believe that trauma was limited to accidents, abuse, and the atrocities of war. These events are referred to as big “T” traumas because they are easily recognized by most people. However, our understanding of trauma is evolving, and the significance of small “t” traumas is now better recognized.

Each one of us has been impacted by trauma: negative experiences that made us feel overwhelmed, confused or powerless. 

We have come to learn that all of us experience a collection of small “t” traumas over our lifetime. Any experience where we feel overwhelmed, confused or powerless can activate our survival systems - flooding us with stress hormones and signals we are in danger. These stressful experiences can leave lasting impacts on the brain and body, disrupting our mood, energy, relationships and thinking patterns.

Therapist and client in a warm, calm counselling environment

Stress and trauma activate your survival system, and in order to protect you, your nervous system changes to help you cope.

Your brain and body are trying to keep you safe, but unfortunately, these overactive survival strategies can significantly disrupt your life, damaging your relationships, mood, energy and thinking patterns

Even though you know what you’re doing isn’t working, and you’re trying to do things differently,
you find yourself stuck, with the same feelings, patterns, and problems.

Small “t” traumas are more common events, including:

  • Social isolation

  • Suffering an injury or receiving a diagnosis 

  • Living with chronic pain or illness

  • Watching a loved one suffer 

  • Finding out about a partner’s infidelity

  • Divorce and separation

  • Losing a job or starting a new job

  • Moving to a new town

  • Having a baby, adopting a child, or other family transitions

  • Grief and loss

  • Legal trouble

  • Financial hardship

  • Being betrayed or losing connection with a friend

Therapist and client in a warm, calm counselling environment

Whatever difficult situations you’ve been through, you found ways to survive.

Those survival strategies came at a cost to your authenticity, energy, and wellbeing.

Those old ways got you to where you are now,
but they might be preventing you from getting to where you want to be. 

If you feel like you’ve outgrown your survival strategies, but don’t know how to put them aside,
it may be time to consider trauma therapy.

Symptoms of unresolved trauma in relationships:

  • Difficulty trusting others

  • Not feeling close to or truly “loved” by others

  • Feeling fearful to connect with others

  • Feelings of loneliness, rejection and abandonment

  • Lack of assertiveness or boundaries 

We offer a variety of neurobiologically-based therapies designed to help the brain, body and mind process traumatic and stressful experiences - releasing you from the harmful effects of the past, and freeing you to pursue the life you want in the future.

THERAPY APPROACHES USED BY OUR COUNSELLORS:

As trauma-informed therapists, our team is trained to understand how your brain, body, and mind have been impacted by stressful events and identify what’s holding you back. 

Based on your goals and where you’d like to be in your life, we come up with a collaborative treatment plan tailored with effective trauma therapy techniques and treatments. 

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Ready to Begin Working With A Trauma Therapist?

Fill out a New Client Form and we’ll match you with one or more trauma therapists.

Book a free consult or appointment using our secure online platform, whenever you’re ready.

Not sure how to choose a therapist?
Read our Client Guide to Consult Calls.

Understanding Counselling vs Trauma Therapy

  • The terms are often used interchangeably, but trauma therapy typically refers to counselling that is specifically focused on the lasting impacts of trauma on the brain, body, and nervous system. At Tidal Trauma Centre, we use trauma therapy to describe our work that integrates neurobiological, somatic, and relational approaches to healing, going beyond talk therapy to address the root causes of patterns, symptoms, and survival strategies.

  • Yes. Trauma isn’t just about war or abuse. Many people benefit from trauma therapy because of small “t” experiences such as emotional neglect, chronic stress, or feeling disconnected from themselves. If you’ve ever felt stuck in patterns you can’t shift or found yourself overreacting or shutting down, trauma therapy may help.

  • We help you figure that out. During your consult or first session, we’ll explore what brings you in, what you’re hoping to change, and how your nervous system and relationships may have been impacted by stress or trauma. Then we collaboratively create a plan that includes the most supportive modalities for you.