Online Trauma Counselling in British Columbia
Trauma is a term we’ve become more familiar with in recent years, but what does it actually mean? Why can one person experience something as traumatic while another does not? Two elements are necessary for an event to be considered traumatic: first, the occurrence of a traumatic event or experience, and second, the absence or neglect of the support needed to feel safe enough to process the emotions associated with that event. This lack of support prevents our bodies from being able to access its baseline again, causing the stress hormones that were released to get stuck.
When we are exposed to environments over long periods where our emotional needs are unmet, patterns can develop that are difficult to shift. Processing trauma can become challenging because even experiencing the necessary emotions to heal may be linked with fear.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to trauma. At the Commons Wellness Collective, we walk with you on your healing journey, helping you understand and make space for the feelings that were suppressed. Together, we’ll work through these emotions to facilitate meaningful change.
Types of Trauma We Treat
Trauma can take many forms. For example, a single incident—such as a car accident or a scary medical experience—can trigger a fight-or-flight response. If this response isn’t completed safely, it may lead to post-traumatic stress. Trauma can also be relational. Someone raised in a neglectful home may not learn how to feel safe with their own or others’ emotions, potentially developing a fear response to their feelings.
At the Commons Wellness Collective, we support clients navigating various types of trauma, including but not limited to:
Common Symptoms of Trauma
Unprocessed trauma can show up in many ways. Some of these include:
Panic attacks
Dissociation
Feeling tense
Disorganized memory
Outbursts or irritability unrelated to current events
Difficulty concentrating
Sleep problems
Chronic sadness or hopelessness
Flashbacks
You might believe that because you felt fine at the time of the event or shortly afterward, or because you can talk about what happened without emotion, there’s nothing left to process. Often, our bodies and minds protect us from intense emotions related to traumatic events. Trauma tends to persist when we lack a safe enough space to explore those emotions while being witnessed and validated by another person.
Schedule a Consultation with Our Counsellors in BC Today
How Therapy Can Help
Therapy provides a safe space to revisit traumatic events, experiences, or relationships. By being witnessed and responded to, your experience is made real in a way that exists outside of your own mind and body, allowing you to gain the ability to access different perspectives on what happened. This is necessary for healing. As social creatures wired for connection, we need reassurance from others after a traumatic event—that what happened was real, that we survived, and that we are okay.
Our Approach at The Commons Wellness Collective
At The Commons Wellness Collective, we work with various types of trauma. We understand that trauma results from a lack of necessary support at the time of your experience. Our skilled, compassionate team walks with you slowly and mindfully, ensuring all parts of you are seen, validated, and integrated. More than that, we deeply care. Our mission is to see you heal and thrive. We know firsthand how transformative healing can be, and we’re passionate about helping everyone access that opportunity.
