Are you tired of simply surviving? 

• Do you find yourself constantly on edge?

• Do past events weigh on your mind and influence current choices and feelings?

• Is it common for you to check out during daily events, being present physically but absent mentally?

• Are memory problems a recurring issue, you often forget details of important things?

• Are you looking for a safe space to explore your past experiences and how they might be influencing your present?

You may be aware of past distressing events but unsure how to move forward. Perhaps your resilience is a reminder of adversity and on-going challenges.

You might find yourself stuck in what feels like survival mode, asking yourself “Will the past always feel this heavy?” or “Why is this still bothering me?”

If this feels familiar, you are likely experiencing the impact of trauma. The reality of trauma, in its various forms, is one faced by most adults in the U.S at least once in their lives. Responding to harmful events with fear and feelings of overwhelm is not uncommon; however, expanding your capacity to cope is not something you have to do alone. 

Trauma is not one size fits all

The roots of trauma can stem from a wide range of experiences. Trauma may result from childhood neglect or physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, and it can affect individuals at any stage of life. Other potentially traumatic experiences include war or interpersonal violence, medical procedures, grief and loss, natural disasters, and intergenerational or historical trauma.

The onset of trauma is unique to each person, as is the way it shows up. Your responses may be shaped by your environment, lived experiences, and identities.

For some individuals, intrusive trauma symptoms are most prominent. These may include flashbacks that feel vivid or real, as well as intrusive memories or thoughts related to the event. Others may experience strong avoidance, finding it difficult to be around places, people, or situations that serve as reminders of the trauma. A common experience among trauma survivors is a shift in thinking patterns, which may include increased feelings of guilt, distrust, or persistent negative emotions. Hypervigilance, emotional numbing, and feelings of isolation or disconnection from others—including loved ones—are also common.

If any of these experiences resonate with you, please know that there is nothing wrong with you. Your body and nervous system are responding in the ways they learned to protect you after experiencing something overwhelming or threatening. While these responses are meant to keep you safe, they may no longer support a life that feels full and meaningful. Working with a trauma-informed therapist can help shift your system from survival toward recovery, while supporting you in rebuilding trust in yourself and your ability to feel safe again.

What We Work On in Trauma Counseling

• Understanding and breaking free from old survival patterns that no longer serve you

• Reconnecting with your emotions and body in a safe, gentle way

• Building trust in yourself and others

• Developing healthy boundaries and balanced relationships

• Managing triggers and learning emotional regulation tools

• Reclaiming joy, purpose, and agency in your life
  

Polyvagal Theory and Somatic Therapy

Reclaiming joy and purpose, and learning to manage triggers,are central parts of trauma work. A key step in this process is understanding how your body responds to triggers and stress. Polyvagal Theory helps explain how the nervous system functions through three distinct states, often described using traffic-light colors: green, yellow, and red.

The goal is not for traffic to be constantly flowing or completely stopped, but for movement to remain flexible. Similarly, a healthy nervous system allows for fluid transitions between states rather than becoming stuck in one. In the green state, you feel grounded and calm. This is where genuine connection, social engagement, and a sense of safety are most accessible.

The yellow state is associated with mobilization responses such as fight or flight. You may experience anger, irritability, panic, fear, or anxiety. In this state, there is often still a sense of capability and an active willingness to try, even though the body is under stress.

The red state, like a red traffic light, is associated with shutdown. This may include feelings of hopelessness, depression, numbness, dissociation, or a sense of inability. While the green state may feel the most comfortable, the goal of trauma work is not to remain there at all times, but rather to develop the ability to move between states as needed.

Trauma-informed and somatic therapies work to reconnect the mind and body, helping you recognize triggers and bodily cues that signal nervous system dysregulation. Phase one of treatment focuses on building awareness of these cues while also developing practical skills to support nervous system regulation when stress or triggers arise.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Trauma treatment may also include Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). After a traumatic experience, the memory is often stored in the brain in a way that remains highly distressing, leading to present-day symptoms like flashbacks or intense emotional reactions. In therapy, we work to identify and target these unprocessed memories.

EMDR uses rhythmic bilateral stimulation—such as eye movements, tones, or taps—to help the brain process the traumatic memory and move it toward an adaptive resolution. This process helps the memory become less vivid, less emotionally charged, and integrated into a more comprehensive, less disturbing narrative. Treatment is typically conducted in eight phases, starting with history taking and preparation, and then focusing on reprocessing specific target memories to reduce distress.

EMDR emphasizes the importance of helping your system complete the processing of traumatic events in order to replace negative beliefs about yourself with new, more positive ones and restore a sense of peace, clarity, and control in your life.

Cognitive Processing Therapy

In combination with somatic therapy, trauma treatment may also include Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), which is rooted in cognitive theories of trauma. After a traumatic experience, survivors often develop altered belief systems about themselves, others, and the world. In therapy, we work collaboratively to explore and gently challenge these beliefs.

Trauma can disrupt memory, leading the brain to fill in gaps with assumptions that reinforce these altered belief systems. Together, we examine these assumptions and determine whether they are based in fact or shaped by trauma. Treatment is typically divided into two phases. The first focuses on identifying stuck patterns of thinking and unhelpful beliefs, and learning how to challenge them. The second phase involves integrating new, more balanced ways of thinking into areas of life that may have been impacted by trauma, such as safety, trust, and control.

Cognitive Processing Therapy emphasizes the importance of gradually facing feared situations and challenging negative thought patterns in order to restore a sense of agency, meaning, and joy in life.

Trauma treatment is essential for survivors to stop just surviving but also thriving and living.

It is possible to recover from trauma and our counseling team is here to help.

Healing from trauma is about breaking free from the patterns of dysfunction and limitation that may have held you back and learning to move forward with confidence and self-compassion. At Forward Together Counseling, we work with clients who are ready and committed to healing so they can live life with a greater sense of peace, purpose, and possibility. Our trauma therapy focuses on helping you embrace your authentic self, cultivate meaningful connections, and create a future that feels safe and full of hope. We provide a space of compassion, empathy, and understanding as you navigate the complexities of your past. With the right support, healing becomes less about reliving your trauma and more about rewriting your story.