Types of Trauma Treated With Trauma Therapy in Los Angeles
Trauma is a very common thing for people to experience. In fact, we know that 70% of adults in the US have experienced some type of traumatic event in their life. That's almost 224 million people who have experienced some type of trauma. In the past decade, our definition of trauma as it relates to its psychological impact has broadened to include lots of different events, experiences, and situations. We used to think that trauma only included events where your life or the life of someone else was threatened.
Now we understand that trauma can be a physical event or an emotional event. It can occur in a relationship, or it can be the absence or loss of someone even though there was no death. Trauma can also come from some interactions that are threatening. Interactions that occur over and over again. Such as experiencing racism, microaggressions, harassment, or demeaning behavior that threatens you and makes you feel unsafe. Our idea of trauma has broadened to include a lot of events that make you feel physically or emotionally safe.
Types of Trauma Treated With Trauma Therapy
Physical Trauma
Physical trauma is the type of trauma that comes to mind when we think of trauma. Physical trauma could be a terrible accident, war, violence, or some kind of event that creates bodily harm or even death for some. Witnessing death or severe injury can be part of this trauma.
Physical trauma can also include abuse within a relationship and assault. The most notable aspect of physical trauma is that it creates a sense of feeling unsafe physically in your environment. Which in turn creates a sense of feeling unsafe emotionally and psychologically.
Emotional & Psychological Trauma
Emotional and psychological trauma is the result of extremely stressful events. Events that destroy your internal sense of security which makes you feel incredibly helpless to keep yourself safe. Psychological trauma can include types of gaslighting, manipulation, brainwashing, and harassment. Trauma that leaves you doubting your sense of reality and your ability to trust yourself.
These types of traumas can occur along with physical trauma and be an additional aspect of the physical injury or threat of injury to the body. They can also occur due to living in a high-stress or life-threatening environment. Or after experiencing events such as bullying, domestic violence, or childhood neglect.
Relational Trauma
Relational trauma is trauma that occurs within a very close or intimate relationship. Usually with a caregiver/parent or an intimate partner. Relational trauma can include abuse, neglect, inconsistent or unpredictable behaviors, and dishonesty. It could also be the loss of an important relationship. A loss through divorce, death, betrayal, or rejection.
Relational trauma causes hurt due to the loss of an important person or the real harm that another person does. But it can also cause the person experiencing the relational trauma to feel that they can't trust themselves or others. They also may feel that others will abandon them in the future. Or it's not safe to be close to others, or they are responsible for others emotionally or even physically.
Intergenerational Trauma
Intergenerational trauma is trauma that is carried through generations of a family. It impacts family members’ ability to cope, connect, and relate in healthy ways. We learn how to be in relationships within our first relationships in our families. In our families, we learn healthy coping skills, communication, and relationship skills. We create our beliefs and expectations of others in relationships. Our understanding of trusting ourselves as well as trusting others in relationships.
If our parents didn't have healthy environments that they grew up in and they didn’t heal and change their ways of being in relationships, then those toxic patterns are passed down through the generations. Our parents parent the way that they were parented. Their parents parented the way that they were parented. Without healing and conscious awareness, trauma is passed down through the generations. This is because it’s the only way we know.
People Respond To Trauma in Different Ways
People's responses to traumatic events vary. Two people can experience the exact same event and one can go on to develop some post-traumatic response while another one has some acute stress but recovers in a relatively short period of time. We understand in psychology that these differential responses are impacted by people's previous experiences with trauma, the amount of support that they have around them, the amount of dysregulation they experienced during the trauma, and the meaning that they make of the traumatic event.
You don't have to suffer in silence. Even after experiencing some of the worst things in life, the body and mind are resilient and can heal. At Flourishment Psychology, I will help you understand your trauma. We will work together to find the strategies to heal. It takes a lot of courage to face your trauma. Even if the trauma happened decades ago, it's never too late to put your past in the past. Receive support from an expert trauma therapist soon.
Interested in More Resources? Here are Some Books on Trauma That my Clients Have Felt Helpful:
Interested In Trauma Therapy in Los Angeles, CA?
Begin to take care of yourself and heal from the traumas that may be holding you back. Don't wait any longer to seek the support you deserve at Flourishment Psychology through trauma therapy in Los Angeles, where I can help guide you on your journey toward growth and empowerment. Remember, you are worthy of healing and happiness, and it's never too late to start. To get started, follow these three simple steps to get started:
Reach out to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with me, a trauma therapist.
Schedule your first appointment and begin trauma therapy
Start overcoming your trauma symptoms and take back control of your life!
Other Counseling Services I Offer in Los Angeles, CA
At Flourishment Psychology, I offer a variety of counseling services for individuals, women, therapists, and families. Besides trauma therapy, I also specialize in individual therapy for relationship issues, anxiety treatment, corporate wellness training, and clinical training. All of these services are offered in person in Los Angeles or virtually in California and New York.
