SERVICES

Trauma-Focused Care

Our team is committed to providing trauma-informed services and trauma-focused care that fosters resilience and supports individuals on their journey to recovery.

What is trauma-focused care and how does it differ from other types of therapy?

Trauma-focused care is a specialized approach to therapy that acknowledges and treats the impact that trauma can have on an individual’s mental health and well-being. It differs from other types of therapy in that it focuses specifically on trauma-related symptoms and experiences. This type of care often utilizes evidence-based techniques such as Internal Family Systems (IFS) or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help individuals process and heal from their traumatic experiences. The goal is to reduce trauma-related symptoms, improve coping skills, and promote overall healing and recovery.

How to identify if care is trauma-informed:

When looking for a trauma-informed therapist, there are a few important details to consider. First and foremost, explore whether the therapist has any specific training or experience in trauma therapy and which evidence-based treatments they offer. Does the therapist focus on what’s “wrong” with you versus what happened to you? Are they creating a safe and supportive environment that respects your boundaries and autonomy? Lastly, ask if they follow the five guiding principles of trauma-informed care:

Safety

Ensuring physical and emotional safety through safe spaces and awareness of a client’s discomfort or unease.

Choice

Ensuring the client has choice and control. Individuals are provided with full and accurate information about what is occuring in therapy and what they can anticipate to happen next.

Collaboration

Making decisions with the client and sharing power in the therapeutic relationship. Individuals are provided a significant role in planning and evaluating services.

Trustworthiness

Decisions are made with transparency, with the goal of building and maintaining trust
for all.

Empowerment

Recognizing, validating, and building on strengths with the client as well as encouraging active participation in their own care.

What types of evidence-based techniques does your team offer?

Our team offers trauma-focused treatments such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and the REWIND Technique. EMDR helps individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences by using bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping, to support the brain’s natural healing process. The REWIND Technique is a non-intrusive, imagery-based approach that helps individuals safely and effectively address traumatic memories. With our expertise in these powerful techniques, we are dedicated to helping you find healing, resilience, and a brighter future.

Will trauma-focused sessions take place in-person or virtually?

With our new office location at **St. Joseph’s Villa** in Dundas, Ontario, clients local to the area now have the option to meet with a therapist for in-person sessions.

We understand that everyone’s comfort level and needs may vary, so we offer both options (therapist dependent) to ensure flexibility and accessibility. Whether you prefer the convenience of online therapy or the in-person experience, our goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment for your therapeutic journey.

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“Healing from trauma takes time, but with the right guidance and support, you can reclaim your life.”

UNKNOWN

Concerns for which clients might seek out trauma-focused care:

BIRTH TRAUMA

Birth trauma is a deeply challenging experience that some individuals may face during childbirth. It can occur when there are unexpected complications, intense physical pain, or a sense of loss of control during the birthing process. It’s important to acknowledge that birth trauma can have a profound impact on a person’s emotional well-being.

MISCARRIAGE

The traumatic impact of miscarriage can be profound and deeply emotional. It can bring feelings of grief, loss, and sadness, and it’s important to recognize and honour these emotions. Miscarriage can also lead to a sense of isolation and a range of complex emotions, such as guilt or self-blame.

MEDICAL TRAUMA

This type of trauma refers to the distressing experiences or events that occur within a medical setting, such as surgeries, invasive procedures, medical emergencies, or prolonged hospitalizations. These experiences can have a significant impact on a person’s emotional well-being and may contribute to feelings of fear, anxiety, helplessness, or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

PTSD SYMPTOMS

These symptoms can vary from person to person, and may include intrusive memories or flashbacks of the traumatic event, intense nightmares, and a heightened state of anxiety or hypervigilance. Individuals with PTSD may also experience avoidance of reminders of the trauma, negative changes in mood or thinking, and difficulties with sleep or concentration.

EMDR Trained Therapists

**Jennifer Joseph**

ASSOCIATE THERAPIST

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**Michelle Stockwell**

ASSOCIATE THERAPIST

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IFS Informed Therapists

**Beth Lewis**

ASSOCIATE THERAPIST

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FAQS

WHAT IS TRAUMA?

Trauma refers to deeply distressing or disturbing experiences that have a lasting impact on an individual’s emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. It can result from various events, such as:

abuse, violence, and neglect
accidents
medical trauma
developmental trauma
intergenerational trauma
natural disasters; and/or
witnessing traumatic events

Trauma can significantly affect a person’s sense of safety, trust, and overall functioning.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING TRAUMA-FOCUSED AND TRAUMA-INFORMED?

Being trauma-focused means the primary focus of care and treatment is specifically on addressing and resolving trauma-related symptoms and experiences. It involves using evidence-based interventions and techniques that directly target trauma and its effects.

On the other hand, being trauma-informed means that the approach to care and treatment takes into account the impact of trauma on individuals, regardless of whether trauma is the primary focus. It involves creating a safe and supportive environment that recognizes the prevalence of trauma, avoids retraumatization, and promotes healing and resilience.

REWIND Technique Trained Therapists