Childhood Trauma
Many adults who experienced childhood trauma develop insecure attachment patterns.
Insecure attachment patterns occur because a child’s caregiver was often emotionally unavailable, unpredictable and neglectful of their needs.
Many times, children do not learn the skills necessary to regulate their emotions, calm themselves, problem solve and develop healthy social connections
Childhood trauma may have led to a distressing experience where you may have felt fearful and powerless within a relationship or environment as a child. As an adult, this trauma can alter how you perceive, interpret, and respond to the world around you.
During our time together, we will focus on improving your overall well-being. Our work will be geared towards helping you gain more awareness and a deeper understanding of the connection between past experiences and current thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
My aim is to help you improve your sense of self and overall quality of life by implementing healthy coping strategies. In addition, I can also help you to either maintain and/or improve relationships with others. You will always have control and choice over what and how much you disclose during our time together.
Does the following sound familiar?
Childhood Trauma Symptoms:
Avoiding people or places that bring you back to an unpleasant experience
Feeling anxious or on high alert that something bad will happen
Having difficulty regulating your emotions and connecting with others
Engaging in negative self-talk and having low self-esteem
Feeling shame or blaming yourself
Having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Difficulty concentrating on daily tasks
Blocking or pushing down feelings or an overall sense of feeling numb
Intrusive thoughts/nightmares that cause you to relive traumatic experiences
It is possible to feel better and imagine a life where you could...
Build your confidence to put yourself in places you once avoided
Learn how to form healthy relationships and connect with others
Develop a positive outlook on life and increase your self-esteem
Regain control of your life
Move beyond the feeling of being stuck in unhealthy patterns of living
Gain an understanding of how your traumatic experiences have impacted you
Acquire the skills/tools to help calm your mind
Types of Childhood Trauma
Child Abuse
Child abuse (physical, emotional, sexual) during your formative years, alters a child’s sense of safety and security and can ultimately leave an individual feeling vulnerable. Together we can process your early experiences, help you better understand your attachment patterns and how those patterns influence your ability to connect with others. We can help you reconnect with yourself by exploring your feelings and ultimately work towards improving your sense of self worth. Let's transform your childhood resilience into your present day strengths.
Neglect
Childhood neglect occurs when caregivers fail to respond to a child's emotional and/or physical needs. Neglect can lead to feelings of worthlessness, inability to manage emotions and mental health difficulties. Years of suppressing feelings/emotions can lead to difficulties with expressing emotions. Together we can process your early experiences, improve your sense of self-worth, identify your strengths and help you develop tools to manage relationships moving forward.
Abandonment
Fear of abandonment often stems from childhood loss related to the loss of a caregiver by way of death, divorce/separation or your caregiver may have experienced personal difficulties and was unable to provide care to you. You may be left feeling anxious, ashamed, unable to trust and/or feel as though you do not matter. You can begin to name your experience, process your thoughts and feelings, recognize that you are not to blame and work towards building healthy relationships.
Witnessing or Experiencing Family Violence
Witnessing domestic violence can impact an individual just as much as experiencing abuse firsthand. Observing violence in the home creates an environment that lacks safety and security which interferes with one's ability to formulate trust. This can leave you feeling as though you are walking on eggshells because you never know what to expect. Together we can begin to explore your experiences, as well as the dynamics between those that engaged in the violent/abusive behaviour. You can gain a better understanding around what was happening and learn how to change unhealthy relational patterns that you may have learned.
Let’s Discuss How I Can Help With Childhood Trauma
Childhood Trauma Counselling can make a big difference in your life by strengthening your resiliency and sense of self and overall quality of life by implementing healthy coping strategies. Receive a free 15-minute consultation to discuss what is concerning you and the outcomes working together can provide. I am here to support you.