One of the most traumatic events that I've ever faced, and survived, was being exposed to the 185mph destructive force that went by the name of Hurricane Irma. That traumatic day had far reaching consequences, not just for me but also for others who lost their homes, their livelihood, and their personal possessions. I'll never forget those hours of helplessness, fear, and loss that later gifted me with a sense of purpose.
In the days and weeks that followed my brush with mortality, I found myself asking the question "what is your life all about?" and decided to completely change the path that I was on; making the life-altering and important decision to become a counsellor. I wanted to help others who'd also faced traumatic events in their lives - sounds simplistic or maybe a little self-righteous, but there you have it.
Training to become a therapist taught me more about the complexities of trauma and how it impacts those individuals who face it - exposure to prolonged distress can effect a person's mental, emotional, and physical well-being in deeply profound ways... It can manifest as anxiety, depression, emotional numbness, or with physical symptoms such as pain - at its core, trauma disrupts the connection between a person's past, present, and future, often leaving them feeling fragmented and disconnected.
My own path to healing after Irma was complex and painful, but undertaking therapy allowed me the space to unravel its affects on my psyche - a sanctuary where my resilience was nurtured and strengthened. This happened with conscious and unconscious exploration, led to me feeling empowered to tackle and overcome the aftermath of my traumatic experience, and ultimately enabled transformational change to happen.
How I help my clients with their own trauma recovery:
Trauma takes on many forms and often shatters a person's sense of safety, so I help my clients to establish or re-establish trust - both in me as their therapist, or in themselves and the people in their lives. Trust offers a secure foundation for a therapeutic relationship and enables us to safely engage with deeper and more emotional work. Exploring the roots of their trauma enables me to help my clients uncover and process the unconscious thoughts and emotions that they may have buried, and by understanding how past experiences influence current behaviours they often break free from cycles of pain, guilt, or anger.
It can sound a little scary, but therapy fosters a reconnection with one's identity by validating present experiences and weaving together past narratives in a process that supports the development of a cohesive and resilient sense of self. The therapeutic relationship, and therapy space, empowers personal growth and offers opportunities to not only heal but to thrive. By fostering self-awareness, emotional regulation, and self-compassion, counselling and psychotherapy helps us as individuals to rebuild our lives with a renewed sense of clarity and purpose.
Change:
The prospect of change is multi-layered and can feel daunting. However, anyone who's spent any time around me knows that I'm impassioned by therapeutic growth and positive change simply because I've lived it, many times over. I'm also cognisant to the fact that trauma recovery is not a linear journey, and no single approach can address its multifaceted impact on us as individuals. My therapy process combines the best of two worlds: the empathetic presence that fosters safety and the deeply layered exploration that facilitates true transformation. By safely exploring both the conscious and unconscious aspects of trauma, my lived experience and approach to therapy offers clients a pathway to resilience, empowerment, and lasting recovery.
For those of us who have struggled or are struggling with trauma, I'm here to testify to the truth that healing is possible. Whether addressing childhood hurts, adult stressors, or the aftermath of a natural disaster, I've been very fortunate to be able to tap into my creativity and strong natural instincts to provide a flexible and holistic framework for growth. And through working and learning with my clients, I've experienced first-hand how the broken pieces of their past can be transformed into a stronger and more resilient whole.
Reflecting back over our work in 2024 and pondering what 2025 may bring, I do know that change is possible even when faced with challenging circumstances - by engaging and helping in the therapeutic process, a sense of hope in the future can, and will, birth a renewed sense of transformation and empowerment. I wholeheartedly celebrate Change and what it will bring in 2025!