Auckland Therapy Counselling and Psychotherapy

Trauma & PTSD Counselling

What is Trauma?

A trauma is a shattering event that rocks our underlying trust in the world and confidence in ourselves. As the foundation of our being is threatened life is suddenly precarious and uncertain. Knocked off our feet we may struggle to make sense of things. While family, friends and other social supports, as well as the passage of time, often allow the trauma to be integrated and our lives rebuilt this is not always the case.

Causes of Trauma

Traumatic events may include:

  • Motor vehicle or work accidents **
  • Physical abuse, assault or domestic violence **
  • Sexual assault, abuse or rape **
  • Childhood trauma (premature birth, serious illness, loss or separation from parents, neglect, abuse etc)
  • Emotional or mental abuse
  • Serious illness or surgery
  • Sudden grief, loss or separation
  • Disasters, war, murder, imprisonment etc

** ACC funding may be available - check with your therapist or ACC to see if your therapy would be eligible for funding

Even events that we experience indirectly or witness may result in significant trauma.

Effects of Trauma

Trauma overwhelms our usual emotional capacity. When such events overwhelm us the impressions, feeling and thoughts of the event are not recorded into memory in the normal way. Instead the trauma is recorded in distorted fragments and unintegrated.

Trauma is a common contributor to many psychological and emotional issues including anxiety, depression, anger, intimacy and relationship difficulties. Trauma can also lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks, spacing-out, or jumpiness.

Over time trauma not only impairs our ability to function well in the world but interferes with our ability to form relationships and distorts perceptions. This is particularly true where there is repeated trauma or where the the trauma is a result of abuse from those closest to us.

As such traumatic events can continue to effect us for many years, if not a lifetime. Often at the time we may have thought we were coping well only to realise much later how deeply we were affected by an event.

Working with Trauma & Abuse

Trauma and abuse counselling often requires time and patience. Over time trauma counselling allows the trauma to be gradually, safely and meaningfully integrated. This in turn allows the rebuilding of confidence and trust.

Find a Therapist

All of our team are experienced in working with trauma and abuse.