Trauma Therapy
Create the freedom you deserve
What is Trauma?
Trauma refers to experiences that overwhelm a person’s ability to cope emotionally, psychologically, or physically. Trauma can result from many different experiences, including: physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, violence or assault, accidents or injuries, medical trauma, childhood neglect or attachment trauma, relationship trauma or betrayal, natural disasters, or ongoing exposure to fear, instability, or distress. Trauma can affect a person’s sense of safety, trust, identity, and emotional well-being. Its impact can continue long after the event itself has ended.
People who have experienced trauma may notice:
- Anxiety or panic
- Depression or emotional numbness
- Difficulty trusting others
- Shame or self-blame
- Flashbacks or intrusive memories
- Nightmares or sleep difficulties
- Feeling constantly “on edge”
- Avoidance of reminders of the event
- Difficulty concentrating or feeling present
Trauma responses are not signs of weakness, they are often understandable survival responses to overwhelming experiences. Healing from trauma is not about “just getting over it.” It is about creating safety, understanding the impact of what has happened, and gently rebuilding a sense of control, connection, and hope.
What is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. PTSD can affect anyone, including survivors of abuse or assault, military personnel and veterans, people involved in accidents or disasters, individuals exposed to ongoing childhood trauma, or those who have experienced significant emotional distress within relationships or family systems.
Symptoms of PTSD often fall into four key areas:
Hyperarousal
Hyperarousal
Feeling constantly alert, on edge, irritable, easily startled, or struggling with sleep and concentration.
Negative changes in thinking and mood
Negative changes in thinking and mood
Persistent shame, fear, anger, guilt, emotional
numbness, hopelessness, or negative beliefs about oneself, others, or the world.
Avoidance
Avoidance
Avoiding thoughts, feelings, conversations, people, or places connected to the traumatic
experience.
Flashbacks
Flashbacks
Reliving aspects of the trauma through
distressing memories, nightmares, or a sense
that the event is happening again.
It is completely normal to feel distressed, shaken, or emotionally overwhelmed after a traumatic experience. However, if symptoms persist and begin significantly impacting daily life, relationships, work, or wellbeing, it may be important to seek support from a trauma-informed professional.
What is Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)?
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is one of the leading evidence-based treatments for PTSD and trauma recovery. CPT was specifically developed to support individuals who have experienced traumatic events and helps people understand how trauma may have affected the way they think about themselves, others, safety, trust, control, and relationships. The therapy focuses on identifying and gently working through the thoughts and beliefs that may keep people feeling stuck in trauma-related distress.
CPT is a structured therapy process that typically involves 12 sessions and has been extensively researched for its effectiveness in treating PTSD and complex trauma.
The goal of CPT is not to erase what happened, but to help individuals:
- Reduce the emotional impact of trauma
- Develop a greater sense of safety and control
- Improve emotional wellbeing
- Reconnect with themselves, others, and life more fully
Bonnie Ingram is an Accredited Provider of Cognitive Processing Therapy. Bonnie provides trauma-informed, compassionate care that recognises the courage it takes to begin trauma therapy. Her approach focuses on creating a safe, respectful, and collaborative therapeutic environment where healing can occur at a pace that feels manageable and supportive for each individual.
