tending old wounds
therapy for trauma and abuse survivors
at mindfulness for life
therapy for trauma and abuse
You may feel that something in your past experience needs attention, or old emotion is stuck in your body, but you don’t know how to approach it without being overwhelmed.
Trauma therapists specialize in helping you safely move through the big feelings while keeping your balance.
therapy for trauma
- finding safety -
When we survive or witness a life-threatening or deeply disturbing experience, our bodies and brains undergo changes designed to keep us safe. Unfortunately, the changes that evolved to protect us have troubling side effects. They leave us anxious and easily “triggered” into acting out or shutting down.
We experience unwanted intrusive thoughts, images and feelings. We may avoid activities and relationships and have difficulty connecting with ourselves and with others.
It can feel incredibly isolating to be a survivor, thinking that no one will want to hear about your experience, or be able to understand it. You may feel shame about it, or frustrated that you can’t seem to “get over it and move on.”
You might feel ready to grow, to feel more at home in your body, to feel closer to other people again – but what are the steps to open these possibilities?
therapy for trauma survivors
Recovery from trauma involves gently working with your automatic reactions. When we pause, slow down and bring warmth, we gradually retrain the body and mind to feel safety and trust.
A trauma therapist helps you cope with the effects, and target the trauma that often underlies other issues including depression, anxiety, self-esteem or relationship problems.
In the face of racialized, discriminatory or sexual traumas, it is revolutionary to embody joy.
therapists working with trauma and abuse survivors at mindfulness for life
Benjamin: “When something terrible happens, what comes after can feel even harder. Your body and mind are working hard to digest difficult experience and keep you safe. Let’s support your system in doing its good work.”
Oona: “it’s such a meaningful part of my work to help survivors of trauma and abuse come to feel at home with themselves and reclaim their sense of well-being”
Bronwen: “What we’ve lived through can feel heavy, as if we have to stay in constant motion to repair ourselves. Trauma work invites us to slow down, meeting the softness that already exists within us”
Leonora: “I am particularly passionate about working with relational traumas and people looking to make sense of their difficult childhoods.
Jessica is offering low cost trauma therapy through our affordable therapy program
trauma therapy F.A.Q.
What does trauma therapy cost? Is is covered by insurance?
Our therapists charge between $170-$200 for a 50-minute appointment. We also have an affordable therapy program, offering a reduced fee of $60 to those who would not be able to access therapy without this support.
Psychotherapy is not covered by OHIP, but is covered by most private insurance plans. You must check with your individual provider to find out the details of your coverage.
Where are you located? Do I have to come in person?
We have offices for in-person therapy appointments located in Downtown Kitchener, and Toronto in the Dundas West and Roncesvalles neighbourhood.
We can offer online therapy appointments to people anywhere in Ontario.
Many people find that meeting with their therapist in person allows them to experience greater focus and depth, but this is not true for everybody. Online therapy appointments can help you make time for yourself in ways you wouldn’t be able to otherwise.
How long does therapy for trauma take?
The length of time you spend in therapy will be a collaborative decision with your therapist, and varies person to person. Let your therapist know what’s important to you about how long and how frequently you want to work together.
According to psychotherapy research, many people will find new perspectives and skills in the first 6-12 meetings that make a significant difference in their lives. When people are able to do long term therapy work over the course of a year or more, they can find they are able to experience a deeper and sustained process of change and personal growth.
What kinds of therapy are used to treat trauma?
Therapists in our clinic are trained in a variety of trauma therapy modalities, such as Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and IFS.
Somatic therapies are often part of how therapists address trauma, directly working with regulating the nervous system.
See the individual profiles of our therapists and book a free introductory call to learn more.
Do I have to talk about what happened?
There are many ways to work with and heal from traumatic experiences. Talking to a therapist about what happened can be an important and powerful experience if and when you feel ready.
We can also effectively work with the emotions and patterns of trauma while keeping our focus on here and now experiences. It is not necessary to talk about the past to experience real change in the present.
Part of a trauma therapist’s job is to help you go to the scary places that you want to address, in small enough, gentle ways, so you don’t get overwhelmed in the process.