Counselling For Trauma Richmond

Understanding Trauma

When we think of trauma, it’s easy to picture big, life changing events such as abuse, accidents, violence, or natural disasters. These are indeed forms of trauma, yet it can also take much quieter shapes. Sometimes, trauma arises in the moments that overwhelmed your system when life felt too much, too fast, or too soon. It may come from what did happen, or just as powerfully, from what did not, the love, care, or protection you needed but did not receive.

As Gabor Maté so insightfully puts it, “Trauma is not what happens to you, it’s what happens inside you as a result of what happens to you.”

Healing from trauma is a gradual and deeply personal process. It unfolds over time with patience, care, and the right support. The first step often involves re establishing safety, learning to soothe your body, regulate emotions, and create a sense of stability in daily life. From there, we can begin to gently explore and understand what happened, always at a pace that feels right for you.

The later stage of recovery focuses on reconnection and integration, rebuilding trust in yourself and others, rediscovering meaning, and moving forward with greater confidence and wholeness.

Trauma therapy is not about hurrying through these stages but about honoring your unique rhythm and supporting your nervous system as it learns to feel safe again.