What is Trauma?
Trauma is the emotional response to deeply distressing or disturbing events. Whether from a single incident or prolonged exposure, trauma can significantly impact an individual’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. It can also contribute to conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health disorders.
Common Symptoms of Trauma
Trauma can arise from a wide range of life experiences, including:
- Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
- Neglect or abandonment
- Natural disasters
- Accidents or medical emergencies
- Violence or war
- Systemic oppression or intergenerational trauma
Its effects can be immediate or delayed, and individuals may not always recognize past events as traumatic.
Types of Trauma
Understanding the different types of trauma can help individuals make sense of their emotional responses and healing journey:
- Acute trauma – Results from a single overwhelming event such as an accident, assault, natural disaster, or combat-related incident. Veterans may experience acute trauma tied to specific moments during service
- Chronic trauma – Caused by repeated and prolonged exposure to distressing situations, such as childhood abuse or domestic violence.
- Complex trauma – Involves exposure to multiple traumatic events, often interpersonal in nature, and occurring over time.
- Secondary or vicarious trauma – Affects those who care for or witness others’ trauma, including therapists, first responders, and veterans supporting peers during service.
Healing from Trauma
Healing from trauma is a personal journey, and support can make a meaningful difference. Treatment options include:
- Individual and group therapy, especially trauma-informed evidence based approaches
- Mindfulness and grounding techniques to reconnect with the present moment
- Support groups that offer shared understanding and connection
- Creative outlets such as art, journaling, or movement
With compassionate care and the right tools, individuals can build resilience, restore safety, and confidently move forward.
Trauma Treatment at STR
Our trauma treatment uses evidence-based approaches to help individuals safely process overwhelming experiences. Our trauma-informed care is personalized, meeting clients where they are emotionally and mentally.
Treatment options include:
- Individual therapy using CBT, ACT, DBT, and other proven modalities
- Group therapy to reduce isolation and build connections
- Family therapy to support relational healing
- Somatic and experiential therapies to address trauma held in the body
- Medication management, when appropriate, to support emotional regulation
In our calming, restorative setting, clients receive the support they need to heal at their own pace, develop healthy coping strategies, and restore a sense of safety, balance, and self.
Recovery from trauma is possible — and no one has to do it alone.
