Trauma Therapy

somatic Trauma therapy

Each person has an individual process, a special life story and specific needs and goals. This is why therapy can be a different experience and have a different impact on each individual.

I will walk you through the phases and methods I work with and you can always decide for yourself, which of those work for you and which of them don’t.

What does „Trauma“ mean?

In the context of Trauma Therapy, trauma means »a wound of the soul« or »a wounded soul«, which can be the result of a deeply distressing event or events, a person has experienced.

There are many potentially traumatic events in life however, how each person reacts to them and deals with them can be different.

A break-up or the loss of a loved one could cause more physical and emotional reactions in someone than let’s say a natural catastrophe or an accident and vice versa.

Not every potentially traumatic event causes a trauma-related stress disorder. It also makes a difference, if a person was exposed to such event(s) in childhood, adolescence or in adulthood.

People who have been exposed to such event(s), their family members, partners and spouses as well as the witnesses to the traumatic event could show symptoms of post-traumatic stress.

which symptoms might occur?

Conditions that can be experienced:

• The reliving of traumatic events (intrusive thoughts)

• Flashbacks (the uncontrolled occurence of images of traumatic experiences)

• Avoidance

• Lack of concentration, issues with focusing

• Nightmares, sleep disorders, insomnia

• Hyperawareness, being startled easily

• Irritability, anxiety, anger, sadness

• A changed image of the self

• A changed world view

• Depressive mood

• The loss of hope, negativity

• The reactivation of former traumas

• Amnesia (loss of memory)

• Depersonalisation (detachment from the self)

• Derealization (experiencing the external world as unreal)

• Feeling insecure about one’s identity, personality changes

• Social isolation

• Relationship problems, problems with other people

• Attachment issues and other problems

A traumatic event can affect the whole organism of a person.

People can experience different symptoms and have different problems because we as people are all different and each individual copes with difficulties in their own way. Reasons for the varying ways of coping can be rooted in our genetic disposition, our core or immediate family (how the family atmosphere and social environment was while growing up), our socialization, different cultural values, beliefs as well as our current social circle.

What are trauma-related disorders?

Adjustment Disorder, Acute Stress Disorder, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (DDNOS = Disorder of Extreme Stress Not Otherwise Specified), DID = Dissociative Identity Disorder, Somatic Symptom Disorder, Adult Attachment Disorder.

OTHER POSSIBLE DIAGNOSES

Depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, burn out, adjustment disorder, alcohol and drug addiction, personality disorders, somatoform disorders, anxiety disorder, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and others.

People who suffer from trauma-related stress disorders might get diagnosed with other disorders first, if those symptoms are detected more easily or if those stand out. It is also common to experience more symptoms at the same time or to have more than one diagnosis.

To me the person as a whole is in the center of therapy not their diagnoses. The reason I am mentioning diagnoses and symptoms on this site is to give you an overall information on these subjects.

what is trauma therapy about?

After a traumatic event one could react as if parts of themselves, emotionally and physically, might feel as if they were separated from themselves and as if they weren’t feeling whole anymore.

“In other words trauma makes people feel like either some body else, or like no body. In order to overcome trauma, you need help to get back in touch with your body, with your Self.” (Van der Kolk, 2015, S. 247)

A traumatic event or ongoing events can cause a variety of symptoms that can influence and burden the person in their daily lives. Some examples would be problems in relationships (with a romantic partner/ friends/colleagues or other), social anxiety, avoidant behaviour. There might be many other possible issues that could follow.

Emotional pain can also have an impact on the body and show itself in ways of embodied pain and other physical symptoms as well as diseases and disorders. In that case, if there is no physical origin to that pain, medication will probably not be very helpful or won’t solve the problem entirely.

It’s important to me to perceive the person as a combined construct of mind, body and soul altogether because all of these parts are in constant interaction with each other. It is important to try and figure what is best for all of these parts separately as well as a unity. That is why I have a wholesome approach.

In our society often situations take place where people don’t understand the pain someone might experience and therefore cannot grasp and acknowledge it.

But all pain, whatever the cause is, should be acknowledged and valued.

In Trauma Therapy, the therapeutic setting and process is the safe space in which the lived trauma can be acknowledged, valued and mourned. The therapist helps the client to find new ways of helping themselves and helps the client work through their trauma.

possible objectives of trauma therapy

• Regain the feeling of one’s own body

• Feeling safe in one’s own body

• Not being overwhelmed by negative experiences from the past

• Acquire and experience mindfulness, self-compassion and self-effectiveness

• Learn how to relax

• Develop a new outlook on life

• Discover new dreams and new goals

• Envision one’s strengths and talents

• Have a kind and compassionate relationship with yourself and others

  
  
  
  

These are the overall objectives of Trauma Therapy.

It is very important to me that in the process of every individual therapy, the current needs, wishes and goals of the client are always in focus.

I believe there is no one general treatment plan which works for all. The adjustment of the treatment to each client’s issues, strengths, rhythm and tempo is fundamental.

You can find out more about the treatment methods I work with:

If you are interested in making an appointment: