Trauma isn’t just “bad things that happen” – it’s what gets left behind in your mind and body after overwhelming experiences. Maybe it was a single event that changed everything, or maybe it was years of experiences that wore you down. Either way, trauma has a way of making you feel like you’re still living in the past, even when you’re trying to move forward.
For some people, trauma develops into Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which is a condition where the effects linger long after the danger has passed, bringing flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, and constant alertness. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, but both can deeply impact daily life, relationships, and self-trust.
What is Trauma?
Trauma is your body and mind’s response to distressing or life-threatening events. It occurs when you experience or witness something that overwhelms your ability to cope – something that felt too much, too fast, or too unsafe to process at the time. Trauma can leave you feeling hypervigilant, numb, easily triggered, or disconnected from yourself and others.
Trauma can stem from single incidents or ongoing experiences, including:
- Accidents or serious injuries (see our No-Fault Accident page)
- Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
- Domestic violence
- Sudden loss of a loved one
- Medical emergencies or invasive procedures
- Natural disasters
- Witnessing violence or death
- Growing up in unstable or unsafe environments
What’s traumatic for one person might not be for another – it depends on your age, support system, and previous experiences.
Triggers can be anything that reminds your nervous system of the original trauma, such as, a sound, smell, location, anniversary date, or even a tone of voice. They can bring up intense feelings or physical reactions, sometimes without you understanding why in the moment.
Types of Trauma
There are several types of trauma, including:
Acute trauma: From a single, intense and overwhelming event
Chronic trauma: From repeated or prolonged exposure to distressing events
Complex trauma: From multiple traumatic events, often over a long period, usually in childhood or in close relationships
Developmental trauma: Early experiences that disrupted normal development
Medical trauma: From invasive procedures, illness, or hospitalization
Secondary or vicarious trauma: Experienced by those who support others through traumatic events (first responders, therapists, hospice caregivers)
Accidents: If you’ve been in a car accident or other incident, trauma symptoms are common and completely normal. See our No-Fault evaluation page for specialized support.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Symptoms can emerge shortly after the trauma or months (even years) later and may involve re-experiencing the event, avoiding reminders, feeling detached from others, and being constantly on high alert.
How Therapy Can Help
Trauma therapy helps your nervous system learn that the danger is over and that you’re safe now.
You’ll process the traumatic memories in a way that reduces their emotional charge and helps integrate them into your life story. Therapy can help you reclaim your sense of safety, rebuild trust, and reconnect with yourself and others.
We’ll work on:
- Understanding how trauma has been stored in your body and mind
- Building skills to manage triggers and emotional flashbacks
- Reclaiming a sense of control and safety
- Strengthening self-worth and self-trust
- Processing the trauma at a pace that feels safe
- Reconnecting with joy, purpose, and meaningful relationships
Therapeutic Approaches
We tailor trauma therapy to your needs and readiness. This might include:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): For safely processing distressing memories and reducing their emotional impact
Prolonged Exposure: A gold-standard PTSD treatment that helps you gradually face trauma-related memories and situations you’ve been avoiding
Cognitive Processing Therapy: Specifically designed for PTSD to help you examine and challenge trauma-related thoughts and beliefs
Somatic approaches: Such as Somatic Experiencing or Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, to help your body release stored tension and trauma responses
Trauma-focused CBT: To challenge unhelpful beliefs and build coping strategies
Narrative therapy: To help you rewrite the story of what happened and reclaim your identity beyond the trauma
Mindfulness & grounding techniques: For staying present and reducing anxiety
Healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It means refusing to let your past hold power over you. You’ve already survived the hardest part. Now you get to decide what comes next.
We’ve made it easy for you to get started right now.
Three simple steps. No waiting lists. Just real help, right when you need it.
Reach Out
Send us an email at hello@cwcrvc.com or call us on 516-476-9057 and tell us about what’s going on.
Get Matched
We’ll connect you with the therapist best suited to your needs.
Start Sessions
In person at our Rockville Centre office or online from your couch – either way, we’ll help you take that first real step toward feeling better.
