Counselling for
Trauma and PTSD

You've lost someone, something, or some part of yourself.

Something really unimaginable has happened. Someone has died. There has been a car accident. You were hurt by a loved one who was supposed to care for you. Your child got sick or was harmed. You witnessed something you cannot stop seeing. Or, you have had so many smaller or vicarious traumas build up that you are no longer coping. Maybe it happened yesterday, or maybe it happened 20 years ago, but it is still a part of you. 

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Trauma doesn’t follow a timeline. It lives in the body, in the nervous system, in the quiet moments when you thought you'd be okay. Any or all of the following might be true:

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• You might feel like you’re constantly bracing for the next impact—or like you’ve gone completely numb.

• You may find yourself crying at unexpected times, or feeling nothing at all when you “should” feel something.

• You may be having nightmares, flashbacks, or struggling with anger, guilt, shame, or confusion.

• Your relationships may feel strained. It might be hard to trust others—or yourself.

Common Myths about Trauma

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When it comes to healing from trauma, there are lots of myths that can leave people feeling ashamed, broken, or “behind.” These messages are often rooted in systems that prioritize productivity, control, and emotional suppression over care, connection, and complexity. If you've ever wondered “Why am I not over this yet?” or “What’s wrong with me?”—you're not alone. And there is nothing wrong with you.

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Here are a few common myths about trauma healing—and why they don’t always apply:

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Myth #1: “Time heals all wounds.”​

Time can soften pain, but trauma doesn’t always fade just because time has passed. Trauma can stay lodged in the body and nervous system, especially when we haven’t had the safety or support to process it. Healing isn’t passive. It’s relational, embodied, and often nonlinear.

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Myth #2: “Talking about it will make it better.”​

Talking can help—but only when it feels safe and when you’re ready. For some, going over what happened can be re-traumatizing. That’s why trauma-informed therapy focuses on building trust, regulation, and connection before diving into details. Your pace is the right pace.

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Myth #3: “If it wasn’t physical or violent, it doesn’t count.”​

Emotional neglect, betrayal, chronic invalidation, systemic oppression, and identity-based harm are trauma. So is being forced to mask who you are to survive. Trauma isn’t about the event itself—it’s about how your nervous system experienced it, and whether you had the support you needed to process it.

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Myth #4: “Other people have it worse, so I shouldn’t complain.”​

Comparing pain doesn’t help anyone heal. Your grief, your trauma, your story matters. Dismissing your pain because someone else is suffering too is like saying you don’t deserve to breathe just because others are also gasping for air. We all need care.

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Myth #5: “Healing means going back to who you were before.”​

Trauma changes us. Healing isn’t about returning to some “before” version of yourself—it’s about integrating what happened and reclaiming your life in a way that honors your growth, your needs, and your truth. Sometimes it means becoming someone entirely new—and that can be a beautiful, powerful thing.

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What is Trauma-informed Therapy?

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Trauma-informed therapy is a space for all of you, especially the the parts of you that have been carrying too much for too long. Depending on who you end up working with, trauma therapy might practically look quite different. You might try EMDR, body-based interventions, or mindfulness to help your nervous system regulate. You might talk about your younger self, your family history, or your patterns of coping. No matter what interventions your therapist uses, the counselling room should feel like a place that you can show up exactly as you are that day, safe to express your thoughts, feelings, and needs. Here is how that might look:

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We go slow—and you’re in the driver’s seat.

You don’t have to share anything until you're ready. There’s no pressure to talk about your trauma before you feel safe, grounded, and resourced. Together, we build a foundation of trust. We’ll check in regularly about what’s working, what’s not, and what you need. You get to set the boundaries of our work.

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Your body, your nervous system, and your emotions are all welcome.

Trauma doesn’t just live in your thoughts—it lives in your body. You might notice sensations, emotions, or even disconnection. We’ll gently explore ways to tune into your body’s cues, with curiosity and care. This could mean grounding practices, breathwork, or simply noticing what shows up, without judgment.

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We make room for your identities, culture, and lived experiences.

You deserve care that sees the whole of who you are—including your gender, race, culture, body size, neurotype, disability, faith, relationships, and community. I approach this work with humility, cultural responsiveness, and a commitment to unlearning oppressive systems. Therapy is a space where your full self is honored.

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We focus on building resilience—not just “fixing” symptoms.

While we might address anxiety, flashbacks, or emotional numbness, we’ll also work on reconnecting with your strengths, your voice, and your sense of agency. Trauma can disrupt your connection to self and others; healing can help you rebuild those connections in ways that feel true to you.

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You can expect flexibility, compassion, and ongoing consent.

Every session is co-created. If something doesn’t feel right, you can say so—no explanations needed. If you need to pause, shift topics, or just sit quietly, that’s all okay. Your needs are not “too much.” They are the map.

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Grief and trauma are unpredictable. One week you collapse at the sight of a pile of laundry. The next week, you feel fine, and want to talk about the annoying thing your spouse did the other day. Wherever you are in that moment, just show up and your therapist will meet you there.​

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Do you work with any specific types of trauma?

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Absolutely. All types of trauma have some key elements in common, but untangling trauma can look very different depending on your life experiences. Here are just a few specific examples of trauma work we specialize in:

Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) can develop after long-term, repeated trauma—especially in relationships where you should have felt safe. It often shows up as chronic shame, emotional flashbacks, trust issues, dissociation, or feeling like you're “too much” or “not enough.” These patterns aren’t flaws—they’re survival strategies your body and mind created to protect you. Therapy for C-PTSD focuses on building safety, tending to the nervous system, and gently exploring your story at your pace. Together, we work to understand and soften protective patterns, reconnect with your sense of self, and create space for healing in relationship.

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Complex Grief

Complex grief happens when a loss feels impossible to integrate—whether because of how it happened, who or what was lost, or how your grief has been received (or not received) by others. You might feel stuck in sorrow, guilt, numbness, or anger for much longer than you expected—or like the world has moved on while you’re still frozen in time. Sometimes grief is tangled with trauma, isolation, or identity loss, making it even harder to process. Therapy can help you gently make space for your grief, honor your relationship to what was lost, and navigate life in a way that includes your pain without being consumed by it. There is no timeline, no “right” way to grieve—only your way. You don’t have to carry it alone.

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Religious Trauma

If you are a person of faith, or used to be, then you know how central to identity spirituality can be. If you have experienced an injury related to a spiritual leader, an adverse experience in a community of faith, or a feeling that your faith has let you down, it can cause some very deep, complex wounds. This is a topic close our hearts, and we would love to help support you as you process these experiences. Read more about our take on religious trauma therapy (we care about this topic so much it gets its own page).​

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Trauma Therapy for Kids and Teens

Kids deal with traumatic experiences differently than adults. They might start acting out in defiance, or withdrawing. They might start wetting the bed again after many years or having other regressive behaviours. They might seem fine until you see that their usually bright art is full of black scribbles. In therapy with teens, using art or music can be a common language for them to express their inner workings. With younger children, individual or family-based play therapy can help them regulate their nervous systems and rediscover safe connections with parents and loved ones. Read more info on what therapy for kids might look like.

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What should I do next?

If you're ready to talk, there is someone to listen. If you need to just sit, there's space to breathe. If you are a sobbing mess, there is tissue and a warm blanket. If you are not sure what to do next, we're here to help.

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As with any counselling process, it starts with reaching out. But when you have been dealing with such exceedingly difficult circumstances, picking up the phone is harder. Feel free to use our online intake form or book an interactive intake at a time that works well for you.