_edited.png)
Trauma Counselling
In the Comox Valley and online throughout British Columbia
Trauma can affect every part of your life—but healing is possible.
You may feel constantly on edge, disconnected from yourself, or caught in behaviour patterns that don't make sense.
Perhaps you struggle to trust others, to set boundaries, or to believe that your needs matter.
You might find yourself overwhelmed by anxiety, shame, or emotional numbness.
You may react in ways that leave you wondering, "Why am I like this? What's wrong with me?"
Trauma impacts how we think, feel, relate to others, and experience our bodies.
If any of this feels familiar, you're not alone. Healing is possible,
and counselling can help you better understand your experiences, restore a sense of safety, and reconnect with yourself.
What is Trauma?
Trauma occurs when we experience situations that overwhelm our ability to cope. It can result from a single event, or from many experiences over time.
Many people minimize what happened to them, believing that others "had it worse." Yet trauma is not defined by the event itself—it's also about how our nervous system experienced it.
Trauma Responses are Survival Responses
When we experience threat, our body automatically goes into survival mode. If we stay in survival states for too long, they become patterned within us. You may recognize yourself in these patterns:
Mind
-
catastrophizing
-
hypervigilence
-
negativity
Heart
-
mood swings
-
unnecessary fears
-
overwhelming sadness or anger
Body
-
chronic pain
-
autoimmune diseases
-
lethargy and hyperactivity
Relationships
-
poor boundaries
-
people-pleasing
-
trust issues
I don't believe people are broken.
The patterns that bring people into therapy are often intelligent adaptations to difficult experiences.
Together, we seek to understand them, appreciate how they helped you survive, and create new ways to care for yourself.
How Trauma Affects the Nervous System
Trauma doesn't live only in our memories. It also affects our nervous system.
When the nervous system remains stuck in survival mode, it becomes difficult to feel calm, connected, or fully present. You find yourself reacting with fear, rage, or shut-down - even when you know you're safe.
Insight alone doesn't always create lasting change. You may understand why you feel the way you do, yet your body continues responding as though danger is just around the corner.
By working with the mind, the heart, and the body, we can gently help the nervous system regain flexibility, resilience, and a greater sense of safety.
If you'd like to learn more, this video does a beautiful job of explaining how trauma impacts our nervous system:
Every day, I hear stories of small miracles from my clients. They are stories about setting boundaries, trusting instincts, and rediscovering joy.
My clients begin to live and love in new ways.
They begin to say "I matter" in their life choices.
This healing is why I do my job - it's incredibly rewarding to witness these changes!
Let go of shame and be kinder to yourself
Befriend and rely on your emotions
Build healthy relationships
Take good care of your body
Embrace rest, peace, and pleasure
Healing Is Possible
People have a remarkable capacity to heal
My Approach to Trauma Healing
I take an integrative approach to trauma counselling that combines compassionate talk therapy with Somatic Experiencing®, a gentle, body-informed approach to healing trauma through nervous system regulation. We work holistically to heal the mind, heart, and body.
Together We May:
-
Explore and understand the patterns that helped you survive.
-
Identify and shift long-held beliefs that no longer serve you.
-
Strengthen emotional awareness and self-compassion.
-
Learn to honour your needs.
We May Also:
-
Develop tools for nervous system regulation.
-
Reconnect with your body and a sense of safety.
-
Build healthier relationships and boundaries.
-
Create a life with more meaning, joy, and connection.
My practice focuses primarily on the type of trauma that results from childhood abuse or neglect, or growing up with emotionally immature, addicted, or mentally unwell caregivers. Complex trauma can also result from chronic states of high stress and experiences of domestic abuse.
Complex and Developmental Trauma
This healing approach helps your nervous system to release stored stress and trauma. It supports your body's natural ability to restore balance and resilience - without necessarily needing to relive difficult experiences. You learn how to experience felt senses of safety and support.
What is Somatic Experiencing?
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my experience "count" as trauma?
Many people wonder this. Trauma comes in many shapes and sizes. We don't need to have gone through severe abuse to be impacted by life's challenges. If overwhelming experiences continue to affect your life today, they deserve care and attention.
Will I have to talk about everything that happened?
No. Trauma therapy isn't about forcing you to revisit painful memories before you're ready. We move at a pace that feels safe, and we can often change nervous system patterns without sharing trauma details.
What if trauma therapy makes me feel worse?
It can feel scary to face our past, but I have extensive training in preventing our sessions from flooding you. We work very gently and thoughtfully, making sure that you are resourced enough to safely explore.
What if I don't want to do body-based work?
That's completely okay. We can incorporate as much or as little body awareness as feels comfortable for you. I am also very well trained in approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness-based Interventions, Compassion-Focused Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and am always weaving these approaches to the fabric of our work.
