Trauma Therapy & PTSD Treatment in Northbrook, IL
You may not think of yourself as someone who has experienced trauma.
In fact, several of the people we work with don't.
They are successful, thoughtful, and capable. They manage careers, relationships, and responsibilities. From the outside, things may even look fine. Yet internally, they feel anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected, stuck, or like they are carrying something they can't quite name.
Maybe you find yourself constantly overthinking, struggling to trust yourself, feeling emotionally numb, staying busy to avoid slowing down, or wondering why certain situations trigger such strong reactions.
You may have told yourself that what happened wasn't "bad enough" to affect you this much. Yet your mind and body seem to tell a different story.
Trauma-informed therapy can help you heal
Our trauma therapists are trained to offer skills and strategies to assist you in better understanding, coping with, and processing emotions and memories tied to traumatic experiences. The end goal of trauma therapy is to enable you to create a healthier and more adaptive meaning of the experience.
So what is trauma?
Trauma is not defined solely by a single catastrophic event. It is also shaped by how experiences are held in the nervous system and the lasting impact they have on the way we see ourselves, others, and the world around us.
Trauma can result from experiences such as abuse, neglect, loss, medical issues, accidents, toxic relationships, major life transitions, chronic stress, or growing up in environments where your emotional needs were not consistently understood or supported. Given that very general definition, you may understand why trauma may be so commonplace. In fact, up to 70% of adults in the world have experienced trauma in their lifetime.
Because trauma affects each person differently, there is no single way it appears. For some, it shows up as anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, or difficulty slowing down. For others, it looks like emotional numbness, disconnection, relationship struggles, self-criticism, or a persistent feeling that something is missing.
Common Signs Trauma May Still Be Affecting You
You’ve experienced trauma and you’re tired of wrestling it
Because trauma is so specific to each individual, not all symptoms and presentations of trauma are alike. However, below are several common symptoms of trauma.
Intrusive thoughts of the event that may occur out of the blue
Nightmares
Visual images of the event
Loss of memory and concentration abilities
Disorientation
Confusion
Mood swings
What to expect from trauma therapy
PTSD treatment and healing on your terms
In our sessions, you can expect your therapist to recognize and emphasize understanding how the traumatic experience impacts your mental, behavioral, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.
Our trauma therapists specialize in three specific treatments:
trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (or EMDR for short)
Whatever treatment approach you and your trauma therapist decide to take can make an impact on your trauma symptoms and experiences. We encourage you to take the leap to begin healing when you’re ready.
Connect with a trauma-informed therapist in Northbrook, IL today
Struggling with trauma can have lifelong impacts. Perhaps it’s been years since a particular traumatic experience, but you’re ready to make a change. Trust in our experienced trauma therapists and begin healing from the past. Here at our therapy practice based in Northbrook, IL, we offer trauma therapy to those with wide and varied traumatic experiences and PTSD. If you are ready to begin overcoming trauma and moving forward in your life, we can help. Take the steps below to get started with in person or online therapy sessions.
OTHER SERVICES AT OBSIDIAN COUNSELING AND WELLNESS
Besides trauma and PTSD work, our therapists assist folks struggling with depression, anxiety, and work stress. With a compassionate and professional approach to counseling, our therapists help clients move through pain and create meaningful connections. In addition to our other services, our therapists work with folks in the LGBTQIA+ community and those who identify as highly sensitive people. And if you are a new parent, we can help you out, too. The team at our Northbrook, IL-based therapy practice are ready to help whenever you’re ready.
