Pathway to Wellness Counselling Therapy

What is Trauma?

Trauma is any sudden, unexpected negative event that profoundly impacts an individual.

It can be understood as a powerful, unanticipated experience that leaves a lasting impression, teaching the person that the world may not be a safe place.

Trauma is often associated with experiences like war, abuse, or assault, and while these are undoubtedly examples of trauma, it extends far beyond such events. Various incidents, such as a health crisis, car accident, abusive relationships, breaches of trust, violations of boundaries, or significant losses, can also be traumatic.

What is PTSD?

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (also known as PTSD) can happen after any threatening event.

Not everyone who has gone through trauma develops PTSD. You can experience negative effects from your trauma without developing all of the symptoms to be diagnosed with PTSD.

Many people who have experienced trauma find it is hard to feel safe again. It can be helpful to be assessed for PTSD in order to understand your symptoms and guide your treatment.

How unhealed trauma can hurt

Unhealed trauma can cause a range of physical, emotional, and behavioural issues. Physical symptoms headaches, fatigue, unexplained pain, and sleep disturbances.

Emotional symptoms

Anxiety
Depression
Chronic sadness or hopelessness
Shame, guilt, and low self-esteem
Feeling numb and detached

Behavioural symptoms

Avoiding people, places, or situations that remind you of the trauma
Social withdrawal
Changes in eating patterns
Substance abuse
Self-harm
Aggressive or impulsive behaviours
Risky behaviours

Trauma Therapies

Our Approach

We believe in taking a whole body approach including both "talk therapy" and brain-based interventions.

Our Methods

The leading research supports a multi-modal approach - meaning a combination of therapeutic tools may be best.

This may include:

"Talk therapy" approach based on the principles of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

EMDR Therapy

Brainspotting Therapy

You will discuss these options with your therapist and make a treatment plan together.

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What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms.

EMDR is a structured therapy that encourages the patient to focus briefly on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories.

EMDRIA. (1995-2024). About EMDR Therapy. EMDR International Association

What is Brainspotting?

Neuroexperiential Therapy™ (BSP) is a brain-body therapy that helps process unprocessed trauma by using specific eye positions to access deep parts of the brain.

It combines focused mindfulness, body awareness, and therapist support to release stored trauma. BSP often includes bilateral sound (music or nature sounds moving between ears) to balance brain activity and activate the calming nervous system.

This therapy helps the brain and body naturally heal by locating and processing trauma, often with less talking than traditional therapy. Clients may experience quick relief and deep insights.

Brainspotting is a type of psychological treatment founded by Dr. David Grand in 2003. It is built on the premise that where you look affects how you feel, positing that our eye positions correlate with emotional and traumatic memories stored in the brain. During therapy, clients are guided to use their visual field to locate spots that trigger a strong emotional or somatic response. A brainspot is thus identified, and by maintaining focus on this spot, the client can access and process the underlying trauma within the subcortical brain.

(Stork,S.

Bonnyville Trauma Counselling

Bonnyville Trauma Treatment