Trauma & Grief

Trauma is an emotional response that results from experiencing a distressing event. This may be a response to current events or events experienced in the past including in childhood. Grief is an emotional response to significant loss, such as loss of a loved one, a relationship, a job, or previous status. Trauma and grief are normal responses to difficult events and can cause serious emotional, mental, and physical discomfort. Trauma and grief may be experienced differently or at the same time (known as traumatic grief). In some cases, experiences of trauma and grief may become diagnosed as mental disorders, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD).

While experienced differently by each person, trauma and grief may include symptoms of shock, anger, sadness, confusion, emotional numbness or other distressing emotions. Psychotherapy sessions can help in treating past or current trauma and grief to eliminate or minimize negative impacts. By employing a trauma-informed and culturally-aware therapeutic approach, each client’s unique response to distressing events is validated while working toward personalized goals such as meaning making and healing.