trauma Counselling

trauma Counselling

Many people face incredibly difficult situations and experiences that can alter their perspectives and challenge their entire way of thinking. These experiences create a void in their life and leave them grasping for answers.

Often, when victims of trauma are left untreated, they fall into a debilitating mental health condition where normal emotions are aggravated and overwhelmed by distress and intrusions – often in the form of flashbacks, nightmares, memories or sensations.

Over time, these incidents become intensely painful for the individual and lead to instability and dysfunction in one’s day to day life.

There are two ways in which people come into contact with trauma, a one-time powerful incident (such as an assault, injury, or exposure to a catastrophic event), or from chronic exposure to repeated traumatic events (such as neglect, child abuse, first responder situations, or combat experience).

These incidents threaten our sense of safety, esteem, identity or life, which can lead to depression, anxiety, addiction, emotional numbness or other dissociative disorders.

At River’s Edge Counselling Centre, we have a full team of therapists that work with people impacted by many different types of trauma.  Trauma therapy sessions are available in a safe, comfortable and understanding, one-on-one atmosphere.

Trauma Counselling Can Help You:

  • Learn new strategies and coping techniques for relaxation and managing distress associated with the trauma

  • Cope effectively with daily stressors

  • Identify and manage triggers

  • Integrate memories to relieve traumatic stress

  • Gain a sense of peace and hope from the effects of trauma

  • Facilitate transformation of trauma into a story of survival

  • Increase internal strength and motivation

  • Facilitate stronger interpersonal relationships

If you’ve been affected by trauma and you’re still experiencing these
signs after a “reasonable” period of time, trauma counselling should
be considered:

  • Constant feeling of Shock, denial, or disbelief

  • You’re prone to anger, irritability or mood swings

  • You feel guilty, ashamed or you self-blame for something

  • You feel sad or hopeless after going through a traumatic incident

  • You’re confused or having difficulty concentrating

  • Anxiety and fear are impacting your life

  • You’re withdrawing from friends, family or loved ones

  • You feel disconnected or numb a lot of the time

  • You’re experiencing Insomnia or nightmares

  • You find yourself being startled easily

  • Your heartbeat races for no reason

  • You’re body has unexplained aches, pains and fatigue

Other Helpful Resources

 

To start counselling now:

resources for Trauma

meet our trauma counsellors

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Alissa Caskey
As a counsellor with specialized training in Complex Trauma, I embrace a holistic approach to therapy, recognizing the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit in the healing process. I meet each client where they are, joining them on their journey toward healing. ...read more
...Together, we work to reclaim a sense of safety and control, using evidence-based practices tailored to individual needs. With patience and a deep respect for the resilience within each person, I guide clients through their process of recovery, supporting them every step of the way.Alissa's Full Bio

Brittany Imperadeiro
Trauma-informed care is defined as practices that promote a culture of safety, empowerment, and healing. Being trauma-informed means that as a practitioner I recognize that sometimes our life experiences shapes and changes the way we experience things, that trauma can make our healing process a little more difficult to navigate, and that it may take more time to build that trust between each other. ...read more
...With this in mind, my aim is to meet you where you are at and follow your lead through this journey. Pulling from my experiences from working within group homes, with inner city populations, and working previously with the Sexual Assault Center, I recognize that healing is an up and down journey where a lot of unexpected responsibility in healing is placed on your shoulders. My job is in part to help understand what is happening with our body in the context of trauma, but also to help shift that responsibility and walk with you as you navigate this chapter so that there is room to experience the other parts of you that make you, you.Brittany's Full Bio


Chad Bodnar
“Trauma is any terrifying event that instantly changes the world as we know it, leaving us helpless and emotionally overwhelmed.” – Dr. Sue Johnson
As an experienced trauma-informed psychologist specializing in attachment and emotionally-focused therapy, my commitment is to create a secure and non-judgmental space, ensuring you feel supported and understood throughout your healing journey....read more
In our sessions, I utilize trauma-informed approaches, carefully examining the intersection between your past experiences and current emotional challenges. Drawing on evidence-based methodologies, especially rooted in attachment theory, we collaborate to unravel and reshape patterns contributing to your distress.
I go beyond passive listening, actively incorporating emotionally focused therapy techniques to foster deeper connections and understanding. Together, we'll delve into the emotional underpinnings of your experiences, helping you navigate your feelings and enhance your emotional well-being.
Recognizing the uniqueness of your narrative, I tailor my trauma-informed interventions to meet your specific needs. Our approach is grounded in a collaborative partnership, where we work together to unearth insights and facilitate tangible progress.
My methodology integrates immediate coping strategies and resilience-building techniques. If you're seeking a trauma-informed psychologist who combines expertise with compassionate and personalized care, I provide a nuanced and effective path towards healing.Chad's Full Bio

Chelsey Wood
It is my belief that each of us has the inner strength and intuitive knowledge to enable change, but these resources can often be blocked by strong emotions or past events that overwhelm us. ...read more
Together we will explore the impacts of previous experiences and stressors, such as traumatic events or past relationships.Chelsey's Full Bio

Jennifer Charlicki
Trauma presents itself in a variety of ways and can be brought on in obvious or subtle manners. I am a trauma-informed psychologist, meaning that I understand the difficulties that trauma creates in day to day life, such as communication, building trust, feeling safe in our bodies, and oftentimes a sense of hopelessness that things will get better...read more
TI have specialized training in trauma and utilize a gentle approach to help clients feel supported, empowered, and work towards a sense of peace and happiness in life.Jennifer's Full Bio

Lori Tiemer
Experiencing traumatic events, whether in the past or recently, can affect us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. That is why I believe in a holistic approach to trauma therapy... read more
It is important to learn stress management and emotional regulation techniques in order to move away from being stuck in a constant state of stress response (fight or flight). Processing and integrating traumatic events will occur gradually and within the safety of a collaborative therapeutic relationship. I have taken training related to prolonged exposure therapy as well as trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy and have worked with adults diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder.
Lori's Full Bio

Karen Kirkpatrick
Trauma can result from a variety of adverse life experiences. After bad things happens like sexual assault, getting hurt, or experiencing abuse in childhood, it is common for people to feel guilt, shame, always on edge, or sudden mood swings...read more
What defines trauma is not the content of an event itself but the psychological or emotional response to it. People process these experiences differently due to their perspective, or the lens through which one views the world through, which is dependent on their previous life experiences. I understand how painful that can be to live with. As your therapist, I will join you on your journey through healing and growth; you will not be alone. Initially, I work on developing a strong, secure treatment relationship built on trust. Integral to this phase of trauma treatment is building security, stabilization, and consistency in the treatment process. I will help you feel strong, safe, and free from the burden of shame or negative beliefs about yourself that can develop after bad things happen. I actively engage with you in the therapy process. We work on accessing, developing, and cultivating positive internal resources, and containing and modulating overwhelming and dysregulated affect, and re-grounding and anchoring from dissociative experiences. Harnessing and utilizing these strengths becomes a vital anchor in working through trauma. Together we experiment, we get curious, we notice, and we explore and find ways for your body and mind to heal and move forward with life after trauma. One of the tools I use to treat trauma is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). It is possible that as treatment progresses I may help you on ‘working through’ painful traumatic memories in ways that access your strengths and re-build the neural networks associated with your memories. I work with you to generate a new understanding and cultivating neuroplasticity. I believe strongly in the concept of ‘post-traumatic growth’ and work with clients to build this growth through thoughtful work. Karen's Full Bio

Kira Charanduk
I work with survivors of trauma through a person-centred approach, by ensuring my clients voice is heard, while prioritizing their comfort and security throughout... read more
I work with clients of a variety of ages and experiences of sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse. I work hard to provide my clients with control over their experiences, empowering them to grow and heal. Kira's Full Bio

Renée Dangerfield-Allen
Research has shown that when trauma is not resolved or healed specific experiences (related to the senses that were activated during the traumatic event) may get re-activated for a long time. When our brain continues to function in state of hyper-vigilance (fight, flight, freeze), we may not feel physically or emotionally safe and may struggle to have a feeling of well-being. ...read more
...Trauma-informed approaches to therapy should always include: choice and collaboration to support you to gain a sense of trust, safety, and empowerment. Renée's Full Bio

Robin Klasson
Overwhelming and confusing events occur in our lives and can have a lasting impact on how we see ourselves or cope with stress... read more
...Traumatic experiences can also lead to personal growth when you are supported to integrate and recover a secure sense of self. I use both EMDR and somatic interventions to treat symptoms and empower healing in individuals who have experienced trauma. I am experienced in working with healing from sexual traumas. Robin's Full Bio

Roger Thiessen
We have all had traumatic experiences and many of these leave lingering marks on our soul. ...read more
...We might even exile parts of ourselves to avoid ongoing pain. I use a gentle approach to explore these deep waters. Roger's Full Bio


Sabrina Roach
With years of practice as a first responder, I understand how traumatic experiences can create a disconnect between you and your life goals. ...read more
...There are multiple forms of trauma, and these experiences can surface differently depending on the person. I provide care through a trauma-informed lens focused on safety and well-being. Whether you have an extensive trauma history or a single episode, trauma can affect us in an insurmountable number of ways. It is my job to create an environment where you feel heard and accepted. We will work through the negative experiences by taking a body-focused approach to help regulate your nervous system to take control of your life. Sabrina’s Full Bio

Viktoriia Brzhezytska
Psychological traumas cannot be seen as easily as physical traumas, but untreated they can lead to many complications and have a tremendous effect on the lives and relationships of traumatized people. ...read more
...I have been working with traumatized clients for the last 13 years using Trauma Focused CBT and Schema therapy. Many times I was witnessing that however strong or resilient the client may be, hard traumatic experiences can overwhelm resources and capacity to cope bringing to lots of sufferings. I was trained and have many years of practice in treating acute trauma, PTSD and complex or developmental trauma. In my practice, I use a stage-based approach, first creating a sense of safety and trust for the client, to prepare them for the more focused trauma work. Viktoriia's Full Bio

the right fit

At River’s Edge Counselling Centre, we work with each new client to ensure they are matched to the right therapist. See how we do it: