Calgary Trauma Therapist
PTSD + trauma can be healed.
Calgary therapist for trauma
Trauma is a deeply personal experience, and one that can leave you feeling isolated and overwhelmed. But know this: you are not alone. Many people in Calgary and beyond have walked a similar path and have found success in healing & recovery.
Our compassionate team of Calgary counsellors, registered psychologists and social workers at Building Bridges Counselling Services will support you on your journey towards healing. We will use proven methods to help you recover, and regain control of your life.
“Trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain, and body. This imprint has ongoing consequences.”
- Bessel van der Kolk, Best-selling Trauma Research Author
Trauma is an experience, not an event
Trauma can arise from various traumatic events like a motor vehicle accident, natural disaster, or medical procedure, to traumatic experiences of domestic violence, abuse, or neglect. It can also stem from experiences that may not seem obviously traumatic to others, but have deeply affected you.
Childhood trauma is not always the root of one's difficulties, but it's not uncommon for negative experiences from childhood to remain unresolved and lead to further troubles later in adulthood.
Regardless of the source, the impact of trauma is real and valid. It's crucial to remember that trauma is never your fault.
When faced with a traumatic event, your nervous system reacts with a "fight, flight, freeze or fawn" response, which is a natural mechanism designed to protect you. However, sometimes this response can become “stuck” or unresolved, leading to the distressing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Not every traumatic experience results in PTSD, but for those who do struggle, professional support can make a world of difference.
What are PTSD and cPTSD?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition caused by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and intrusive thoughts, significantly affecting your daily functioning.
What is cPTSD?
Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (cPTSD) builds upon PTSD symptoms, arising from prolonged or repeated trauma, such as ongoing abuse. In addition to PTSD symptoms, cPTSD includes difficulties with emotional regulation, self-perception, and relationships.
Both PTSD and cPTSD are treatable with trauma focussed therapy. If you are struggling with symptoms of trauma, please don't hesitate to reach out for help.
Take the first step at no charge.
Common signs of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)
Do you feel like this?
PTSD manifests differently for each individual in Calgary, but these are some common signs to be aware of:
- Re-experiencing the trauma through flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts
- Avoiding people, places, or things that remind you of the trauma
- Hyperarousal symptoms like irritability, difficulty sleeping, and hypervigilance
- Negative changes in thoughts and mood, such as guilt, shame, or difficulty experiencing positive emotions
- Engaging in risky or self-destructive behaviors to numb emotional pain (e.g. substance abuse, self-harm, eating disorders)
Our counsellors lead with a trauma-informed approach and understand how these feelings and experiences relate to how trauma affects your struggle. If these resonate with you, know that you are not alone and there is hope for healing.
No charge. No obligation.
How counselling can help heal your trauma
Counselling with Building Bridges Counselling Services provides a safe and supportive space where you can process your trauma and begin to heal. Our Calgary therapists for trauma will work collaboratively with you to understand your unique experiences and create a personalized plan for recovery. We'll equip you with effective coping skills to manage triggers, flashbacks, and other manifestations of your trauma, giving you the power to regain control. Through therapy, you can reconnect with yourself, rebuild trust, and find renewed meaning and purpose.
Counselling in Calgary offers a transformative path towards healing from trauma. It's more than just seeking therapy or just talking about what happened. Trauma therapy is about understanding how the trauma has affected you on a deeper level and finding healthy ways to cope and move forwards positively.
In the safe and supportive space of your therapy sessions, you can begin to process the overwhelming emotions that may have been bottled up, and that you may not even realize are affecting you from deep inside. We will explore the ways in which trauma has impacted your thoughts, feelings, relationships and daily functioning, helping you to make sense of your traumatic experiences and break free from negative patterns.
Let's find a path forwards, together
“Trauma does not need to be a life sentence.”
- Dr. Peter Levine
Calgary PTSD Therapists
Our Calgary PTSD therapists are skilled in guiding you through this process with compassion and proven expertise using reliable methods (described below). We'll work together to develop coping mechanisms tailored to your unique needs, whether it’s addressing intrusive memories like flashbacks and nightmares, managing avoidance behaviours, alleviating negative thoughts and hopelessness, or dealing with physical symptoms and hyperarousal. You'll learn to identify triggers and develop strategies to navigate them, empowering you to regain a sense of control and well-being.
Beyond coping skills, our counselling provides a space for you to reconnect with yourself and rebuild trust – in yourself, in others, and in the world around you. We'll explore the ways in which trauma may have fractured your sense of self then work towards restoring a sense of safety, security, and well-being. We do this by cultivating self-compassion, developing healthy boundaries, and supporting your ability to foster meaningful connections with others.
While the journey of healing and treating trauma may not always be easy, with the right support it is absolutely possible. Our trauma counsellors are dedicated to walking alongside you on this path, offering guidance, encouragement, and the tools you need to reclaim yourself from the grip of trauma.
Book your Coffee & Chat to start healing
Our personalized approach to trauma recovery
We pride ourselves on our client-centered approach, which means you will experience a personalized approach to healing with our Calgary trauma counsellors. Trauma is not a one-size-fits-all issue, and your trauma therapy shouldn't be either. Our team of counsellors, registered psychologists and social workers utilizes a variety of trauma-informed approaches that they will tailor to your specific needs and goals. Some approaches we use are:
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): This proven trauma focused therapy uses eye movements or other bilateral stimulation to help process traumatic memories, reducing their emotional intensity.
- Somatic Therapy: This well-researched approach focuses on the connection between mind and body, helping you to release trauma that may be stored physically.
- Response-Based Therapy: We will focus on your strengths and resilience in the face of trauma, empowering you to rebuild yourself.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Our PTSD therapists will teach you how to manage intense emotions, build healthy relationships, and tolerate distress.
- Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT): Gently explores the root of your emotional pain caused by trauma, helping you understand and express your feelings in a safe, supportive environment to foster healing and growth.
- Narrative Therapy: Helps you create a coherent narrative around your traumatic experiences, putting them in context, and reducing their influence on your present life.
At no cost, see how we can help your trauma
Building your “Bridge to Better”
What to expect during counselling for trauma
You will work with an experienced counsellor, registered psychologist or social worker who will create a safe and supportive environment for you to explore your trauma at a pace that’s right for you. We understand that healing from complex trauma takes time, and we are committed to honouring what works best for you.
Our Calgary therapy sessions typically involve:
- Openly discussing your experiences and emotions: We'll provide a non-judgmental space for you to share your story and express the full range of your emotions.
- Identifying triggers and developing effective coping strategies: We'll help you recognize the situations, people, or thoughts that trigger your PTSD symptoms, and equip you with tools to manage them going forwards.
- Processing traumatic memories: Through various therapeutic approaches and proven, researched methods, we'll guide you through a gradual and safe process of processing the memories that cause you distress.
- Building self-awareness and self-compassion: We'll help you understand how trauma has affected you both mentally and physically, and foster a deeper sense of self-compassion.
Through this collaborative process, you'll gain the tools, support, and insights you need to heal and move forward towards a life free from the weight of trauma.
We’ll help you leave the weight of trauma behind
As you progress through counselling with your PTSD therapist, these changes will start to reveal themselves:
- Flashbacks and nightmares may become less frequent and intense, allowing you to feel more present and grounded in the here and now.
- Sleep may improve, and you may find yourself waking up feeling more rested and refreshed.
- Irritability and hypervigilance may decrease, paving the way for calmer days and a greater sense of ease.
- You'll develop effective coping strategies to navigate triggers and manage your emotions with confidence.
- Self-awareness and self-compassion will deepen, fostering a more positive relationship with yourself.
- A renewed sense of hope and connection to others will emerge, allowing you to rebuild relationships and create a fulfilling life.
These signs of progress are not just possible, they are the natural outcome of healing with the support of our trauma counsellors. We are here to help you build bridges to a calmer, more joyful, and more fulfilling stage of your life.
Free yourself from trauma, with our help
Take the first step
Meet us for a complimentary Coffee & Chat
Your first step towards healing is one of the most important.
We invite you to book a free, no-obligation Coffee & Chat to learn whether we’re a good fit for you, ask questions, and discuss what your personalized trauma treatment may look like at Building Bridges Counselling Services.
There’s no pressure to continue Calgary PTSD therapy with us after the Coffee & Chat, but we hope you’ll resonate with our values, proven methods, and see that we can guide you forwards in the best way.
Remember, you are not alone. Healing is possible, and we are here to support you every step of the way.
This complimentary, no obligation meeting will let you see if we’re a good fit for you.
No waiting for a reply! Book online, directly into our calendar, or call 587-318-0018
We offer multiple ways to meet, for sessions or Coffee & Chat introduction meetings. Meet us in person (at our Calgary office in Bowness), by phone, or through video chat (Zoom / Skype / Google Meet / FaceTime). Learn more about our COVID-19 Policies.