Trauma & PTSD Counseling
You Don’t Have to Carry the Weight of Your Trauma Alone
Do you feel like certain experiences still affect you more than they should? Long after the event is over and it seems like everyone else has moved on, the trauma still stays. You feel it in your body and nervous system when you flinch at certain sounds and avoid specific triggers. There are times that you find yourself flooded by feelings that seem disproportionate to the moment you are actually in. This is what trauma does to your mind and body.
Trauma is the mind and body's response to experiences that were too overwhelming, threatening, or painful to fully process at the time. It doesn’t have to be a single dramatic event, and is often extremely complex. Maybe you’ve told yourself that what you went through isn’t “that bad” or that other people have it worse. However, trauma is anything that happened or continues to happen that is more than your nervous system can hold. It doesn’t require being in a war zone or surviving something catastrophic.
If you have experienced a traumatic event or have been through complex trauma, therapy can help process any feelings that come up in a safe, judgement free space. At Perspectiva Counseling, we offer online trauma therapy for adults in New Jersey to slowly reclaim your sense of self.
Signs You May Be Impacted by Trauma
-
You feel constantly on edge
Your body feels alert, as if something bad is going to happen, and you easily startle. It’s as if your body is holding on to stress, and you can’t shake it off. You feel like it’s hard to fully relax, even when you are completely safe. You constantly scan your environment to look for what could go wrong.
-
Certain memories stay on your mind
You think about past experiences over and over again, even if you try to stop. You feel pulled back into moments that are over. You never know when you will be triggered and feel like you are back in the same moment you experienced the trauma. The thoughts are unwanted and intrusive, and come without warning.
-
You've learned to minimize your experience
You tell yourself what you experienced “isn’t bad enough” or “other people have it worse.” You push down what you went through and avoid talking about it. You fear others will judge you if you tell them the truth. It looks like you have it all together on the outside, but the inside it feels like everything is falling apart.
-
You feel disconnected
You feel emotionally numb and distant from others. It’s hard to connect with others, especially those who haven’t gone through what you have. You see others enjoying life, and feel like you are just going through the motions. You don’t always recognize your own feelings and reactions.
What does trauma look like?
Trauma exists on a wide spectrum, and no two people's experiences are alike. What matters is how you’ve been affected, not how your experience compares to someone else's.
-
Accidents, injuries, or medical emergencies
Natural disasters
Witnessing violence or a traumatic event
Sexual assault or physical assault
Sudden loss or traumatic grief
-
Childhood abuse, neglect, or emotional invalidation
Growing up in a chaotic, unpredictable, or unsafe home
Domestic violence or intimate partner abuse
Chronic mistreatment in a relationship, workplace, or institution
Emotional abuse or narcissistic abuse
-
Racial trauma and the ongoing impact of discrimination
Trauma related to gender identity or sexual orientation
Religious or spiritual abuse
Immigration trauma and displacement
-
Trauma experienced by first responders, healthcare workers, and caregivers
Supporting a loved one through a traumatic experience
How We Approach Trauma Therapy at Perspectiva Counseling
Therapy offers a safe space for you to process your trauma and move at your pace. We use a humanistic, CBT informed approach to trauma therapy. Healing from trauma is not a linear process, and it is never about reliving or rehashing the past just for the sake of it. Our work is guided by what feels manageable for you, moving at a pace that keeps you regulated rather than overwhelmed.You will be able to feel in control and not overwhelmed. You will not be pushed to talk about anything before you are ready.
Humanistic therapy means that you are at the center of everything. You decide what we talk about, how deeply we go, and when you want to share. We believe that healing happens with a strong therapeutic relationship, and that requires feeling safe, and that you are in the driver’s seat.
CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, helps us work with the thoughts, beliefs, and actions that trauma can cause. This looks like the self-blame and the shame that can come. We will work on gently shifting these perspectives and building a more accurate narrative around what happened.
Therapy will help you understand your trauma responses without judgement. You will learn how to regulate your nervous system without being re-traumatized. Finally, you will be able to feel more grounded, present, and connected.
Some of what trauma therapy focuses on at Perspectiva:
Why do counseling online?
For many people who have experienced trauma, the idea of sitting in an unfamiliar waiting room, navigating a commute, or being in a space that doesn't feel fully in their control can itself be a barrier. Online therapy removes a lot of that friction. Your therapy journey will start with an intake session, where your therapist asks questions about your experience. You will then move into counseling sessions to work on your healing journey.
You can join your session from a space where you feel safe whether it be your home or your car. All sessions are fully virtual and HIPAA-compliant, available to adults (18+) across New Jersey , including South Jersey, Camden County, Cherry Hill, Collingswood, Haddonfield, Marlton, Voorhees, and beyond.
A note on safety and crisis situations:
Perspectiva Counseling provides virtual, outpatient therapy for adults who have experienced trauma and PTSD. While we deeply care about your wellbeing, this practice is not able to provide crisis or emergency services. If you are currently in an unsafe situation, experiencing a crisis, or having thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out for immediate support.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available for 24/7 support by texting or calling 988. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached by calling 1-800-799-7233 or texting START to 88788. If you are in immediate danger, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Ready to start?
If you have experienced trauma and it feels heavier than you expect, you are not a alone. If you are a New Jersey resident, click below to get started with online therapy for trauma and PTSD.