What is Trauma?
Trauma is an intense emotional reaction, often fear, following exposure to a highly distressing event such as abuse, accidents, crime, or natural disasters. It can occur through direct involvement or witnessing such events. Experiencing trauma does not automatically mean developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); the two are related but distinct conditions requiring different considerations.
What are the common symptoms?
Trauma refers to a psychological and emotional response to an event or series of events that are deeply distressing or disturbing. These experiences often overwhelm an individual’s ability to cope, leaving lasting effects on mental, emotional, and sometimes physical health.
Trauma can result from incidents such as accidents, abuse, natural disasters, or witnessing violence. It disrupts a person’s sense of safety and stability, often altering how they perceive themselves and the world around them.
While trauma is a natural reaction to extreme stress, its impact varies. Some recover quickly, while others experience prolonged symptoms that interfere with daily life, leading to conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks
- Nightmares or sleep disturbances
- Emotional numbness
- Hypervigilance
- Avoidance of reminders
- Irritability or anger outbursts
- Difficulty concentrating
Why do I feel like this?
Trauma can profoundly affect how we think, feel, and behave. When we experience trauma, our brain and body respond in ways designed for survival, but these responses can linger long after the event. This often leads to feelings of anxiety, numbness, or hypervigilance, even when we’re safe. Trauma changes how we process emotions and perceive the world, making ordinary situations feel overwhelming. Understanding why you feel this way is the first step towards healing. By recognising the impact trauma has on your mind and body, you can begin to develop coping strategies and reclaim a sense of control.
Brain’s Survival Mode
Trauma activates the amygdala, triggering fight-or-flight responses. This keeps your body alert, even when danger has passed. You may feel anxious or restless because your brain is stuck in survival mode, interpreting normal stress as a threat. This heightened state can persist for months or years.
Emotional Dysregulation
Trauma disrupts the prefrontal cortex, which regulates emotions. As a result, you might struggle to manage feelings, swinging between numbness and intense emotions. This imbalance makes everyday challenges feel overwhelming, leaving you exhausted and confused about why you react so strongly to seemingly minor triggers.
Physical Symptoms
Memory and Triggers
How does therapy help?
Therapy is a powerful tool for healing trauma, offering a safe space to process painful experiences and rebuild emotional resilience. Trauma can deeply affect mental, emotional, and physical well-being, often leaving individuals feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck in distressing patterns. Through evidence-based approaches, therapy helps individuals understand their trauma, develop coping strategies, and restore a sense of control. It fosters self-awareness, emotional regulation, and healthier relationships, enabling people to move forward with confidence and hope. Whether through talk therapy, cognitive techniques, or mindfulness practices, therapy provides personalised support for recovery and long-term growth.
Safe Environment for Expression
Therapy offers a confidential, non-judgemental space where individuals can share experiences openly, reducing isolation and fostering trust, which is essential for trauma recovery and emotional healing.
Understanding Trauma Responses
Therapists help clients recognise how trauma affects thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, enabling insight into triggers and patterns, which is the first step toward regaining control and stability.
Developing Coping Strategies
Therapy equips individuals with practical tools like grounding techniques, relaxation exercises, and cognitive reframing to manage overwhelming emotions and reduce anxiety linked to traumatic memories.
Processing Traumatic Memories
Through structured approaches such as EMDR or CBT, therapy allows safe exploration and integration of traumatic experiences, reducing their emotional intensity and promoting psychological resilience.
Restoring Emotional Regulation
Therapy teaches skills to manage intense emotions, helping individuals shift from reactive states to balanced responses, improving mental health and overall quality of life.
Rebuilding Relationships and Trust
Trauma often damages interpersonal connections; therapy supports rebuilding trust, improving communication, and fostering healthy relationships, which are vital for long-term recovery and social support.
What are the therapy options that Transformations Clinical Psychology can offer me?
Please contact us or follow this link if you would like to set up an assessment with a psychologist at Transformations Clinical Psychologist.
Meet Our Team
Meet our friendly and experienced team, here to help you with confidence and care.
Amy Wang
Mandarin
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We are here to support you
Please contact us or click on this link if you would like to see one of our experienced psychologists
FAQ
Q1. What happens in the first session? Do I need to prepare?
Your first appointment is 50–60 minutes. We’ll get to know you—what’s been hard, what you’d like to change, and what’s helped before. You’re welcome to bring notes or just come as you are; we’ll go at your pace. Please complete the online intake and consent forms beforehand. Sessions are available in person (Sydney) or via secure telehealth across Australia. We’ll finish with a clear plan and time for your questions. If you’re in immediate danger, call 000.
Q2. How do fees and Medicare/private insurance work? Do I need a GP referral?
You can book without a referral. If your GP provides a Mental Health Treatment Plan, you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate. We’ll check your eligibility and confirm your out-of-pocket cost before you commit. Private health (Extras) can’t be claimed with Medicare for the same session—please check your fund for coverage. If cost is a concern, let us know and we’ll talk through options.
Q3. Will my information be kept confidential?
Yes. Your sessions and records are kept private under strict legal and ethical standards. There are a few exceptions—if there’s a serious risk of harm, concerns about a child or vulnerable person, or a court order. If we ever need to share information, we’ll explain why, what will be shared, and involve you as much as possible.