What is Trauma
Trauma is often misunderstood as simply an event.
The true definition of trauma is the lasting imprint that experience leaves on us. Dr. Peter Levine, a pioneer in trauma research, describes trauma as “frozen” stress or energy that our bodies couldn’t fully process at the time, often leaving us stuck in a state of “fight, flight, or freeze.” Dr. Gabor Maté explains that trauma—and especially Complex PTSD (CPTSD)—can arise from prolonged stress, often from repeated or ongoing relational trauma, leaving us feeling isolated, unsafe, or disconnected from ourselves. Research shows that the true impact of trauma lies not in the events that happened to us, but in how it has affected our sense of safety, self-worth, and connection.
Is trauma keeping you stuck?
Here are some common symptoms of complex trauma and Complex PTSD
Difficulty with Emotional Regulation
Do you have trouble managing the
intensity and duration of “negative” emotions? Emotional flashbacks can create overwhelming feelings that were felt during past traumas as if they were happening in the present moment.
Hypervigilance
Are you always on high alert for real or perceived threats? Or highly sensitive to other people’s body language, tone, or facial expressions? Chronic hypervigilance leads to an over-activated nervous system which keeps your body in survival mode, triggering fight-flight-freeze-or-fawn responses.
Relationship Difficulties
Do you find it difficult to trust others? Or find it challenging to form and sustain healthy, fulfilling relationships? Effects of trauma can inflict significant stress on interpersonal relationships and negatively impact how we relate to others.
Dissociation or Depersonalization
Do you have little to no memory of your childhood? Or at times feel disconnected from yourself and the world around you? Obsessive worry, rumination, and catastrophizing may also be signs of dissociation.
Why Coaching Helps
At Resilient Joy Coaching, my approach to trauma and CPTSD differs from traditional therapy.
Therapy often focuses on unpacking and understanding past experiences, working through deeply rooted causes of trauma over time. Coaching, on the other hand, is about working together to help you reconnect with your body, mind, and inner wisdom.
We’ll develop practical tools for building everyday resilience. My goal is to empower you to reconnect with yourself, creating awareness and strategies that allow you to move forward in ways that feel right for you.
If you’re seeking a supportive space for self-discovery and healing, coaching offers an approach centered on empowerment and resilience. It’s a path toward reclaiming joy, strength, and self-compassion—on your terms, at your own pace.