Therapy for Trauma

Have you or a loved one experienced something painful and unexpected, disturbing or life-threatening?  Do the memories of what happened keep coming back  and get in the way of your daily routine– nightmares, flashbacks, reliving the pain - no matter how hard you try to forget? Are you constantly feeling anxious and on high alert, unable to relax and rest?  

 If so, you might be suffering from the effects of trauma.

My name is Mark Veldkamp. I am a private practice therapist based in Downtown San Diego.  I offer highly focused, individually tailored therapy services for teens and adults who have faced trauma.

 If you are interested and ready to work together, contact me today. To learn more about trauma and how therapy can help, read on. 

Do I need therapy for trauma?

When we hear the word trauma, we tend to think about military veterans, survivors of horrific accidents, and PTSD.  Because of this, we might dismiss our experiences of trauma and try to ignore the pain we carry.  However, trauma can happen to anyone – and so many people are affected by it.  

 Some of the most common causes of trauma include: 

  • Experiencing, witnessing, or being threatened with an act of abuse or violence

  • Surviving a natural disaster (fire, flood, storm etc)

  • Being the victim of a crime 

  • Vehicular accidents 

  • Serious medical issues or illness

  • Responding to accidents, violence or crisis on the job (e.g. first responders, law enforcement, military and medical personnel)

  • Military combat

  • Sudden loss or death of a loved one (read more about Therapy for Grief here)

  • Vicarious or secondary trauma (hearing about trauma and experiencing symptoms as a result)

Most people will experience a traumatic event at some point in their lives. Some trauma survivors will develop emotional or psychological difficulties, which therapists refer to as posttraumatic stress:

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Not everyone affected by posttraumatic stress will meet criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.  Regardless, symptoms of posttraumatic stress can ruin relationships, damage careers, and dampen your quality of life.  If you or a loved one have been experiencing any of these signs of posttraumatic stress or may have PTSD, don’t wait.  Contact me today to get the help you deserve.

How can therapy for trauma help?

The human mind is designed to learn and remember.  This is particularly true of emotionally charged memories.  We remember first kisses, graduation ceremonies, weddings really well because of the strong feelings that came with it.  However, this also applies to disturbing and painful events.  No matter how hard you try to forget, the memories flood back as a constant reminder of what happened.  Your thoughts and feelings are instantly triggered by sounds, sights, and smells that bring up the trauma.  The fight, flight or freeze response can sometimes be so strongly activated that you might feel a loss of self-control as you react with anger, aggression, or fear.  

Those intense feelings of fear, anger, and disgust cause intense emotional pain.  In many ways, trauma acts much like an injury or wound—if it is not treated properly you will continue to experience pain until you receive the right care.

Posttraumatic stress, then, is a sign of improper healing.  The mind tries to make sense of what happened, but the healing process is interrupted by flashbacks, thoughts and reactions related to the trauma. The trauma continues to cause pain and stress long after the actual event that caused it took place.

This is why therapy for trauma (also called trauma counseling or trauma therapy) is the first line of treatment for posttraumatic stress.  Therapy provides a chance to revisit the hurt in a safe, healthy manner. You get to explore and understand what happened and begin to set things straight again, all at your own pace.  Your mind and body get a chance to work through what happened, pick up the pieces, and prepare for the life ahead.  You can learn better ways of coping with life’s stressors, develop new perspectives (about yourself and about the trauma), and rebuild your sense of normalcy.  

 Therapy for trauma can help you:

  • Accept your emotions and learn how to cope

  • Reconnect with your body and be present

  • Rebuild relationships and feelings of trust

  • Learn relaxation techniques and improve sleep

  • Manage flashbacks and nightmares

  • Feel confident and self-aware

  • Move forward from the past and experience growth

Interested?  Let’s Work Together!

Ready to get scheduled for your first session?  Interested in learning more about me?  Let’s connect– I would love to hear from you.  

I provide individual therapy for people from all over the San Diego area - Downtown San Diego, Little Italy, Point Loma, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, Hillcrest, North Park and beyond. Additionally, I offer virtual therapy, also known as teletherapy, to residents of California.

I founded my own practice because I believe that no one should have to face life’s challenges alone. 

I know that, together, we can get things back on track.