Trauma Therapy

  • Understanding Trauma

    Trauma is any deeply distressing or disturbing experience that leaves a lasting emotional, mental, or physical impact. While we often associate trauma with catastrophic events such as assault, war, or natural disasters, it can also result from experiences like loss, neglect, medical emergencies, infidelity, bullying, or even childbirth. Sometimes, simply hearing about or witnessing others’ suffering—known as vicarious trauma—can also take a toll on your wellbeing.

    At New Chapter Therapy, we recognize that trauma looks different for everyone. What matters most is how an experience impacts your sense of safety, connection, and control.

Types of Trauma

Acute Trauma

Results from a single distressing event, such as a car accident, natural disaster, or isolated assault.

Secondary Traumatic Stress

Occurs when you are emotionally impacted by someone else’s trauma—commonly experienced by caregivers, first responders, or helping professionals.

Chronic Trauma

Develops from repeated or prolonged exposure to distressing situations—such as ongoing violence, medical procedures, or unstable environments.

Vicarious Trauma

Results from indirect exposure to traumatic stories or imagery, such as through news, social media, or empathetic engagement with others’ pain.

Complex Trauma

Emerges from multiple or long-term traumatic experiences, often within relationships where safety and trust were expected, such as childhood neglect or domestic abuse.

Why People Respond Differently to Trauma

Everyone processes trauma uniquely. Factors such as your support system, life stage, personal history, temperament, and even generational trauma can shape your response. Some may feel heightened anxiety and vigilance, while others experience numbness, sadness, or disconnection. There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to respond, only your experience, which deserves care and understanding.

“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”

~ Maya Angelou

Common Effects of Trauma

Emotional Effects

  • Shock, denial, or disbelief

  • Anger, irritability, or guilt

  • Feelings of shame or powerlessness

  • Hopelessness or numbness

Physical Effects

  • Chronic tension, fatigue, or pain

  • Sleep or appetite changes

  • Difficulty concentrating

  • Heightened startle response

Psychological Effects

  • Anxiety or depression

  • Panic attacks

  • PTSD symptoms

  • Substance use or suicidal thoughts

Relational Effects

  • Difficulty trusting others

  • Fear of vulnerability or intimacy

  • Emotional withdrawal

  • Hypervigilance in relationships

If these experiences sound familiar, you may be living with the effects of trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). You are not alone—and healing is possible.

How Trauma Therapy Can Help

Trauma therapy provides a safe, compassionate space to process painful experiences and begin to rebuild a sense of trust, safety, and empowerment. At New Chapter Therapy, our clinicians are trained in evidence-based approaches such as:

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)

  • Mindfulness-Based and Somatic Approaches

Together, we’ll help you process your trauma, develop tools for managing triggers, and reconnect with your sense of wholeness and self-worth. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting what happened—it means reclaiming your life from its hold.

Book an appointment.

Take the First Step Toward Healing

You don’t have to face your trauma alone. Whether you’re struggling with recent events or long-standing pain, therapy can help you find relief, understanding, and resilience.

Schedule your appointment today and begin your journey toward restoration
and peace at New Chapter Therapy.

Book a Consultation Today