Trauma Therapy in Kelowna, BC
At Kelowna Trauma and Life Therapy, we offer trauma therapy in Kelowna, BC and the Greater Okanagan area. We work with adults, youth, and families using an integrative, evidence-based approach to help you process difficult experiences, manage trauma-related symptoms, and work toward healing. Our mission is to provide effective trauma care to help you find relief.
With professional help, healing is possible.
Hurting is part of human nature. We live, love, fall and get back up again. Yet, healing is a journey that looks different for everyone. While some of us can surf turbulent waters and navigate painful moments, others wander and struggle to make it to shore.
You may have lost a family member or someone dear to you but haven’t been able to grieve. Perhaps you survived a dangerous event or violent incident and keep reliving the episode over and over again. You might have endured an abusive relationship that still weighs heavily on you. Or maybe you have been repeatedly exposed to people who have experienced trauma and are deeply affected by it.
No matter how big or small, trauma has the potential to linger and leave you adrift.
If you feel stuck, lost, or overwhelmed by all the treatment options out there or want to help a loved one who’s hurting, we are here for you.
What Is Trauma?
Trauma refers to our natural response to a threatening, frightening, or severely distressing event. Contrary to what films might have taught us, trauma is not solely caused by warfare or car accidents. There is a broad range of experiences, big and small, that can produce a traumatic response, such as:
Acute injury, illness, or medical procedure
Bullying or harassment
Childhood neglect
Discrimination
Divorce or breakup
Loss of a partner, family member, or friend
Military combat or terrorism
Motor vehicle accident
Natural disaster or adverse event
Physical or emotional abuse
Sexual assault
Violent attack or robbing
Trauma can be primary or vicarious
Primary or direct trauma might occur when individuals experience a traumatic experience firsthand.
Vicarious or secondary trauma can happen when individuals are repeatedly exposed to traumatic materials or people who have suffered trauma. This includes occupations in trauma-heavy fields such as health care professionals, domestic violence workers, law enforcement, first responders, or people affected by disturbing content (e.g., explicit news, violent stories, crime scenes, etc.).
Who Can Benefit From Trauma Therapy?
While some of us can process painful events and carry on, others remain “stuck” in trauma.
Unprocessed trauma may reside in our body and subconscious, altering our nervous system. It can impact our physical, emotional, and relational selves, triggering our fight, flight, or freeze response even when we are not in danger. These lasting effects of trauma are also known as post-traumatic stress (PTSD).
What Are Common Signs of Trauma & PTSD?
Avoidance of people, locations, or situations that remind you of trauma
Constant worry or nerves
Disturbing memories and thoughts about the incident
Extreme caution or hypervigilance
Fear of speaking about the traumatic experience
Flashbacks or nightmares that make you feel you are reliving the event
Guilt or shame
Helplessness and low motivation
Irritability or anger problems
Restlessness or trouble sleeping
If you are suffering from these post-traumatic stress symptoms or if trauma is affecting your quality of life, therapy can help.
What Are the Different Types of Trauma Therapy?
Trauma therapy aims to help you process unresolved wounds so you can move forward with your life. You will meet with a licensed mental health professional to explore the corners of your trauma, discover how it’s manifesting in your mind and body, and achieve healing.
There are multiple forms of trauma therapy treatment, including:
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprogramming (EMDR): Helps reprocess the memory of the traumatic event using bilateral stimulation (e.g., eye movements following an oscillating light, vibrating paddles, alternating tones, etc.).
Neurofeedback: Addresses trauma at the brain function level, identifying the areas of your brain that are misaligned and retraining it through gentle and non-invasive procedures.
Somatic Experiencing: Seeks to recognize, endure, and release posttraumatic stress stored in the body to find relief.
Walk and Talk Therapy: A combination of mindful movement and counselling that allows you to calm your mind, foster creativity and enjoy the benefits of physical activity.
Internal Family Systems (IFS): Supports you in getting to know all the parts or sub-personalities of your internal system and provides a model to manage any dysfunctions.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): DBT teaches you emotional regulation skills, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness and mindfulness.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT):Helps you manage symptoms of trauma by changing thoughts and behaviours. You can experience relief from traumatic symptoms through understanding what caused the trauma, accepting that it happened, and finding new meaning from the experience.
Our Trauma Therapy Approach
Perhaps you are hesitant about seeking help or have already tried a specific treatment that didn’t meet your expectations.
At Kelowna Trauma and Life Therapy, we understand how cumbersome it is to find the right therapist and treatment. Our team of practitioners has experience in a broad range of therapeutic methods and follows a collaborative approach tailored to your unique needs.
First, we’ll do a thorough assessment to determine the best course of action for you. Trauma is our specialty, so we offer a wide variety of evidence-based options to support you in addressing and healing from trauma.
We will monitor your progress and make adjustments accordingly. While you might access different modalities or see multiple practitioners, we’ll ensure you have a point of contact throughout the entire process. We will all work together to offer the most comprehensive, streamlined, and effective care for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Trauma therapy helps people process distressing experiences and address their lasting effects on emotions, relationships, and sense of safety. Depending on your needs, treatment may help you manage symptoms, develop coping skills, and feel more grounded in your daily life.
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You may benefit from trauma therapy if a difficult experience continues to affect your daily life, relationships, or emotional well-being. Signs can include intrusive memories, nightmares, anxiety, guilt, difficulty sleeping, or feeling constantly on edge. You do not need a PTSD diagnosis to seek support.
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Yes. Trauma can have lasting effects on your emotions, behaviour, and relationships without meeting the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). You can seek therapy to work through these effects even without a formal diagnosis.
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Sessions may involve exploring your experiences, understanding your emotional and physical responses, developing coping skills, or working with distressing memories using a specific therapeutic approach. Your therapist will help you determine an appropriate pace based on your needs and readiness.
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No. While some approaches involve discussing difficult experiences, trauma therapy does not always require you to describe everything that happened. Your therapist can help you build coping skills and explore treatment options at a pace that feels manageable.
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EMDR uses bilateral stimulation as part of a structured process to help people reprocess distressing memories. Other approaches work differently: Somatic Experiencing focuses on bodily responses, CBT addresses thought and behaviour patterns, and IFS explores different parts of your internal experience. The right approach depends on your needs and treatment goals.
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Yes. Trauma therapy can help address the lasting effects of childhood abuse, neglect, bullying, or repeated distressing experiences. Treatment can help you understand how these experiences affect you today and develop new ways of responding to stress and relationships.
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The right approach depends on your experiences, symptoms, preferences, and goals. Our team will assess your needs, discuss appropriate treatment options, and monitor your progress so your care can be adjusted as needed.
