Supporting Trauma Recovery at Every Stage

Take a look at a few books, podcasts and course we might recommend when beginning the trauma healing journey.

The word trauma literally means “wound.” Psychological trauma refers to events or experiences that cause lasting harm to our mental health. When we hear the word “trauma” many of us think about very intense events, like near-death experiences, sexual assault, or violence experienced in combat. While these kinds of experiences are traumatic, it’s important to remember that they aren’t the only types of events that can cause trauma. 

While there are many different ways to define trauma, one definition is that trauma happens when a person experiences something that is “too much, too fast, or too soon” for them to be able to process. Often these experiences overwhelm our capacity to cope. However, trauma can also arise from a person having gotten too little of something, too late — care, human affection, understanding, love. For example, when our physical or emotional needs are unmet, particularly when we are children, trauma may arise. 

The “too much, too fast, too soon / too little, too late” definition is helpful because it leaves space for the fact that each person is unique, and what “too much” or “too little” looks like, is going to vary from person to person. For example, two siblings may experience the same traumatic event, such as the loss of a parent, but they may respond in different ways based on differences in age, personality traits, or the types of support they receive after the loss.

Studies show that up to 70% of people experience trauma in their lifetime. Though trauma can be caused by a variety of different circumstances — no matter how “big” or “small” they may seem — one common thread is that trauma leaves a part of us frozen during the time where something went wrong for us and unable to fully process our new experiences for what they are.

Trauma therapy not only helps to alleviate trauma symptoms but to transform lives by helping the part of ourselves frozen in an old moment to get “unstuck.” When this happens, we can experience our lives in all of their fullness in the current moment with more ease and less of a struggle against ourselves.

Books

Healing trauma is an ongoing, not a place of permanent arrival. Here are a few recommended books that get it.

Podcasts

• The Healing Trauma Podcast

• Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

• Specific episodes: 

  • Psychologists off the Clock: 309. The Language of Emotions with Karla McLaren

  • Psychologists off the Clock: 210 Strategies for Becoming Safley Embodied

Course

Survivors Toolkit by the Pleasure Mechanics

If you’d like more personalized support or have questions about trauma, processing, and healing, we'd love for you to reach out. We believe that addressing trauma requires community, patience, and creativity and want to hold space with you as you heal. Check out our team and schedule a free consultation today!