Trauma affects every aspect of your life, influencing emotional, mental, and physical well-being. It can leave you feeling numb, isolated, overwhelmed, or constantly on edge. Trauma is often imprinted in our minds and bodies through experiences where we felt a loss of control or an inability to take protective actions, leaving us with a profound sense of helplessness. These lingering effects can disrupt relationships, work, and daily functioning, creating a cycle of distress that feels difficult to escape.
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At Intentions Counselling & Consulting in Burnaby, we offer trauma-informed counselling to help individuals process and heal from these challenging experiences. Using evidence-based approaches like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), we support clients in safely exploring their trauma, reducing its impact, and reclaiming a sense of control. For children and adolescents, our play-based and family therapy services provide age-appropriate interventions to address trauma in a nurturing environment.
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Our registered clinical counsellors are committed to creating a safe, compassionate space where healing and growth can thrive. If you’re searching for trauma counselling in Burnaby or seeking help with PTSD or anxiety-related challenges, we’re here to support you in your journey toward recovery and resilience.
Definition
Trauma is the lasting emotional response that often results from living through a distressing event. Experiencing a traumatic event can harm a person’s sense of safety, sense of self, and ability to regulate emotions and navigate relationships. Long after the traumatic event occurs, people with trauma can often feel shame, helplessness, powerlessness and intense fear.
Common Symptoms
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Feelings of shock, denial, or disbelief;
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Difficulty concentrating;
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Increased irritability or mood swings;
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Increased anxiety or fear;
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Withdrawing from others;
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Feeling disconnected or numb;
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Flashbacks to the traumatic event;
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Physical symptoms such as headaches, chest pain, or nausea;
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Feeling overwhelmed or frustrated;
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Change in appetite;
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Difficulty sleeping; and/or;
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Difficulty enjoying things you used to enjoy.
Is it Time to Make a Change?
Often, trauma tricks you into thinking that you are unsafe and it causes you to experience anxiety and depression. However, this does not need to be your way of life. You do not need to “cope” with anxiety. Through Traumatic Incident Reduction, our goal is to support you in achieving resolution through gently finding ways to resolve your trauma. In developing tools that you can use consistently to regulate your experience of a traumatic event, you will learn to achieve a new way of living. If you are noticing that you want to reengage with your life and gain control again, it is time to make a change and reach out to our team.