Many people question the validity of their childhood experiences. Frequent comments I hear in sessions include:

“It wasn’t great but was it really that bad?”

“There are people out there who have been through so much worse.”

“I’m overreacting and over dramatizing it.”

Adult children raised in traumatic or emotionally abusive families may struggle to accept that their experiences were harmful. Disturbing childhood experiences are often normalized by family members, causing a victim to feel confused and guilty about the abuse. Survivors of trauma may struggle with low self-esteem and develop negative beliefs about themselves, leading to increased depression and anxiety.

What is Complex Trauma?

Complex Trauma results from exposure to repeated traumatic events from which you could not escape. Examples of repeated traumas include but are not limited to:

• Childhood abuse, abandonment, or neglect
• Repeated witnessing of domestic violence
• Experiencing repeated physical, emotional, or sexual abuse by a partner
• Having an absent or inconsistent parent
• Having a parent that struggles with addiction
• Experiencing persistent emotional invalidation
• Being raised by an emotionally distant or overly critical caregiver

All Trauma is Valid

It can be difficult to recognize if you have experienced abuse, especially if the abuse perpetrated was emotional and psychological. Abuse is often confusing and can cause you to question the reality of your experiences.

Many people tend to minimize complex trauma because they believe these experiences are minor in comparison to others. Trauma is specific to each person’s perception of and reaction to a disturbing event. All trauma is worth exploring and processing in order to heal and move forward.

Complex Trauma Symptoms:

If you have experienced complex trauma, you may notice the below symptoms:

• Low self-esteem/self-worth
• Depressed mood
• Feeling detached or disconnected
• Feelings of guilt and shame
• Difficulty in relationships
• Preoccupation with an abuser
• Trouble managing emotions
• Avoidance
• Excessive worry, anxiety, or fear
• Feeling responsible for others’ emotions
• Difficulty trusting others

Complex Trauma Therapy

Therapy for complex trauma can help you understand and heal from past disturbing experiences.

I specialize in helping individuals heal from traumatic experiences. Contact me to get started with Complex Trauma Therapy.