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Trauma refers to the psychological and physiological impact of experiencing or witnessing events that are perceived as threatening to life, bodily integrity, or personal safety. These events may include interpersonal violence, abuse, neglect, accidents, medical trauma, natural disasters, or war. Trauma is defined not only by the event itself, but by how the individual’s nervous system and mind respond to and process the experience. While many people are exposed to traumatic events during their lifetime, responses vary widely, and not all trauma leads to long-term psychological difficulties.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a clinical condition that can develop following exposure to trauma. PTSD is characterized by persistent symptoms that extend beyond the immediate aftermath of the event and significantly interfere with daily functioning. These symptoms reflect a disruption in how the brain processes threat, memory, emotion, and bodily regulation.

PTSD symptoms typically fall into four interconnected domains:

• Intrusive re-experiencing, such as unwanted memories, flashbacks, or distressing dreams related to the trauma
• Avoidance, including efforts to evade reminders of the event, whether external (places, people) or internal (thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations)
• Negative changes in mood and cognition, such as persistent shame, guilt, emotional numbing, a diminished sense of trust, or altered beliefs about oneself and the world
• Heightened arousal and reactivity, including hypervigilance, sleep disturbance, irritability, exaggerated startle response, and difficulty concentrating

Trauma and PTSD affect not only psychological wellbeing but also physical health, interpersonal relationships, and occupational functioning. Neurobiological research demonstrates that trauma can alter stress-response systems, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, autonomic nervous system, and brain regions involved in threat detection and memory integration. PTSD is more commonly diagnosed in women, a difference thought to reflect interactions between biological vulnerability, social context, and rates of interpersonal trauma exposure.

Treatment and Support: 

There are well-established, effective treatments for trauma and PTSD. International clinical guidelines consistently identify psychological therapy as the first-line treatment. Trauma-focused therapies aim to help individuals process traumatic memories, regulate physiological arousal, restore a sense of safety, and integrate the trauma into a coherent personal narrative rather than continuing to relive it as an ongoing threat.

Trauma therapy is carefully paced and individualized. It often involves working with both cognitive and emotional processes as well as bodily responses, recognizing that trauma is stored and expressed across multiple systems. For some individuals, particularly when symptoms are severe or longstanding, psychotherapy may be complemented by medication prescribed by a psychiatrist as part of an integrated treatment plan.

Early intervention is associated with better outcomes, but meaningful recovery is also possible long after trauma has occurred. At Ontario Psychotherapy Center, trauma-informed care is grounded in current scientific understanding of PTSD and tailored to each person’s history, strengths, and goals.

You can schedule an initial session to explore whether trauma-focused therapy is appropriate for you. Following a comprehensive assessment, we can also advise whether collaboration with a psychiatrist or additional supports would be beneficial.