To live is to suffer; to survive is to find meaning in the suffering.

Friedrich Nietzsche

Trauma and Abuse

Human suffering stems from a wide variety of causes. Trauma and abuse come from emotional, physical and sexual violence, along with intergenerational trauma and racism. School and workplace bullying remain insidious in society. Accidents, wars and natural disasters can cause PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. And then we have domestic, family and community violence, along with coercive control and narcissistic abuse. The list is exhaustive.

Attachment Trauma

Disrupted attachment to caregivers creates early wounds in children. This type of trauma occurs in circumstances like poverty, war, mass migration and even immigration. When adults suffer, their caregiving abilities become unpredictable and inconsistent. Researchers John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth categorized childhood insecure attachment into three categories: Anxious, avoidant, and disorganized. The impact of attachment trauma carries into adulthood with severe consequences. These include a fear of abandonment, emotional dysregulation, and an inability to feel safe in relationships. It also creates an insecure attachment to yourself where you are constantly filled with self-doubt and have poor self-esteem,

Trauma, Abuse and Attachment Wounds: How We Can Help

A core tenet of Shanti Psychotherapy is accepting that most people live with some form of unresolved trauma. It could be a single event or multiple ongoing ones. Trauma shows up in life as anxiety, panic attacks, sleep disturbances, depression, dysfunctional eating, low self-esteem, and much more.

To anyone who has experienced any of the suffering described above, know that it was never your fault. The abuse and trauma happened to you. While they remain part of your story, they do not define you as a person. Therapy can help you heal.

Therapy for Trauma, Abuse and Attachment Wounds

In the words of Friedrich Nietzsche, to survive is to find meaning in the suffering. Therapy for trauma, abuse and attachment wounds is a pathway for you to make sense of your suffering. It helps you process painful emotions and practice self-love so you can heal.

The therapy sessions will include more than discussions about your experiences. Your therapist will guide you in reauthoring your story to create a healthier narrative. With compassionate, non-judgmental and evidence-based therapy, you will build a confident and resilient version of yourself. The therapy modalities are all evidence-based and include some of the following:

• Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR): Heals the physiological and emotional roots of trauma.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Reprocesses traumatic memories to reduce their emotional impact.
• Somatic Therapy: Releases trauma stored in the body.
• Trauma-Informed CBT: Reframes negative thought patterns and develops coping strategies.
• Mindfulness Practices: Helps you stay grounded and regulate emotions.
• Hypnotherapy: Accesses and addresses deep-seated pain.
• Attachment Therapy: helps you heal early relationship wounds of insecure attachments.