Question 1

What is trauma counseling?

Accepted Answer

Trauma counseling is a specialized form of therapy that helps individuals process and heal from distressing or overwhelming experiences. These can include a car accident, assault, childhood abuse, loss of a parent, emotional neglect, narcissistic relationships, or ongoing stress in enmeshed family systems. The goal is to support nervous system regulation, reclaim personal agency, and integrate the trauma in a way that reduces its disruptive impact.

Question 2

How do I know if I need trauma therapy?

Accepted Answer

You might benefit from trauma therapy if you:

• Have experienced a life-threatening event
 • Struggle with emotional overwhelm or shutdown
 • Experience intrusive thoughts or flashbacks
 • Feel chronically anxious, numb, or disconnected from yourself or others
 • Have a harsh inner critic or feel “stuck” in patterns tied to past experiences
 • Grew up in a family system where your needs were minimized or dismissed

Even if you’re unsure whether your experiences “count” as trauma, therapy can help you explore their impact safely and without judgment.

Question 3

What kind of trauma do you specialize in?

Accepted Answer

I specialize in working with:

• Adults who lost a parent early in life and are processing delayed or complex grief
 • Women recovering from emotionally abusive or narcissistic relationships
 • Individuals disentangling from enmeshed family systems and learning healthy boundaries
 • Those affected by relational trauma rooted in toxic institutions or systems (i.e. spiritual abuse)

Question 4

What approaches do you use in trauma counseling?

Accepted Answer

My approach is relational and exploratory, with a balance of insight and practical tools. I integrate:

• Lifespan Integration therapy: a "right brain" and "bottom-up" approach designed to integrate younger ego states within the mind-body system
 • Somatic awareness and nervous system regulation
 • Attachment-focused therapy
 • Psychoeducation and boundary work
 • Gentle directiveness to challenge entrenched dynamics, when helpful

Question 5

How long does trauma counseling take?

Accepted Answer

There’s no one-size-fits-all timeline. Some clients come for a few months to gain clarity and tools, while others engage in deeper work over a longer period. We will tailor the pace to your goals, needs, and capacity for change.

Question 6

Is trauma therapy retraumatizing?

Accepted Answer

It shouldn’t be. A trauma-informed approach is paced, collaborative, and centered on your sense of safety and agency. We won’t rush into painful memories; instead, we’ll build trust, stabilize your nervous system, and only explore deeper layers when you're ready.

Question 7

Can I start therapy if I’m not ready to talk about the trauma yet?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Many clients begin therapy unsure of where to start or whether they’re “ready.” We can begin by focusing on what's happening for you in the present, including how past experiences are showing up in your current relationships, emotions, or body, without needing to revisit everything right away.

Question 8

What’s the difference between PTSD and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)?

Accepted Answer

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) usually develops after a single traumatic event — like a car accident, assault, or natural disaster. Symptoms often include flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and strong emotional reactions to reminders of the event.

Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), on the other hand, results from chronic or repeated trauma, especially in childhood or within close relationships — such as ongoing emotional abuse, neglect, or enmeshment in a dysfunctional family system. C-PTSD symptoms often include:
 • Difficulty trusting others
 • A deeply ingrained sense of shame or worthlessness
 • Emotional dysregulation
 • Persistent feelings of being “stuck” or chronically unsafe
 • Trouble knowing or expressing your own needs

While both PTSD and C-PTSD affect the nervous system and sense of safety, C-PTSD often impacts identity, relationships, and boundaries in more complex and long-term ways. Trauma counseling can help you gently unpack and heal from either or both forms of trauma.

TRAUMA COUNSELING IN ALABAMA

NAVIGATE LIFE'S CHALLENGES WITH CONFIDENCE

TRAUMA COUNSELING IN ALABAMA

START THERAPY
for TRAUMA with VÁTHOS COUNSELING

TRAUMA COUNSELING IN ALABAMA

NAVIGATE LIFE'S CHALLENGES WITH CONFIDENCE

TRAUMA COUNSELING IN ALABAMA

START THERAPY for TRAUMA with VÁTHOS COUNSELING

START THERAPY
for TRAUMA with VÁTHOS COUNSELING