Counselling for Childhood Trauma

Childhood trauma can be caused by a variety of bad experiences, including emotional, physical, sexual, developmental, medical, or attachment trauma that was experienced by a person as a child. Children are often assumed to be resilient when it comes to bad experiences. However, research shows that many of these children will carry the emotional burdens of their past into adulthood. Childhood trauma is a significant factor in the development of many mental health issues in adulthood, such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Although not all trauma will create lasting damage in the bodies and minds of those it affects, some people may need the understanding, kindness and guiding hand of someone trained to administer trauma-based healing. Counselling provides a safe space to explore past experiences and learn to heal from them.

Adults with Childhood Trauma

Childhood trauma has the potential to continue affecting an individual long into adulthood. It can negatively impact a person's trust in others, self-confidence and personal boundaries, relationships, and behaviour. Furthermore, continuous exposure to traumatic situations can cause general anxiety and depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, separation anxiety, social anxiety, self-destructive behaviour and chronic health issues such as pain, indigestion and headaches.

Common Kinds of Trauma

Domestic Abuse and Neglect

Childhood trauma impacts the development of children and teens. Countless studies have shown that childhood abuse, neglect and/or exposure to domestic violence can lead to negative life-long outcomes. Teenagers and adults who have grown up around or have directly experienced domestic abuse may develop mental health issues such as trust issues, anxiety, depression, PTSD, eating disorders, communication issues, low self esteem and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Developmental Trauma

Developmental trauma is a largely overlooked consequence of long term, repeated childhood neglect, parental inconsistency, verbal abuse, emotional abandonment or manipulation by parents. Adults who suffered from developmental trauma may go on to develop Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), which is characterized by difficulties with building relationships, emotional regulation, memory issues, poor or disjointed self-perception, low self-esteem and trust issues.

Attachment Trauma

When children are separated from the main caregivers, they may experience attachment trauma. Children and adults who have experienced this kind of trauma may experience trust issues, withdraw from relationships in order to avoid further rejection or hurt or become overly dependent or attached to others who have shown them kindness or affection. In some cases, a person may develop separation anxiety, which causes a person to feel extreme anxiety about being alone, nausea, stomach pain and stress when being separated from a parent, care giver, spouse, pet or child.

Medical Trauma

Medical trauma is a form of post-traumatic stress disorder that can result from experiencing a negative and traumatic event while receiving medical care as an adult or child. It should not be confused with accident trauma, where the latter is related to being traumatized by a serious accident. Medical trauma can result from a variety of circumstances including being treated poorly by healthcare providers, having a painful experience with a medical procedure, surviving a life-threatening medical event, injury, or illness, or simply being on the receiving end of a serious diagnosis.

Accident Trauma

The aftermath of being injured in an automobile accident can be a long, difficult process. It is not uncommon for victims to have trouble regulating their thoughts, feelings, mood, and behaviour following a collision. They may feel hypervigilant, agitated, anxious, depressed, or numb. Many have problems with sleep, memory, attention, and concentration. They may be forgetful or internally preoccupied, phobic and fearful.

Assault Trauma

Being physically or sexually assaulted has a way of disrupting the mind and body - it affects the individual on a neurological level. This kind of trauma disrupts how we see the world, others, and ourselves. The victim often feels unsafe, trapped, vulnerable, and confused, while also grappling with denial, confusion, guilt, shame, anxiety, or depression. Many victims of assault blame themselves for what happened to them and that may lead to self-destructive behaviours.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is the first form of therapy that uses eye movement to process the traumatic memories. A counsellor will help their patient access those memories by stimulating both sides of the brain, alternating from the left side to the right, by directly stimulating both sides of the body using clickers or tapping. When both sides of the brain are stimulated, the individual will be better able to face, understand, and process these traumatic memories.

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Trauma Therapists

Alyssa Gonzalez

Alyssa Gonzalez

Registered Psychologist
$220 per hour
Alyssa works with children, adolescents, & adults who experience a variety of concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, parenting, trauma, family issues, stress and more.
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Amanda Herbert

Amanda Herbert

Occupational Therapist
$170 per hour
Amanda provides assessments and counselling for depression, anxiety, trauma, chronic pain, sensory and emotional dysregulation, and cognitive impairments.
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Cara Hason

Cara Hason

Provisional Psychologist
$180-200 per hour
Cara has over 10 years of experience in helping individuals living with anxiety, depression, trauma, panic attacks, stress, OCD, intrusive thoughts, PTSD, relationship issues, and perinatal issues.
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Cassia Tayler

Cassia Tayler

Provisional Psychologist
$180-200 per hour
Cassia works with teens, adults, and couples living with anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, relationship issues, self-identity and cultural identity issues, life transitions, and more.
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Diana Izard

Diana Izard

RSW (Adults Only)
$190-200 per hour
Diana supports children, youths, families and individuals with anxiety, stress, burn out, developmental disabilities, ASD, eating disorders, relationship problems, ADHD, self-esteem and more.
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Jaimee Grossklaus

Jaimee Grossklaus

Provisional Psychologist
$200 per hour
Jaimee works with adults who live with anxiety, trauma (PTSD), depression, stress, poor self-esteem and confidence, work concerns, chronic health concerns, and brain injuries.
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Jacob Fox

Jacob Fox

Provisional Psychologist
$200 per hour
Jacob works with teenagers and adults living with anxiety, depression, anger, grief, relationship issues, men's issues, and more.
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Joshua Woelfle

Joshua Woelfle

Registered Psychologist
$200 per hour
Joshua works with adults and teenagers living with PTSD, ADHD, mood disorders, stress, suicidal ideation, grief and loss, phobias, OCD, addictions, and relationship issues.
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Joel Zimmerman

Joel Zimmerman

Registered Psychologist
$200 per hour
Joel works with individuals who need support for anxiety, depression, personal growth, and trauma (PTSD); as well as couples and families who want to improve communication, conflict management, and trust.
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Rameen Kargger

Rameen Kargger

Registered Psychologist
$200 per hour
Rameen offers assessments and counselling for couples and individuals with relationship issues, anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem, phobias, OCD, and much more.
Not accepting new patients
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Natalya Austin

Natalya Austin

Reg. Clinical Social Worker
$200 per hour
Natalya has 16 years of experience helping individuals with a variety of issues anxiety, depression, relationship issues, loss, parenting, stress, OCD, self-esteem, insomnia, life transitions and more.
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Steve Slopek

Steve Slopek

Registered Psychologist
$220 per hour
Steve provides counselling for individuals living with trauma, anxiety, substance issues, relationships issues & more; as well as, assessments to diagnose ADHD and autism.
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Stephen Walker

Stephen Walker

Reg. Clinical Social Worker
$200 per hour
Stephen works with individuals (12+) who are living with anxiety, depression, anger, trauma (PTSD) and more; and couples who are looking to improve their connection, trust, intimacy, and communication skills.
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Get Matched To The Right Therapist

Not sure who can help you? You can either fill out the form to be matched to a therapist that specializes in your unique situation or give us a call at (403) 588-7639.

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