Trauma Therapy and EMDR in Adelaide

We are highly trained and experienced in working with clients who suffer trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Trauma (c-PTSD). Basically, anything under the umbrella of trauma is our wheelhouse. We are dedicated to and extremely passionate about this work, and pride ourselves on our advanced knowledge and experience in these areas. So, if you are looking for trauma therapy in Adelaide (or anywhere in Australia!), you're well and truly in the right place. Learn more about our resident trauma therapist, Helen Billows, here.

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Understanding Trauma: It’s Not About the Event, but the Impact on Mind and Body​

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Many people associate trauma with major life events, like accidents or violent crimes, but trauma is defined by how our minds and bodies process an experience—not necessarily the event itself. This means that a wide range of experiences can be processed as traumatic, even if they don’t fit typical ideas of “trauma.” We often see clients who are experiencing symptoms of trauma without having gone through stereotypically traumatic events.

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Common Life Experiences That May Trigger Trauma or PTSD Symptoms

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Sometimes trauma arises from situations we might not initially recognize as traumatic, such as:

• Breakups in relationships: Losing a close relationship can leave a lasting emotional impact.

• Experiencing betrayal: When trust is broken, especially by someone close, it can cause trauma.

• Public shaming or intense embarrassment: Situations that cause humiliation can deeply affect a person’s sense of safety and self-worth.

• Feeling threatened or scared: Being yelled at, confronted aggressively, or made to feel unsafe can lead to trauma symptoms.

• Relationships with unpredictable or volatile people: The stress of managing someone else’s changing moods can take a serious emotional toll.

• Loss: It is very common for losses to be traumatic, particularly if they are violent, extremely unexpected and/or very sudden. These circumstances can complicate and severely prolong the grieving process.

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Technically, PTSD refers to a single incident; but in our experience, many people who have experienced trauma have not just experienced a single event. This is where complex trauma (or C-PTSD) enters the chat, and it's a whole other kettle of fish.​ As a general definition, c-PTSD refers to the broad range of psychological and physiological symptoms that can occur after experiencing a range of repeated traumatic experiences over a long period of time. ​Complex trauma is very complicated and the possible symptoms are extensive.​

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Some examples of c-PTSD symptoms include:

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• Fawning: People-pleasing tendencies or difficulty saying “no” to others 

• Challenges with anger management: Feeling as though you go from calm to intense anger (0 to 100) despite efforts to control it.

• A sense of disconnection from your true self: You might feel like you don’t know who you truly are or that you’re not living authentically.

• Feeling like there are dramatically different sides to you: Some people describe having a “Jekyll and Hyde” experience where moods shift dramatically.

• Difficulty with emotional connection: Either struggling to feel emotions or feeling emotionally overwhelmed on a regular basis.

• Constant feelings of worthlessness: A persistent sense of “not being good enough” or lacking value.

• High empathy for others but little self-compassion: You may have deep compassion for others but struggle to give the same to yourself.

• Frequent self-criticism: Harshly judging yourself or calling yourself negative names when you make mistakes.

• Invalidating your own emotions: Frequently telling yourself that your feelings are “dramatic” or “not valid”​​

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How We Can Help