Trauma and PTSD Therapy in Aspen, Colorado

Undeniably, trauma is a reality of the human experience. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence. Most people are familiar with Post-Traumatic Stress, but have you ever heard of Post-Traumatic Growth? At Aspen Holistic Therapy we believe that not only can trauma be healed, but that with the right guidance and support, it can be transformative.

In its simplest form, trauma is what remains after we experience an event that overwhelms the central nervous system, exceeds our ability to cope and causes a disruption in emotional functioning and information processing. Most people have experienced or will experience some degree of trauma at some point in their lives.

Psychologists distinguish between “little t” traumas and “big T” traumas. A “little t” trauma might be a name that you were called that has stuck with you all of your life, an infidelity, financial struggles, divorce, witnessing violence and abrupt or extended relocation among other things. A “big T” trauma might constitute abuse, neglect as a child, loss of a loved one, combat experience, a car accident, natural disaster or any other extraordinary event that leaves a person feeling under threat and powerless.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying and traumatic event. Most people who experience a traumatic event temporarily experience difficulty adjusting to and coping with normal daily life but with time and good self-care they usually get better after several weeks or months.

If symptoms are getting in the way of normal daily functioning and last longer than several months, you might meet the requirements for a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) diagnosis and require some extra support.

Thanks to recent research, we now know that in trauma survivors, the parts of the brain that have evolved to monitor for danger remain overactivated. The slightest sign of threat, whether real or not, can trigger an acute stress response that is often accompanied by intense emotions and overwhelming physical sensations. This knowledge has also helped us to view trauma symptoms as methods of adaptation and survival that have become out of balance as opposed to signs of illness.

At Aspen Holistic Therapy, we take a holistic mind-body approach to your mental health and wellbeing. We believe that in order for real change and healing to occur, the mind, body, spirit and brain must all be attended to. Trauma resolution requires building new neural connections and working with the body in order to release old wounds and stimulate long-term healing.

Every person’s history and experience is unique, but a holistic trauma-focused approach tailored to your specific symptoms might entail some combination of the following evidence-based practices: Traditional Talk-Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Nutritional Psychology if appropriate and Mindfulness-based practices.