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PTSD AND TRAUMA THERAPY IN EDMONTON

PTSD and Trauma Counselling—Heal Complex Trauma and Relationship Trauma

Trauma can leave lasting emotional and psychological scars, affecting your daily life, relationships, and overall well-being. Whether you are dealing with PTSD, complex PTSD, relationship trauma or ongoing distress from past experiences, trauma therapy can help you reclaim your life.

Our experienced trauma therapists in Edmonton provide compassionate, evidence-based support tailored to your unique healing journey.

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What is Trauma & PTSD?

Trauma Counselling Edmonton - Life Collective Counselling

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, leading to symptoms like flashbacks, anxiety, and emotional numbness.

Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) arises from prolonged or repeated trauma, often from childhood abuse, neglect, or toxic relationships. If you're struggling with overwhelming emotions, avoidance, or feeling disconnected, working with a PTSD therapist near you can be a crucial step toward recovery.

What is Relationship Trauma?

Relationship trauma occurs when a romantic partnership or close relationship becomes a source of fear, distress, or emotional pain. This can happen in cases of Narcissistic abuse, Gaslighting, emotionally & physically abusive relationships, Long-term manipulation, Financial control and social isolation.

When these experiences leave lasting emotional distress, PTSD-like symptoms, and difficulty in future relationships, it is known as Post-Traumatic Relationship Syndrome (PTRS)

Helping you understand PTSD & Trauma in Edmonton

Trauma can result from distressing events that overwhelm your ability to cope, leading to feelings of helplessness and impacting your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. There are several signs that may indicate you need counselling.

Signs You May Benefit from Trauma Therapy
- Anxiety, panic attacks, or hypervigilance
- Difficulty trusting others or forming relationships
- Emotional numbness, detachment, or dissociation
- Trouble sleeping, nightmares, or feeling on edge
- Chronic shame, guilt, or self-blame
- Avoidance of situations, people, or places that remind you of trauma
- Sexual dysfunction or lower libido – Avoiding intimacy due to past trauma.
- Insomnia – Difficulty sleeping due to racing thoughts or nightmares.
- Blaming yourself for the abuse – Feeling guilty, shameful, or questioning your own actions.
- Feeling generally unsafe – Constantly on guard, even in safe environments.
- Anxiety and/or panic attacks – Sudden feelings of fear, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations.
- Feeling on edge or irritable – Difficulty relaxing or feeling calm.
- Distrust of other people – Finding it hard to trust new partners or friends.
- Sadness or depression – Feeling emotionally drained, hopeless, or withdrawn.
- Flashbacks to traumatic events in the relationship – Reliving painful memories unexpectedly.
- Uncontrollable anger towards the abuser – Feeling rage about what happened.
- Fear of future abuse – Worrying that new relationships will be just as harmful.

If these symptoms sound familiar, you’re not alone. Many people struggle with long-term emotional wounds after an trauma. Trauma counselling can help you process the trauma, rebuild self-trust, and learn to feel safe again.

How Does PTSD and Trauma Counselling Help?

Healing from PTSD, C-PTSD and relationship trauma isn’t just about “getting over it”—it’s about understanding what happened, breaking unhealthy patterns, and learning to trust yourself again.

Processing the Trauma – Safely working through the emotional wounds left by an abusive relationship.
- Rebuilding Self-Esteem – Letting go of self-blame and recognizing your worth.
- Learning to Trust Again – Overcoming the fear of future relationships.
- Setting Healthy Boundaries – Recognizing red flags and protecting yourself from future harm.
- Managing Anxiety & Triggers – Developing coping strategies for flashbacks, panic attacks, and intrusive thoughts.

At Life Collective Counselling, our psychologist, marriage and family therapist, clinical counsellors, and relationship trauma therapists in Edmonton provide a safe, non-judgmental space for you to heal and move forward.

PTSD and Trauma Models of Therapy

EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

A leading therapy for PTSD counselling in Edmonton, EMDR helps reprocess traumatic memories so they no longer hold emotional power over you.
Sessions involve guided eye movements to facilitate healing.

Somatic Experiencing (SE)

Focuses on the body's physiological response to trauma.
It helps release stored trauma by working through physical sensations.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Trauma

Identifies negative thought patterns linked to trauma.
It helps develop healthier coping mechanisms and responses.

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

A robust approach to complex PTSD therapy, IFS helps you heal inner wounds by working with different “parts” of yourself affected by trauma.

Trauma-Focused Therapy

Combines mindfulness, talk therapy, and body-based techniques to process trauma safely.

EMDR Therapist Edmonton - Life Collective Counselling

We Can Help You Find the Right Trauma Therapist in Edmonton

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Trauma can follow you from childhood— Adult Survivors of Childhood Trauma

If you grew up in a neglectful, emotionally unavailable, or abusive environment, you may find yourself struggling with relationships and coping with life’s stress as an adult. Childhood trauma can lead to:

Fear of abandonment – Worrying that people will leave you.
Difficulty setting boundaries – Feeling obligated to please others.
Trust issues – Doubting people’s intentions, even in healthy relationships.
Emotional triggers – Feeling overly sensitive to criticism or rejection.

Healing from childhood trauma is essential for building healthy, fulfilling relationships. Therapy can help you break the cycle of past wounds and create a future of emotional security.