Trauma can mean different things to different people. I define trauma broadly as an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that overwhelms our ability to cope and function, and negatively impacts how we view ourselves, others, and the world. How we interpret and cope with an event differs greatly from person to person, and that means we must be careful to not dismiss or minimize the impact. Something can be traumatic even when it is not directly happening to us, but something that we witness. Learn more here.

When a disturbing event happens, people might initially feel exhausted, confused, sad, anxious, agitated, numb, spaced out, physically on edge, or emotionally flat. These are normal reactions in helping individuals cope, and then disappear over time. Signs of more intense responses can include ongoing distress, dissociation, and vivid memories/dreams even when we are no longer in those disturbing moments. Our difficulties coping and making sense of what happened can lead to lasting tiredness, sleep issues, nightmares, a fear of reliving the experience, anxiety, flashbacks, depression, and avoidance of things that remind us of that disturbing event.

The acronym "ACEs" stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences. It originated from a groundbreaking 1995 study that revealed children who faced physical and emotional abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction correlated with an increased likelihood of adverse outcomes later in life. ACEs are prevalent, with over two-thirds of the population reporting at least one ACE, and nearly a quarter experiencing three or more. The more ACEs someone goes through, the higher the chances of struggling with serious health problems later in life. Individuals who have faced substantial adversity or encountered numerous ACEs are not irreversibly damaged. However, it's crucial to acknowledge the impact of trauma on their lives. Learn more here.

Studies have shown that people from different ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds are more likely to face negative impacts from various traumas and meet the criteria for PTSD. Trauma affecting communities and cultures can stem from collective experiences of discrimination, racial violence, or prejudices. Historical/generational trauma are intense and wide-spread events that influence the entire culture and can impact future generations. The genocidal policies of the Hutus in Rwanda and the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia are examples of historical trauma.

Nevertheless, there can be a profound level of resilience from our cultural identity. Some strengths from our cultural identity can include: a strong connection with elders/family/community, finding support in spiritual/religious practices, strong work ethnic, and unique perspectives to make-meaning in the face of adversity.

Trauma-Informed Care comes from a framework of recognizing that previous adverse or traumatic experiences, such as the ACEs, play a big role in understanding an individual’s life challenges. Healing happens by not simply addressing the immediate/current problems. We must getting to know our life story and how our past influenced the person we are today to make long-lasting change. In therapy, Trauma-Informed Care looks like collaborating together to create a safe space where you are fully in control of what happens in sessions. I want to empower you to use your strengths to create the life that you want.