TRAUMA THERAPY · VANCOUVER & BC ONLINE
Your body remembers what your mind tries to move past.
What you’ve lived through can linger in the body long after the moment has passed, shaping how safe the world feels. Healing is possible.
Trauma
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Therapy
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Healing
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Through
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Connection
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Trauma 〰️ Therapy 〰️ Healing 〰️ Through 〰️ Connection 〰️
UNDERSTANDING
What is Trauma?
Trauma is not only what happened. It is what happens inside you afterward, sometimes for years, in ways that can be hard to name.
It lives in your thoughts: replaying details you would rather let go of, turning moments over, searching for what you missed or could have done differently.
It lives in your body: a tight chest, shoulders up near your ears, a jaw you clench without noticing, or a numbness that makes it hard to feel much at all.
It lives in what you avoid: and in how you move through the world, in pain that sits so deep you have learned not to go near it.
And underneath all of it is the exhaustion of carrying this every day. That depletion is real, and it takes up more than most people in your life ever see.
Note From Rachel
I know what it is to carry something heavy and private, to hold it so carefully that no one around you ever sees the weight of it. My own experience is part of what brought me to this work, and part of what I bring into the room.
There is no version of you that is too much. Whatever you bring through the door, you will not carry it alone.
DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?
You may recognize some of these.
✓ Numbness, feeling cut off from yourself or the people around you, like watching your own life from one step back.
✓ Replaying conversations and moments from days ago, still turning them over for what you said or should have done differently.
✓ Hypervigilance. A body that stays braced and scanning, even when nothing is happening.
✓ Avoidance. Staying away from certain people, places, or conversations, without always knowing why.
✓ Exhaustion. Holding everything together on the outside while feeling hollow or overwhelmed inside.
✓ Shame. Quiet, private judgment about your own reactions, carried mostly alone.
✓ Distrust. Struggling to let people in, even when part of you wants to, even when they have not given you a reason not to.
BEGIN THE WORK TOGETHER
You have been holding this alone for long enough.
You have been carrying this for a long time.
In your sleep. In your body. In your closest relationships.
That is exactly who this work is for.
Therapy is a space to slow down, understand your responses without judgment, and build something steadier at your own pace.
I invite you to book a free consultation to learn more about the process, and to see if this feels like the right fit for you.
What is trauma therapy?
Trauma therapy is a form of counselling that focuses on experiences that have had a lasting effect on how you think, feel, and move through the world. It is not about assigning a diagnosis, or asking you to relive what happened in detail. It is about understanding how past experiences are showing up in the present, and building, gradually, more capacity to feel grounded and safe.
What are signs that I might benefit from trauma therapy?
Some common signs include difficulty sleeping or staying asleep, feeling easily startled or on edge, avoiding situations or people without being fully sure why, feeling disconnected from yourself or from the people around you, or carrying a heaviness that is hard to name. You do not need a single dramatic event, or a formal diagnosis, to benefit from trauma support.
Is PTSD the same as trauma?
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a specific clinical diagnosis that can develop after a traumatic event or series of events. Trauma, in a broader sense, refers to any experience that has had a lasting effect on your nervous system and your sense of yourself in the world. It is possible to be significantly affected by trauma without meeting the criteria for PTSD. Both are real, and both deserve care.
Can therapy help even if I don't remember specific events?
Yes. Trauma does not always come with clear or complete memories attached. Some people carry its effects in their bodies and in their patterns of behaviour, without a clear narrative of what happened. Therapy can work with what is present now, including physical sensations, emotional responses, and recurring patterns, without requiring you to reconstruct a full story.
What approaches are used in trauma therapy?
I draw on a range of trauma-informed approaches and adapt what I use to what makes sense for each person. This includes somatic awareness, parts-based work, and attachment-focused approaches. The pace and methods are led by you, not by a fixed structure. You can learn more about how I work on the Meet Rachel page.
Does trauma therapy mean I have to talk about what happened?
No. There is no requirement to describe or recount events in detail. Some people find it useful to speak directly about their experiences, and others do not. What matters is that we work at a depth and pace that feels grounded for you, not one that pushes you into more than you are ready for.
Is online trauma therapy available in British Columbia?
Yes. I offer online trauma counselling to clients throughout BC, including Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Victoria, Kelowna, and communities across the province. Sessions are conducted securely via video. Many clients find online therapy just as meaningful as in-person work, and the flexibility makes it easier to access consistent support. You can explore the full range of areas I work with to get a sense of whether this is the right fit.
How do I know if trauma therapy is right for me?
If something has been weighing on you for a while, and you have a sense, even a quiet one, that it connects to experiences from your past, that is often enough to begin. The free consultation is a space to talk about what you are carrying, ask questions about the process, and get a feel for whether working together seems like the right fit.