For many people, trauma is understood as a single event. When we experience a single event trauma, such as sexual assault, this is by itself considered acute trauma. Meaning, this is a very specific experience that will likely be a therapeutic focus. I work with this type of trauma, however, the majority of my focus is on what is called chronic or complex trauma.

(1) repetitive, prolonged, or cumulative (2 ) most often interpersonal, involving direct harm, exploitation, and maltreatment including neglect/abandonment/antipathy by primary caregivers or other ostensibly responsible adults, and (3) often occur at developmentally vulnerable times in the victim's life, especially in early childhood or adolescence, but can also occur later in life and in conditions of vulnerability associated with disability/ disempowerment/dependency/age /infirmity, and so on. (shared from article)

When we are exposed to stressful environments, we tend to develop unique patterns of behavior. For some, this may result in difficulty slowing down. For others, lethargy and a lack of motivation may be your stress response (maybe even a mix of both). Feeling safe and relaxed with others may feel difficult and become a barrier to developing stable and satisfying relationships. My approach >>