Trauma

What is trauma?

Trauma is a lasting emotional response to deeply distressing or harmful experiences. It can result from events like abuse, violence, discrimination, rejection, or sudden loss. Trauma can affect how you think, feel, and connect with others.

Doran uses a trauma-informed framework, which means the team recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and creates a safe, supportive environment for healing. Many of their therapists identify as LGBTQIA+ and are especially mindful of how trauma affects marginalized communities.

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Trauma might arise from abuse, assault, military combat, serious accidents, natural disasters, or sudden loss. Not everyone exposed to trauma develops PTSD, but for some, the impact lingers and disrupts daily life.

Symptoms may include:

• Reliving the event through flashbacks or nightmares
• Avoiding situations, people, and places that serve as reminders
• Feeling emotionally numb or detached
• Hypervigilance
• Being easily startled
• Feeling constantly on edge
• Irritability
• Difficulty sleeping
• Trouble concentrating
• Guilt
• Hopelessness

Together, these challenges can make it hard to work, study, or maintain healthy relationships.

What is C-PTSD?

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) often develops after repeated or long-term exposure to trauma. This can include:

• Ongoing childhood abuse or neglect
• Domestic violence
• Toxic relationships
• Captivity
• Long-term discrimination and rejection

Unlike PTSD, which usually follows a single traumatic event, C-PTSD stems from ongoing situations where a person feels trapped with no safe way to escape.

Symptoms often include those seen in PTSD, such as flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, and hypervigilance, but may go further. People with C-PTSD might struggle with deep feelings of shame or guilt, persistent negative self-image, difficulty trusting others, and challenges maintaining relationships.

Emotional regulation can also be hard, leading to intense sadness, anger, or fear. These symptoms affect identity, self-worth, and the ability to feel safe in the world.

How does therapy help with trauma?

Therapy provides tools for managing symptoms, processing painful memories, and rebuilding a sense of safety.

The Doran team tailors treatment to each client, using approaches such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), internal family systems (IFS), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or mindfulness-based techniques.

Can trauma affect the LGBTQIA+ community in unique ways?

Many LGBTQIA+ adults face discrimination, family rejection, or violence, which can lead to trauma or worsen existing struggles. Doran’s therapists provide affirming, identity-centered care to help clients heal and reclaim their sense of belonging.

Anyone who has experienced distressing events, whether or not they meet criteria for PTSD, can benefit from trauma therapy. Your Doran provider begins with a safe, respectful conversation about your history, symptoms, and goals. Then you create a plan that helps you manage symptoms and rebuild resilience at your own pace.

Call Doran today to request a trauma evaluation or use the online form to book an appointment.