Trauma Therapy St. Albert, Edmonton, Peace RIver
EMDR THERAPY
St. Albert Trauma therapy
By integrating psychological services at our St. Albert Counselling practice, we offer a comprehensive approach that acknowledges the profound impact of trauma on mental and physical health. Our focus is on not only helping individuals heal emotionally but also on nurturing their physical well-being. Through evidence-based therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Polyvagal therapy and holistic practices, we guide towards recovery and equip you with the tools to develop resilience. This approach recognizes the interconnectedness of the mind and body, ensuring a more profound and lasting path to wellness.
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What is Trauma?
TraumaHow do you recognize it? What do you do with it?
Trauma is not the event that happened but how the person experienced it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma Therapy
What is trauma?
Trauma results from exposure to an event or series of events that a person experiences as emotionally overwhelming, distressing, or life-threatening. Trauma can impact an individual’s emotional, mental, physical, relational, and even spiritual wellbeing. These experiences may overwhelm a person’s ability to cope and can create lasting effects on how they feel, think, relate to others, and experience safety in the world.
Can trauma affect people differently?
Yes. Every person responds to traumatic or highly stressful experiences differently. Two people may experience the same event but react in very different ways based on factors such as past experiences, emotional support, coping skills, nervous system responses, and overall life circumstances.
Some individuals experience symptoms immediately after a traumatic event, while others may not notice the effects until months or years later.
What types of experiences can cause trauma?
Trauma can result from many different experiences, including:
- Childhood trauma or neglect
- Abuse or domestic violence
- Accidents or medical trauma
- Grief and loss
- Relationship betrayal
- Separation or divorce
- Bullying
- First responder or workplace trauma
- Sudden life changes
- Exposure to violence or unsafe situations
- Ongoing emotional stress or instability
Trauma is not defined only by the event itself, but also by how the experience impacts the individual emotionally and neurologically.
What are common signs of trauma?
Trauma may affect emotions, thoughts, behaviours, physical health, and relationships. Some common trauma responses include:
- Anxiety or panic
- Emotional overwhelm
- Difficulty regulating emotions
- Sleep problems or nightmares
- Hypervigilance or feeling unsafe
- Depression or emotional numbness
- Irritability or anger
- Difficulty trusting others
- Avoidance behaviours
- Relationship struggles
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feeling disconnected from others or oneself
Symptoms may appear differently in children, teens, and adults.
Can trauma impact relationships?
Yes. Trauma often affects a person’s sense of emotional safety, trust, and connection with others. Individuals who have experienced trauma may struggle with vulnerability, emotional closeness, fear of abandonment, emotional reactivity, or difficulty trusting others.
Trauma can impact relationships with partners, children, family members, friends, and coworkers. Therapy can help individuals better understand these patterns and begin rebuilding healthy connection and emotional safety.
Can trauma lead to unhealthy coping behaviours?
Yes. Some individuals develop coping mechanisms to try to manage emotional pain, stress, or nervous system overwhelm. This may include emotional withdrawal, unhealthy eating patterns, substance use, overworking, avoidance, or other behaviours intended to reduce distress.
Trauma therapy can help individuals develop healthier coping strategies, emotional regulation skills, and greater self-awareness.
Can children and teenagers experience trauma?
Yes. Children and teens can be deeply affected by traumatic or emotionally overwhelming experiences. Trauma in children may appear as behavioural changes, emotional outbursts, anxiety, withdrawal, school difficulties, sleep issues, emotional dysregulation, or relationship struggles.
At WJW Counselling and Mediation, we provide trauma-informed therapy for children, teens, adults, couples, and families.
How can trauma therapy help?
Trauma therapy helps individuals process difficult experiences, improve emotional regulation, develop healthier coping strategies, strengthen relationships, and rebuild a sense of safety and connection. Therapy may involve approaches such as EMDR, attachment-based therapy, nervous system regulation, cognitive and emotional processing, and trauma-informed counselling.
Treatment is individualized based on each person’s experiences, goals, and emotional needs.
Do you offer trauma therapy in St. Albert, Edmonton and Peace River?
Yes. WJW Counselling and Mediation offers trauma therapy in St. Albert, Edmonton and Peace River as well as virtual trauma counselling across Alberta. Our therapists support children, teens, adults, couples, and families experiencing trauma, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, relationship difficulties, and other trauma-related concerns.
WJW Counselling has Certified EMDR Therapists.
At WJW Counselling and Mediation, we offer trauma therapy with EMDR Certified and EMDR-trained therapists in St. Albert, Edmonton, and virtually across Alberta. Finding a Certified therapist is difficult, it is important to have a Certified therapist who has been supervised with numerous hours of experience.
Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR & Trauma Therapy
What is EMDR therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based trauma therapy approach designed to help individuals process distressing memories, reduce emotional reactivity, and support nervous system healing following traumatic or overwhelming experiences. EMDR therapy helps the brain reprocess experiences that may feel “stuck,” allowing individuals to move toward healing, emotional regulation, and reduced distress.
Do you have EMDR Certified and EMDR-trained therapists?
Yes. WJW Counselling and Mediation offers trauma therapy with EMDR Certified and EMDR-trained therapists in St. Albert, Edmonton, Peace River, and virtually across Alberta.
What concerns can EMDR therapy help with?
EMDR therapy may help individuals experiencing:
- Trauma and PTSD
- Childhood trauma
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Grief and loss
- Abuse and neglect
- Relationship trauma
- Attachment wounds
- Emotional regulation difficulties
- Motor vehicle accident trauma
- First responder stress
- Distressing memories
- Chronic stress and overwhelm
EMDR can be beneficial for both recent and longstanding traumatic experiences.
Is EMDR therapy only for trauma?
No. While EMDR is widely known for trauma treatment, it may also help individuals struggling with anxiety, negative self-beliefs, emotional triggers, performance anxiety, grief, and other emotionally distressing experiences that continue to affect daily functioning.
Do you provide EMDR therapy for children and teens?
Yes. Some of our therapists work with children and teenagers using trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate approaches, including EMDR therapy where clinically appropriate. Therapy is tailored to the child or teen’s emotional needs, developmental stage, and comfort level.
What can I expect during EMDR therapy?
EMDR therapy begins with building emotional safety, coping skills, and trust with your therapist before processing difficult experiences. Sessions may involve identifying distressing memories, emotions, body sensations, and beliefs connected to past experiences while using bilateral stimulation techniques to support processing and healing.
Your therapist will guide the process at a pace that feels safe and manageable.
Do you offer virtual EMDR therapy in Alberta?
Yes. WJW Counselling and Mediation offers virtual EMDR therapy across Alberta when clinically appropriate. Virtual EMDR can provide flexible access to trauma therapy for individuals living outside of St. Albert and Edmonton, including rural and remote communities.
How do I know if EMDR therapy is right for me?
EMDR therapy may be helpful if past experiences continue to affect your emotions, relationships, nervous system, self-esteem, or daily functioning. During the intake process, your therapist can help determine whether EMDR or another trauma therapy approach would best support your needs and goals.
Forms of Trauma
Childhood Trauma
Although trauma can occur at any age, it has particularly debilitating long-term effects on children’s developing brains.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD develops when the symptoms of trauma persist or worsen in the weeks and months after the stressful event.
Abuse
We offer individual, group and family counselling and use a variety of specialized evidence-based treatment models such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Somatic Therapy.
Trauma
Therapy
WJW Counselling provides effective and evidence-based treatment to people of all genders and ages to help them cope and move past trauma. Including EMDR for Adults and Youth.
Our Team
Book Online
Call 780-460-1037
Goals of Trauma Therapy using EMDR
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Process the trauma – get to the root of your symptoms so that you can truly heal -
Envision your future success -
Learn about trauma and common responses to trauma -
Gain an understanding of the trauma you experienced -
Boost your confidence and self-esteem -
Build bonds in relationship -
Express or regulate your emotions -
Handle stressful situations -
Reconnect with your true self -
Learn helpful strategies to strengthen the relaxation response of your mind and body -
Minimize or eliminate the trauma response from your body and mind -
Learn tools to manage stress and the unpleasant ripples of trauma
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https://wjwcounselling.org/emdr-therapy-a-compassionate-guide-to-healing-from-trauma/