We’ve all had those moments when our gut says “don’t do it”—but we’re not sure if that’s wisdom speaking or fear disguised as protection.For trauma survivors and highly sensitive people especially, it can be tricky to tell whether a strong internal signal is intuitive knowing or a conditioned survival response. Let’s unpack how to discern the difference so you can trust yourself more deeply. 1. Understand What Each One Is Intuition is a calm, grounded knowing. It comes from a

Trauma is often thought of in terms of the mind: the thoughts, memories, and experiences that shape our emotional state. However, what many people don’t realize is that trauma doesn't only live in the mind—it also resides in the body. Somatic trauma is the concept that emotional and psychological pain can be stored in the body, creating physical tension, discomfort, and symptoms that may persist long after the traumatic event has passed. As a somatic trauma therapist, I’ve se

Each year in this country millions of children are the victims of child abuse at the hands of parents, guardians and other adults. Whether this abuse is physical, sexual, verbal or emotional, it can leave scars on their heart and psyche for many years. Here are just some of the long-term effects of child abuse on adult survivors: Forming Healthy Bonds and Relationships The lingering effects of childhood abuse make it very difficult to trust others and form normal, healthy con

According to CDC data, 1 in 4 children experiences some form of trauma or abuse in their childhood. More sobering statistics indicate that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men have experienced rape at some point in their lives. These numbers suggest that many people, male and female, young and old, have and will experience trauma in their lifetime. Treating Health in People with Trauma If you’ve ever gone to the doctor or been treated at an emergency room, you know that the entire sc

When tragedies like mass shootings occur, most of us struggle to make sense of it. How could something so terrible happen? What would cause another human being to do such a thing? And how can we move on with the knowledge that this latest mass shooting most likely won’t be the last? After a traumatic event, it is common to experience emotions such as shock, anger, sadness, and fear. Many people, especially young children, experience trouble sleeping and concentrating. While i

Traumatic events such as war, rape, and severe accidents can lead people to suffer from symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). What we have recently discovered is that any event that is experienced as threatening can generate PTSD-like symptoms and negatively affect a person’s quality of life. Somatic Experiencing® (SE™) was developed by psychologist Peter A. Levine to address the effects of trauma. Levine developed this modality after noticing that prey animals,

Over the past several years, there have been numerous traumatic events all across the country. From incidents of mass violence to devastating natural disasters, hundreds of thousands of Americans have experienced or witnessed a disastrous or life-threatening event. In addition to tragedies such as these, anyone who has experienced a shocking or dangerous incident (such as a car accident or a robbery) is at risk of developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a se