Therapy for Trauma in Mesa, AZ

Revisiting the past can feel scary and overwhelming, but trauma based therapy is one of the most effective ways to heal your pain. We can support you to work through past hurts to find peace in the present.

At Cactus Flower Healing, we provide trauma counseling for women in Mesa, AZ.

Information about the effects and treatment of trauma have increased in recent years. We used to think of trauma related to things like war, sexual assault, car accidents, or gun violence. But trauma can also be emotional abuse, divorce, bullying, racism… basically anything that makes us feel threatened, causes distress, and overwhelms our ability to cope.

They say you need to “let it go,” in order to move on. But if you could let it go, you probably would have by now. Instead, we often turn to things to numb the pain and discomfort - substances, shopping, sex - and then regret the choices we are making. Pushing it down or away doesn’t help resolve the pain. 

Working with a trauma therapist can help your brain and body integrate the things that have happened to you into your story of who you are.

Trauma FAQs

Is trauma different than PTSD?

PTSD (or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) is a mental health disorder resulting from exposure to traumatic events. But not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD. A trauma therapist can diagnose you with PTSD but you must meet diagnostic criteria, which includes intrusive or recurrent thoughts or images of the events, avoidance of reminders, changes in mood and physical reactions. The symptoms must also persist for more than a month after the traumatic event and interfere with daily functioning. Trauma therapy can be beneficial for reducing distress and increasing the ability to cope - whether you are experiencing PTSD or not. 

Does trauma go away or can you heal from trauma?

Your past will always be something that happened to you, but it doesn’t have to make you feel the same way. Healing from trauma means you are able to think about painful events but not feel distressed. Your triggers should not be as intense and you may begin to view your experiences with more clarity and insight. When your body and mind have healed you can start making meaning of your experiences and integrating that knowledge into the present version of yourself. A qualified trauma therapist can help support you through this process and work with you on developing healthy coping mechanisms. 

Can I take medication for trauma?

There is no medication that cures or heals trauma, but you can medicate some of the more painful symptoms. Trauma can lead to anxiety, depression and mood disturbance. Talk to your PCP or psychiatrist about whether or not medication can be helpful for the symptoms you are experiencing. 

What is the best therapy for trauma?

Healing from trauma requires a combination of establishing trust and safety and exposure and desensitization to the experience or memory. Our trauma therapists use a combination of therapies, including DBT, mindfulness practices, and EMDR, in order to provide stabilization and healing of past traumas. 

What does trauma therapy involve and what can I expect

We will work together to assess whether or not trauma therapy is a good fit for you and spend some time discussing your goals, current symptoms, and history. If there are no issues of immediate concern, we can start working on creating and strengthening resources you can use to calm and ground yourself during session and in everyday life. Building healthy and effective coping mechanisms is essential in preparing for more intensive trauma therapy. When you feel confident in your ability to use your resources and change your state, we will assess whether or not EMDR (or other exposure based therapies) might be a good fit. From there we can continue to build your skills while working on reprocessing past traumatic events. 

The most important thing to know about trauma therapy is you are in charge of the speed or intensity of the work. 

Start healing your trauma.

We know the past can be painful and that it feels scary to confront. When you’re ready, contact us to schedule a complimentary, 15-minute phone consultation. We’ll discuss what you’re going through and see if we’re a good fit for trauma therapy.