“Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.” ― Peter A. Levine

Trauma and PTSD Therapy at Bydand Therapy

At Bydand Therapy, we understand that trauma deeply affects the mind, body, and spirit. We’re here to help you regain resilience, purpose, and fulfillment through a trauma-informed approach that combines Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), EMDR Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS) or Parts Work, and classic Exposure Therapy. Our comprehensive approach allows us to tailor therapy to your unique experience, so you can heal in a safe and supportive environment.

Our Integrated Approach to Trauma Healing

Our work is grounded in the Six Pillars of Transformation, which foster personal meaning and align you with your core values throughout your healing journey:

1. Contacting the Present Moment (Be Here Now): Trauma often keeps us anchored to the past or in fear of the future. We help you connect to the present, grounding you in the here and now.
2. Defusion (Watch Your Thinking): Trauma can cause overwhelming thought patterns. Through ACT, you’ll learn to observe these thoughts without being consumed by them, allowing space between your trauma responses and your true self.
3. Acceptance (Open Up): Resilience comes from embracing all emotions. We guide you to welcome difficult feelings, releasing the struggle to avoid or suppress them.
4. Self-as-Context (Balancing Self-Identity): Trauma can blur the lines of self-identity. We help you connect with a stable sense of self that endures beyond difficult memories and experiences.
5. Values (Know What Matters): Rediscovering your values can help you create a meaningful life. We’ll help you identify these core values, allowing them to guide your actions and decisions.
6. Committed Action (Do What It Takes): Healing is a journey that requires action. We support you in making choices that align with your values, leading to a life of purpose and personal meaning.

Understanding Trauma and Our Path to Healing

Trauma is not a chosen experience; it is an instinctive response to overwhelming threat, where survival mechanisms take over. When danger is sensed, the body activates a fight-or-flight response, rapidly increasing heart rate and breathing, while the brain suppresses rational thought to enhance reaction speed. While these responses help us through immediate threats, they often leave the experience only partially processed. Without safety or support, the unresolved effects of trauma can linger, keeping the body’s survival systems in a heightened state. This prolonged activation can lead to chronic feelings of hypervigilance, helplessness, or vulnerability, as if the past is still present.

Modern trauma therapies have evolved to address both physical and emotional effects, providing tools beyond talk therapy alone. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy works with the body’s trauma responses gently, using mindful awareness without needing extensive verbal recounting. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), another widely used method, helps reprocess key aspects of traumatic memories, easing their impact on daily life. Internal Family Systems (IFS) offers a compassionate framework, viewing unresolved trauma as different inner “parts” in need of understanding. Together with ACT’s Six Pillars, these approaches create a holistic path for healing, empowering you to find balance and resilience as you integrate these experiences.

Take the First Step Toward Healing

If you’re ready to begin your journey with a trusted partner, reach out for a free 15-minute consultation. We’re here to help you reclaim your life from the effects of trauma. Schedule your consultation today to explore how Bydand Therapy can support your healing.