Ans: A flashback is like mentally reliving the traumatic event. It can range from a brief, intense memory to feeling as if you are back in that moment in every sense. For example, someone who survived a house fire might suddenly smell smoke and feel heat when there is none, their heart races, and they feel panicked as if the fire is happening again. It can be very frightening. Part of therapy is learning grounding techniques so when a flashback hits, you can remind your brain “I am here, now, not back in the past,” and the flashback can pass more quickly.

Ans: We understand – talking about it can be painful. In trauma therapy, you control the pace. Initially, we focus on building coping skills and stability; we won’t force you to detail your trauma until you feel ready and safe. Therapies like EMDR allow processing without giving a detailed account of the trauma out loud. When it comes time to process the trauma, many find that while it’s hard in the moment, it becomes less distressing each time. Your therapist’s job is to support and guide you, ensuring you’re not overwhelmed. If something is too much, we slow down. Healing happens at your comfort level.

Ans: Healing from trauma is very individual. Some clients experience improvement in symptoms (like better sleep or fewer nightmares) after just a few sessions, especially with EMDR’s efficiency. A typical course of evidence-based PTSD therapy might be around 12–20 sessions (3–6 months) for a single traumatic event. Complex trauma (like repeated childhood abuse) often takes longer – sometimes a year or more of therapy – because there are multiple layers to work through. Remember, progress is progress. Even if it feels slow, each session you’re chipping away at the trauma’s hold on you. We regularly review your improvements (reduced symptom scores, increased daily functioning) to ensure therapy is helping.

Ans: While the memory of the trauma will likely always be with you, the intensity of its impact can greatly diminish. Think of it like a physical scar: it happened and the mark is there, but it doesn’t hurt anymore and it doesn’t stop you from living your life. Many people who complete trauma therapy reach a point where they remember the event without feeling acute distress – it becomes a tough memory, not an active wound. They can have anniversaries or see reminders and feel okay, maybe a bit sad but not overwhelmed. So in that sense, yes – you can move beyond the trauma controlling you. You reclaim your life narrative: “That happened to me, but it doesn’t define me.”

Ans: Yes, it can be. Not everyone with trauma reacts with obvious panic or anxiety. Some people, especially with prolonged trauma, experience emotional numbness, detachment, or dissociation. You might feel “empty” or like you’re watching life from outside your body. This is a defense mechanism ,  your mind’s way of shielding you from pain. It’s indeed a common PTSD symptom. In therapy, we’ll work gently to help you reconnect with your feelings in a safe way. Many clients gradually thaw out from numbness as they process trauma; joy and even sadness return in healthy ways. We create safety first ,  as you feel safer, the need for that protective numbness often decreases.