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How do you find a trauma counsellor who actually understands trauma—and won't cause more harm than healing? In this episode, I share my own painful experiences with unhelpful therapists, break down the essential traits of effective trauma counselling, and give you nine critical questions to ask before choosing a counsellor so you can find the right support for your unique healing journey.

What You'll Learn

• The five essential traits of a good trauma counsellor: trauma-informed practice, specialized training, healthy therapeutic relationships, psychoeducation, and collaborative assessment
• Why traditional talk therapy often fails trauma survivors—and what trauma-informed practice actually looks like in action
• Red flags to watch for: pity instead of empathy, pathologizing language, lack of boundary work, judgment, and power-over dynamics
• How trauma counsellors should handle power imbalances, privilege, and systemic oppression in the therapeutic relationship
• Why specialized training in EMDR, somatic approaches, parts work, and dissociation matters—and how counsellors should integrate these modalities
• The importance of psychoeducation about trauma: window of tolerance, polyvagal theory, structural dissociation, and nervous system regulation
• The difference between assessment (collaborative exploration) and diagnosis (fitting criteria)—and why collaborative assessment empowers your healing
• Why trauma counsellors need to do their own healing work—and how it affects the quality of care you receive
• Nine essential questions to ask during a free consultation to evaluate if a counsellor is the right fit for your needs

Who This Is For
This episode is for adults seeking trauma counselling who want to make informed choices about their therapeutic support—especially if you've had negative experiences with past therapists, feel confused about what effective trauma counselling should look like, or belong to marginalized communities and need a counsellor who understands systemic oppression and can navigate power and privilege healthily. It's also for anyone who wants to know exactly what questions to ask before committing to working with a trauma counsellor.

Additional resources

• Healing trauma: A step-by-step guide to reclaim your life: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/blog/healing-trauma/
• Benefits of trauma counselling: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/blog/why-is-trauma-counselling-important-empowering-recovery

If you’d like to explore more, here are some ways to connect:

• Discover more about my work: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/
• Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brighthorizontherapies/
• Send me a message: [email protected]

Trauma Demystified is not intended to replace professional guidance, support, medical treatment, or therapy. Please feel free to consult your physician or a mental health professional for any questions about mental health symptoms.

Bright Horizon Therapies is located in the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda. This land is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. I acknowledge the traditional caregivers of the land and the importance of a commitment to the continued decolonization of my work.

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What does recovery from trauma actually look like—and how do you know what goals to set for your unique healing journey? In this episode, I break down the three phases of trauma recovery, introduce three categories of trauma based on complexity, and share actionable SMART goals for each phase so you can create a personalized roadmap toward thriving after trauma.

What You'll Learn

• The three phases of trauma recovery defined by Judith Herman: safety and stabilization, integrating traumatic memories and grief, and reconnection and post-traumatic growth
• Three categories of trauma based on complexity: single-event trauma (Category 1), multiple/interpersonal trauma (Category 2), and chronic early trauma from enduring conditions (Category 3)
• How attachment style, window of tolerance, and inner resources differ across trauma categories—and why this matters for setting realistic recovery goals
• SMART goals for Phase 1: expanding window of tolerance, building inner resources, learning about healthy vs. toxic relationships, establishing boundaries, and reconnecting with fragmented parts
• SMART goals for Phase 2: integrating traumatic memories through EMDR, releasing emotional charge, and grieving losses (including the childhood or safety you deserved but didn't have)
• SMART goals for Phase 3: reconnecting with relationships, finding meaningful activities, re-evaluating values and beliefs, and navigating ongoing systemic oppression if you belong to marginalized communities
• Why recovery isn't linear—and how to view setbacks as opportunities for deeper self-awareness rather than failure
• The truth about how long recovery takes (spoiler: there's no one-size-fits-all timeline)—and why breaking healing into smaller goals makes the journey more concrete and measurable

Who This Is For
This episode is for adults healing from trauma who want clarity on what recovery actually involves and how to set meaningful, achievable goals for their unique healing journey—whether you've experienced a single traumatic event, multiple traumas, childhood abuse, complex trauma, or systemic oppression. It's also for anyone who feels overwhelmed by the recovery process, wonders if they need professional support, or wants to understand why their healing doesn't fit a linear timeline.

Additional resources

• Healing trauma: A step-by-step guide to reclaim your life: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/blog/healing-trauma/

If you’d like to explore more, here are some ways to connect:

• Discover more about my work: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/
• Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brighthorizontherapies/
• Send me a message: [email protected]

Trauma Demystified is not intended to replace professional guidance, support, medical treatment, or therapy. Please feel free to consult your physician or a mental health professional for any questions about mental health symptoms.

Bright Horizon Therapies is located in the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda. This land is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. I acknowledge the traditional caregivers of the land and the importance of a commitment to the continued decolonization of my work.

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Do you ever feel like your emotions are out of control—swinging between anxiety and numbness, or feeling stuck in shutdown or overwhelm? In this episode, I break down the window of tolerance, explain how trauma dysregulates your nervous system, and share practical strategies to help you recognize your state and get back to emotional balance.

What You'll Learn

• What the window of tolerance is—and the three states: optimal arousal (inside the window), hyperarousal (fight/flight), and hypoarousal (freeze/fawn/shutdown)
• How childhood experiences shape your window of tolerance—and why secure attachment with caregivers helps it expand naturally
• The impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) like abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, and chronic stress on narrowing your window
• Adult experiences that can further narrow your window: chronic stress, racism, discrimination, marginalization, and environments that dismiss emotions
• Why understanding your nervous system state is essential before doing deeper trauma work like EMDR—and how widening your window builds resilience
• Practical strategies for hyperarousal (when you feel anxious, angry, overwhelmed): breathwork, 5-4-3-2-1 grounding, going outside
• Practical strategies for hypoarousal (when you feel numb, dissociated, shut down): physical activity, dancing or upbeat music, gentle movement
• Why patience and consistent practice matter—and how to start with low activation moments to build your capacity over time

Who This Is For
This episode is for adults healing from trauma who struggle with emotional dysregulation, frequent anxiety or panic, feeling numb or disconnected, or swinging between states of overwhelm and shutdown. It's especially helpful if you've experienced childhood trauma, adverse childhood experiences, chronic stress, or systemic oppression—and want practical, body-based tools to recognize your nervous system state, return to your window of tolerance, and build greater resilience in navigating life's challenges.

Further resources for your healing journey:

• Healing trauma: A step-by-step guide to reclaiming your life: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/blog/healing-trauma/
• How to heal from complex trauma (Podcast episode): https://brighthorizontherapies.com/blog/how-to-recover-from-complex-trauma/
• Adults with childhood trauma: How to heal and reclaim your life: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/blog/adults-with-childhood-trauma/

If you’d like to explore more, here are some ways to connect:

• Discover more about my work: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/
• Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brighthorizontherapies/
• Send me a message: [email protected]

Trauma Demystified is not intended to replace professional guidance, support, medical treatment, or therapy. Please feel free to consult your physician or a mental health professional for any questions about mental health symptoms.

Bright Horizon Therapies is located in the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda. This land is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. I acknowledge the traditional caregivers of the land and the importance of a commitment to the continued decolonization of my work.

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What is trauma—and how do you know if you've experienced it? In this first episode of Trauma Demystified, I introduce the podcast, share my own story of healing from childhood violence, and break down what trauma actually is, the different categories it falls into, common symptoms, and what recovery can look like when you're ready to begin your journey.

What You'll Learn

• What trauma actually is: an experience that overwhelms your nervous system and blocks your capacity to integrate it emotionally
• The difference between explicit memories (you remember the event) and implicit memories (you feel sensations and emotions but can't connect them to what happened)
• Five categories of trauma: shock trauma (single events like accidents), developmental trauma (childhood experiences), relationship trauma (betrayal by trusted people), systemic trauma (oppression and structural violence), and intergenerational trauma (wounds passed across generations)
• Common symptoms of trauma: anxiety, depression, mood swings, guilt and shame, dysregulated nervous system (fight/flight/freeze/fawn), dissociation, hypervigilance, nightmares, flashbacks, chronic pain, and more
• Why symptoms are adaptive coping skills—not signs you're broken—and how the trauma-informed perspective asks "what happened to you?" instead of "what's wrong with you?"
• The three phases of trauma recovery based on Judith Herman's model: restoring safety and stability, resolving trauma and grieving losses, and reintegrating into life
• Why recovery looks different for everyone—and depends on what happened to you, your resources, and where you're starting from
• The importance of parts work, healthy connections, non-judgmental environments, and reconnecting with your body and breath

Who This Is For
This episode is for anyone who suspects they've experienced trauma but doesn't know where to start, feels confused by their symptoms, or has internalized stigma and believes they're "broken" or "crazy." It's also for people who want to understand what trauma recovery actually involves before beginning their healing journey—and need hope that healing is possible, even if the path feels uncertain right now.

If you’d like to explore more, here are some ways to connect:

• Discover more about my work: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/
• Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brighthorizontherapies/
• Send me a message: [email protected]

Trauma Demystified is not intended to replace professional guidance, support, medical treatment, or therapy. Please feel free to consult your physician or a mental health professional for any questions about mental health symptoms.

Bright Horizon Therapies is located in the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda. This land is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. I acknowledge the traditional caregivers of the land and the importance of a commitment to the continued decolonization of my work.