TRAUMA COUNSELLING & THERAPY IN VANCOUVER
Kitsilano I Vancouver I BC
HOLISTIC TRAUMA THERAPIST AND COUNSELLOR IN KITSILANO + VANCOUVER + BC
From Surviving To Thriving
Traumatic events overwhelm our ability to cope and leave us changed by the experience. Fearful and hypervigilant, struggling with flashbacks, nightmares, and emotional reactions that seem out of the blue. Our sense of safety and trust in the world more fragile.
These responses to trauma are automatic and designed to keep you safe. Hard-wired survival strategies which are initially protective, but can leave your body stuck in a state of emergency, as if the trauma were still happening now.
Vancouver holistic trauma therapy begins by developing a foundation of safety, steadiness and strength. From there, we can work together to reprocess traumatic memories safely and effectively, freeing you from past trauma to live with more comfort and ease.
TYPES OF TRAUMA
ACUTE TRAUMA
Exposure to a single highly-distressing event which invokes intense fear, helplessness and/or horror. Examples include: assaults, car accidents, natural disasters, sudden death of a loved one, medical trauma, falls and other accidents, and terrorism.
COMPLEX TRAUMA (C-PTSD)
Repeated exposure to events which threaten your sense of safety, usually of an interpersonal nature: childhood abuse and neglect, bullying, chronic illness, parental domestic violence, intimate partner violence and coercive control, racism and historic trauma, living in war zones, combat, and sex trafficking.
VICARIOUS TRAUMA
Vicarious trauma results from indirect exposure to other people’s trauma, and empathic engagement with trauma survivors. Common in counsellors, social workers, police officers, and lawyers.
Experiencing trauma can feel like:
INTRUSIVE SYMPTOMS
The re-experiencing of traumatic memories through nightmares, flashbacks, and the emotional and physical distress triggered by internal and external reminders of the trauma.
NERVOUS SYSTEM DYSREGULATION
Trauma can lead to an autonomic nervous system stuck in a pattern of hyperarousal and reactivity, creating high anxiety, an oversensitive startle response, panic attacks, and for some, dissociation and shutdown. Living with trauma has been likened to driving with one foot on the accelerator and one foot on the brake.
AVOIDANCE BEHAVIOURS
Trauma symptoms are intensely distressing, so avoiding reminders of the trauma makes a lot of sense! Social situations can be especially difficult, leading you to isolate yourself and shy away from seeking social support. You may also avoid going to sleep because of the frequency of traumatic nightmares.
CHANGES IN MOOD AND MINDSET
Trauma may also result in negative beliefs about yourself, others, and the world, impacting your self-worth, trust in relationships, and belief in a benevolent world and positive future. You may experience anxiety, shame, irritability, memory and concentration issues, feel emotionally detached, and less interested in the activities you normally enjoy.
Specializing in holistic trauma therapy, the mind-body connection, emotional and nervous system regulation, memory reconsolidation and nature-based healing.
HOPE STARTS HERE
I have a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of British Columbia and ten years of experience working in counselling clinics and private practice. With specialized training in EMDR, mindfulness, Polyvagal theory, inner child work and IFS, body-based therapies, and creative visualization, I’ve helped hundreds of people heal from complex childhood trauma, sexual assault, and PTSD.
I also have personal experience with complex trauma, and understand the challenges and rewards of the healing journey, as well as best practices for effective trauma resolution. I believe that you can heal too.
My approach is safe, empowering, and trauma-informed. You’re in charge of the focus and pacing of sessions, as well as the methods we use. If you are in need of support, please reach out…
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to meet, ask questions, and decide if I’m the right therapist for you.
send a MESSAGE
To book a session or free consultation, please fill out the contact form below or email me at cmoontherapy@gmail.com
CAREN MOON PSYCHOTHERAPY
306-1687 W Broadway
Vancouver, BC, V6J 1X2
(Broadway & Pine, NE corner)
cmoontherapy@gmail.com
604-809-5284
Monday 10am-7pm
Tuesday 10am-5pm
Thursday 10am-5pm
HOURS:
Copyright 2025 Caren Moon