Delyse Ledgard

How do I know I need trauma counselling?

The truth is most struggles in life have roots in some kind of trauma. Which isn’t to say every hardship is trauma. 

If you find yourself repeatedly using strategies that lead to disconnection from yourself or others, it's possible that trauma may be influencing your behavior.  

It is best to think of it in layers. We start with the layer you are most concerned about. Even if you are aware of an event in your life that you think you need to address, trying to go there immediately is likely to find you bumping up against the layers of protection and avoidance that are common. Therapy is a practice of bringing to light your struggles, gaining clarity about what happened, and facing the parts of yourself you have learned to disconnect from. 

So, whether you are struggling with relationships, depression/anxiety, self-esteem, important decisions, or emotional overwhelm.  The main considerations are going to be, do I need to work on myself or on my relationship (couples counselling)?

Our past shapes us whether we realize it or not. 

I know this very well. My approach to life, which I learned in childhood, was that I had to rely on myself. This ‘go it alone’ perspective motivated me to move countries, start my own practice, and learn how to do things by myself. However, underneath this protection was a deep-seated self-doubt and longing for connection and community.  

Through my personal work of transforming the perfectionist-driven shame-based parts of me, I found more ease with vulnerability and connecting with my authentic self. I want to offer that possibility to you. Whatever your struggles are, there is a way through.

Here are some of my additional thoughts about therapy.

A relationship of genuine connection.

We believe in the power of human connection. We aim to bring our shared humanity and understanding of the complexities of life to our relationship with you. Together, we’ll go with you beyond diagnosis and symptoms to connect with all parts of you. With humility and compassion we’ll be honest with you in your search for the truth of your experience.

A belief in transformation, not quick fixes. 
In each moment we listen for what is at the root of your struggle.  We are interested in the context of your experiences, rather than labelling you as the problem.  We know that it can take time to transform the ways we have survived that keep us fearful and ashamed. We also know that each moment has the potential to reveal something new on that journey. 

A focus on experiential.

We understand how easy it is to try to find solutions with our intellect. While we honour how important our intellect serves us, we also know that deep transformation can not happen until we connect with our emotional and somatic experiences. We invite our clients to slow down, get to know these aspects of themselves and integrate them into the whole.