Ottawa Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD/CPTSD) Therapy

Understanding PTSD and Complex Trauma

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing events that overwhelm the nervous system’s ability to cope.

These experiences may include:

• Violence or assault
• Domestic abuse
• Serious accidents or medical trauma
• Sudden loss or life-threatening events
• War, displacement, or forced migration

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) often develops after repeated or prolonged trauma, particularly in environments where a person had limited ability to escape or protect themselves.

This may include:

• Childhood abuse or neglect
• Long-term domestic violence
• Chronic emotional abuse
• Captivity, trafficking, or coercive control
• Prolonged exposure to unsafe environments

While PTSD is often connected to a single traumatic event, CPTSD tends to involve patterns of trauma that unfold over time.

Stress and the Nervous System

When stress continues for long periods, the body can remain in a heightened state of alertness.

The nervous system becomes used to operating in survival mode, which can make it difficult to relax even when the immediate pressure has passed. Some people notice that they still feel tense or unsettled even when life appears stable on the surface.

Stress management therapy helps retrain the nervous system so that moments of rest, recovery, and emotional regulation become possible again.

How Trauma Can Show Up

Trauma affects both emotional and physical systems. The nervous system may remain on high alert long after the original event has passed.

You might notice:

• Flashbacks or intrusive memories
• Nightmares or disrupted sleep
• Feeling constantly “on edge” or hyper-alert
• Emotional numbness or detachment
• Difficulty trusting others
• Strong reactions to reminders of the event
• Avoiding places, conversations, or memories connected to the trauma

Some people also experience dissociation, where they feel disconnected from their body, surroundings, or emotions.

These responses are not signs of weakness. They are the nervous system’s attempt to protect you after overwhelming experiences.

Trauma Lives in the Body as Well as the Mind

Traumatic memories are not always stored in the same way as ordinary experiences. For many people, trauma is felt physically as much as it is remembered cognitively.

Some individuals experience:

• Sudden waves of anxiety
• Tension or pain in the body
• Difficulty relaxing or feeling safe
• A sense of being disconnected from bodily sensations

Because of this, trauma therapy often involves more than talking about the event itself. Healing can include reconnecting with the body and gradually restoring a sense of internal safety.

Our Approach to Trauma Therapy

At Catharsis Psychology and Psychotherapy, trauma therapy is paced carefully and grounded in safety.

Our clinicians draw from trauma-informed approaches such as:

• EMDR therapy
• Attachment-focused therapy
• Trauma-informed cognitive approaches
• Somatic and body-based techniques
• Psychodynamic exploration of past experiences

These approaches support the nervous system in processing traumatic memories while building stability in the present.

Trauma work is never rushed. The process unfolds at a pace that respects your readiness and emotional safety.

Trauma, Identity, and Context

Trauma does not occur in isolation from a person’s social environment.

For many people, traumatic experiences intersect with systemic realities such as racism, discrimination, immigration stress, or gender-based violence.

Catharsis Psychology and Psychotherapy was founded with a commitment to providing culturally responsive mental health care for communities who have historically faced barriers to accessing therapy.

Therapy recognizes that identity, culture, and lived experience shape how trauma is experienced and how healing unfolds.