PTSD & Trauma Psychologists in Brisbane | Nurtured Thoughts Psychology
Our trauma psychologists in Brisbane offer comprehensive counselling services that address your trauma and mental health holistically. We can't change the traumatic events we've been through, but we can change how we react to it, live with it, and grow with it. Experience the healing that therapy can bring with the professionals who care.
Understanding Trauma
Trauma is a natural human response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that impacts a person’s mental health. Its effects can cause feelings of helplessness, diminish their sense of self-worth, and limit their ability to feel a full range of emotions and experiences. Everyone's reaction to trauma is different, but for the most part, it can affect one’s daily life and ability to function long after the traumatic event has happened.​​
Acute Trauma
A one-off traumatic event, such as being in a car accident.
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Chronic Trauma
Repeated or prolonged events, such as being in a domestically violent relationship.
Complex Trauma
Repeated and interconnected events over a prolonged period, such as experiencing neglect and emotional abuse as a child or in a recent relationship.
How Trauma Works in The Brain
When you experience trauma, the brain sets off an alarm system signalling danger. This kicks the brain into a high-alert mode often associated with the fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response. The hippocampus in the brain files memories, but a traumatic memory can be challenging for the hippocampus to sort and store. This can lead to the symptoms of trauma because the brain cannot process what has happened and file the memory away.
The frontal cortex of the brain, responsible for decision-making and emotional control, can also be impacted by trauma, making it hard to make coherent decisions and regulate emotions. All of these factors can cause stress and more physical impacts from a traumatic event. Our trauma psychologists help with this by equipping you with healthy coping techniques and memory processing to acknowledge the memory and store it in the brain properly.
How Does Autism Work in The Brain
Autism is a neurodiverse condition that influences how the brain processes information, resulting in a distinctive way of experiencing the world. The brain's networking system operates differently for those with autism, which affects communication, interaction, and how they respond to environmental changes. Their unique cognitive processing can lead to exceptional skills and a rich, individual perception of life, reminding us that variety in brain function is a natural and valuable aspect of human diversity.
Signs That You Live With Trauma
While trauma presents itself in many different ways for people, there are a few key signs that can help you identify trauma in yourself or a loved one. It’s important to understand that these symptoms may not be present all at once; they can be subtle, extreme, or not show at all in comparison to other symptoms. These symptoms are curable with proper treatment by qualified psychologists.​​​
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Sleeping issues (nightmares, insomnia, or other sleep pattern changes)
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Flashbacks or intrusive memories
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Fear
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Confusion
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Eating & digestive issues
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Shock
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Easily scared or jumpy
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Chronic pain
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Social withdrawal
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Depression
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Irritability
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Negative thinking patterns
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Concentration issues
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Shame
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Memory complications
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Anxiety
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Hypervigilance
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Headaches
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Numb to emotion
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Dissociation
Traumatic Experiences We Can Address
Through personalised sessions, our trauma psychologists work with you to address a variety of traumas, including:
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Natural disasters
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Traumatic grief
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Violence
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Car accidents
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Bullying
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Sexual abuse
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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
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Domestic abuse (including emotional or psychological)
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Childbirth
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Long-term or terminal illness
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Military incidents
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Suicide attempts
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Race-based trauma
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Child neglect and abandonment
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Chronic pain
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Intergenerational trauma
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Refugee trauma
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Community violence
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Religion or cult
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Medical trauma
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Terrorism
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Witnessing violence or a traumatic event
What Does Trauma Do to Someone?
Trauma comes in many forms, and there is a spectrum of how impactful it can be depending on one’s life experiences. For example, one person spraining a wrist could be an injury they mentally overcome straight after having a bandage put on their arm; for another, it could be a deeply emotional experience that lingers and impacts their life significantly. How someone deals with their trauma is unique, and responses to the events are different.
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For Children and Adolescents:Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) Anxiety & Depression Behavioural difficulties Social / emotional skills training Confidence training School refusal Self-esteem issues
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For Adults:Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) Insomonia Anxiety disorders Depressive disorders Addiction Life crises Trauma healing Self-esteem building Repair of old relationship patterns NDIS No matter the problem, we can help!
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For Couples:Intimacy difficulties Recovery from betrayal or infidelity Communication and conflict resolution Infertility
Recovery From Trauma
The important thing to remember is that it's okay to talk about these experiences and the heavy feelings that can come with them. With clear guidance and techniques, you can recover from trauma. Our team of trauma psychologists here in Brisbane are the specialists at listening to you and developing treatment plans to smoothen your recovery journey. Just like a physical wound, emotional wounds from trauma need care and support to heal.
5 Techniques To Try At Home
While these techniques are not cures, they are fantastic methods to help alleviate symptoms and get you in the right frame of mind. Completing these or a couple of them is a great technique to use alongside counselling to process what you’ve been through and make your healing journey safe.
