Written by Dr Janet Williams, Trauma Specialist
Dr Janet Williams is a trauma specialist working in the UK but now mainly online. Her doctoral research explored the biopsychosocial impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the systemic implications of intergenerational trauma.
Following on from the introductory article which defines what trauma is and how it impacts us on a physical, emotional, and psychological level, this article identifies different types of traumatic experiences. Traumas are not just one-off events but can be persistent in childhood and through adult life in relationship, family, and work. While ‘Big T’ traumas may clearly cause evident harm and distress, ‘small t’ traumas are recurring micro events that may be less obvious but accumulate to become just as impactful.
Here are some different categories of trauma that may be helpful in identifying harmful experiences that may have affected us and our delicate nervous systems deeply:
Single event trauma
Any single event that causes a level of shock and distress that takes someone beyond what they can cope with. Examples of single event trauma includes car accidents, incidents of war or terrorism as well as any number of unexpected or intensely stressful life events.
Relational trauma
Relational trauma can be obvious or more subtle but results from experiences in relationship where there is a lack of empathy and attunement to your needs by another person you would expect to care about you. This often occurs within families and often not recognised.
Developmental trauma
This is trauma experienced in utero through to early childhood, when there is harm caused to the foetus or child by being exposed to toxic environments, having inadequate care and attachment to primary carers to the extent that healthy development is hindered.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
There are 10 ACEs commonly referred to: physical, sexual, and psychological abuse and two forms of neglect (failure to provide and failure to supervise), exposure to domestic abuse, having a family member with mental illness, a family member who misuses substances, caregiver incarceration and parental separation or divorce.
Discrimination
Any form of discrimination, e.g., due to race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, age, disability and so forth. This type of trauma is again obvious or subtle, and even though more acknowledged nowadays it is still tolerated as a unsavoury part of our society. Bullying can also be included in this category.
Loss
Experiences of loss include bereavement, loss of a relationship, a job or any major life changes were something significant is taken away from you. These losses are not necessarily traumatic but can have a profound impact in ways that may take time to become apparent.
Working with any kind of trauma need not be a difficult or painful process. It can actually feel profound and quite liberating, allowing us to connect to our bodies and understand our behaviours more deeply. If you feel that your past is limiting your capacity to enjoy life today, do get in touch to find out more about Dr Janet’s 10-week trauma programme.
Dr Williams has run a successful Trauma Counselling Programme in Bath, UK, these past three years and is now making the 10-week programme available online to increase accessibility. She works with all types of trauma, and has remarkable data evidencing the efficacy of the programme in a matter of weeks. Her work is founded on a deeply relational person-centred approach, with an eclectic mix of evidence-based techniques and a strong focus on the somatic experiences within the body.
