Why the Difference Matters
If you're considering therapy after a traumatic experience, you’ve likely come across terms like PTSD therapy and trauma counselling. While these approaches may seem similar, they are designed to address different levels of psychological distress. Knowing which type of therapy best suits your needs can be a crucial step toward healing.
At Another Chapter Counselling, based in Kelowna, I provide both in-person and virtual sessions, helping individuals navigate the complexities of trauma and PTSD with compassion and clinical insight. This article explains the key differences between PTSD therapy and trauma counselling—so you can feel more confident in your path forward.
What Is Trauma, and What Is PTSD?
What Is Trauma Therapy?
Trauma therapy is a broad term for approaches that support healing after distressing experiences—such as accidents, loss, abuse, or neglect. It helps individuals make sense of the emotional and physical responses triggered by those events. Trauma therapy can include traditional talk therapy, somatic trauma therapy, and other body-mind approaches to process unresolved emotions.
What Is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that may develop after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. While everyone reacts differently to trauma, PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms persist for over a month and interfere with day-to-day functioning.
Common PTSD symptoms include:
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Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts
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Nightmares
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Emotional numbness
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Avoiding places or people associated with the trauma
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Heightened startle response or hypervigilance
Some people may develop complex PTSD, which typically results from repeated or long-term trauma, such as childhood abuse or domestic violence.
Trauma vs PTSD: What’s the Difference?
It’s common to wonder: What’s the difference between trauma and PTSD?
While all PTSD stems from trauma, not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD. Trauma refers to the experience itself and how the body and mind respond. PTSD, on the other hand, is a clinical diagnosis that describes a specific set of symptoms that persist and cause disruption in one’s life.
Trauma counselling focuses on helping someone work through difficult experiences that may or may not result in a mental health disorder. PTSD therapy, by contrast, targets a diagnosable condition using structured, evidence-based approaches.
What Does PTSD Do to a Person?
People living with PTSD often feel stuck in survival mode. The nervous system remains on high alert, even when the threat has passed. This can make everyday life feel overwhelming or unsafe.
PTSD can affect:
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Relationships and intimacy
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Sleep and concentration
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Sense of self and identity
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Physical health (due to chronic stress)
Many people ask, “Will I ever feel normal after PTSD?”
The answer is yes—with the right support. Healing is possible, especially when therapy is personalized and trauma-informed.
What Type of Therapy Is Best for PTSD?
Not all therapy is equally effective for PTSD. Some approaches have been studied extensively and are considered the most beneficial, including:
1. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
EMDR is a highly effective, evidence-based method for treating PTSD. It involves recalling traumatic memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping. The process helps rewire how the brain stores traumatic memories, often reducing their emotional intensity. Learn more about EMDR trauma therapy benefits during your consultation.
2. Somatic Trauma Therapy
This body-focused approach helps process trauma stored in the nervous system. By paying attention to physical sensations and nervous system responses, clients can gently release tension and restore a sense of safety.
3. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for PTSD
CBT helps individuals identify and challenge distorted thoughts related to the trauma. When combined with exposure techniques, it can reduce avoidance and build emotional resilience.
Each person's healing journey is unique. That’s why I tailor PTSD therapy in Kelowna based on each individual’s needs, goals, and readiness.
Understanding Trauma-Informed Counselling
Trauma-informed counselling is not a specific treatment method—it’s a philosophy that guides how therapy is delivered. It ensures that therapy always centers around:
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Safety
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Empowerment
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Collaboration
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Trustworthiness
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Cultural sensitivity
This approach is especially important for individuals recovering from complex trauma or those who have previously had negative experiences in mental health settings.
PTSD Counselling in Kelowna: When to Seek Support
If you're wondering whether PTSD therapy is right for you, consider whether you've experienced any of the following:
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You have flashbacks or nightmares
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You avoid certain people, places, or conversations
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You feel emotionally numb or disconnected
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You’re easily startled or constantly on edge
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You’ve been through repeated or long-term trauma
If these symptoms sound familiar, PTSD counselling may provide the relief and clarity you've been seeking.
I offer PTSD therapy in Kelowna, and also serve clients virtually across British Columbia, ensuring that therapy is accessible no matter where you’re located.
When Trauma Counselling Is the Right Fit
Not everyone with trauma needs PTSD therapy. If your experience doesn’t meet the clinical threshold for PTSD but is still impacting your emotional or physical well-being, trauma counselling is a gentle and effective way to start healing.
Trauma counselling may help you:
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Process grief or sudden life changes
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Recover from emotional or psychological abuse
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Improve your self-awareness and self-compassion
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Understand triggers and emotional patterns
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Reconnect with your body and sense of calm
Sessions are personalized and paced based on your comfort and capacity.
What Is Complex PTSD?
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) is a term used to describe the effects of chronic or long-term trauma, often beginning in childhood. It includes all the symptoms of PTSD, with additional challenges like:
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Emotional dysregulation
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Chronic shame or guilt
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Difficulty trusting others
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Negative self-perception
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Feeling permanently damaged
Therapy for complex PTSD often requires a slower, more relational approach, incorporating somatic techniques and a strong therapeutic alliance. If you resonate with these symptoms, I offer a compassionate and structured path forward.
How to Choose the Right Therapy for You
You don’t need to have a formal diagnosis to start therapy. If your trauma is affecting your daily life, relationships, or emotional balance, support is available.
Consider starting with a conversation. In your first session at Another Chapter Counselling, I’ll help clarify:
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Whether your symptoms align with PTSD
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Which therapy methods might work best
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How to move forward at a pace that feels safe
Begin the Next Chapter in Your Healing Journey
Whether you’re coping with recent trauma or navigating the long-term effects of PTSD, you deserve support that honors your story.
As a solo therapist in Kelowna, I offer a calm, judgment-free space to help you heal—on your terms. Sessions are available in person or virtually across BC.
You’re not broken—your response makes sense. And with the right care, healing is possible.
