Trauma is the result of traumatic events in your life. These are things that happen to you, and they are beyond your control. Depending on the extent of the traumatic experience, you may decide that you are too broken to move beyond and heal from what happened. This can make the idea of seeking trauma therapy feel daunting.
But trauma therapy is designed for those who feel overwhelmed by their pain. No matter where you are in life, or how deep your wounds are, you are worthy of care, compassion, and healing.
Here are some reasons why you are not too broken for trauma therapy.
1. You are not alone in feeling too broken.
Many people fear their struggles are beyond repair, but this belief is often a reflection of trauma itself. Pain and self-doubt can distort your perception of what is possible. It’s important to remember that countless others have felt the same and gone on to find clarity, relief, and growth through therapy. If they can, so can you.
2. Healing is not about perfection.
Trauma therapy is not about erasing what happened, feeling fixed, or getting back to the way you were. All those ideas can make trauma therapy look daunting. Instead, trauma therapy is learning how to develop a different relationship with the thoughts, memories, and feelings of trauma. All of us have wounds from which we want to heal, so trauma therapy is a deeply human endeavor.
3. Progress can happen in small, manageable steps.
When you consider the thoughts, memories, and feelings that go with trauma, it can be overwhelming to think about dealing with all of them, especially if they have been around for years. In therapy, you do not deal with everything at once. Therapy unfolds at its own pace. A trauma therapist will help you deal with things as you are able. You learn about and access your strengths so you can deal with the struggles.
4. You are more resilient than you realize.
Often, I tell clients that the experiences of trauma are showing up because your mind and body know that you will be able to handle them now. In therapy, you do not create strengths you never had; you uncover and use the strengths that are already within you.
5. No trauma is too small or too big,
You may look around and say, “What happened to me is not that big of a deal. I should be able to handle it.” Or you may say, “What happened to me is too much. I can never really get over it.” Whether your trauma comes from a single event or a lifetime of hardship, you pain is valid, and healing is possible.
6. You deserve help just as you are.
You don’t have to reach a certain point of being better before starting therapy. You do not need the perfect words to describe your pain. Trauma therapy is a space where you can be your raw, unfiltered self. Part of therapy is, at times, feeling vulnerable, confused, or skeptical. Therapy is not about being ready. It is about being willing.
7. The first step is the hardest and the most courageous.
Early in my work with clients, I will often tell them that I admire the courage it takes for them to come to therapy. It really is an act of bravery to admit that you need help. The first steps are monumental. Researching therapists. Asking for a recommendation. Simple admitting to yourself that you need help. All of these show you have the capacity for change.
You are not “too broken” for trauma therapy. You are a human being deserving of care, love, and understanding. The pain you carry doesn’t define you—it’s just one part of your story. Therapy offers a chance to rewrite that story, to learn, to grow, and to heal. You are not alone, and you are worth every ounce of effort it takes to find peace. You can visit my trauma treatment specialty page to learn more.