Understanding Trauma
Trauma is not what happened to you. Trauma is how your nervous system responded (and is still responding) to what happened.
Trauma arises from distressing or life-threatening events that overwhelm an individual's capacity to cope. These events can affect both the mind and body through the nervous system, resulting in maladaptive psychological and physiological responses. Trauma can stem from physical or sexual abuse, witnessing violence, natural disasters, accidents, loss of a loved one, discrimination, or medically related events, such as invasive procedures, misdiagnoses, chronic illnesses, intensive care stays, and birth-related experiences. Helping professionals and healthcare providers can also experience trauma through exposure to suffering, medical / helping errors, and high-stakes situations.
Trauma can contribute to mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance misuse, and can lead to persistent emotional, cognitive, and somatic symptoms, including:
Excessive worrying
Hyper-vigilance
Low mood and energy
Insomnia
Physical pain
Nightmares
Gastrointestinal issues
Feelings of guilt or shame
Panic attacks
Difficulty concentrating
Dissociation
Social isolation
Relationship challenges
Research consistently shows that trauma is treatable and that individuals can not only decrease symptoms, but can also make a full recovery to experience a thriving and fulfilling life. Studies also show that the most significant factor in therapy being successful is the relationship you have with your therapist. People who benefit from trauma therapy can experience:
Skills for emotional regulation
Sense of safety, calm, and ability to relax
Reduced triggers and trauma symptoms
Improved relationships
Increased self-awareness
Improved sleep and physical health
Positive self-image
Resilience
Hope
Creativity
Empowerment
Vitality
Improved quality of life
Eco-art psychotherapy can help you understand how past traumas are affecting you in your present life. This approach is deeply intuitive while also grounded in practical support, honoring your body’s innate wisdom and your natural ability to heal and transform. Some of the modalities include:
🌿 Somatic Therapy – Engages the body to release stored trauma through rebuilding interoception, neuroplasticity, polyvagal activation, and nervous system regulation.
🌿 EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) – Utilizes bilateral stimulation to reprocess traumatic memories, build adaptive responses, increase distress tolerance, and cultivate positive beliefs.
🌿 Expressive Arts Therapy – Incorporates creative processes such as visual art, music, dance, drama, and storytelling to regulate emotions and integrate meaningful experiences into a self-concept rooted in compassion.
🌿 Mindfulness & Breathwork – Supports mood and cognitive function, reduces pain perception, inflammation, and reactivity, and promotes relaxation and efficient stress response through neuromodulation.
🌿 Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy – Helps to support expanded states of consciousness and strengthen prefrontal cortex activity for enhanced reprocessing of traumatic memories and emotion regulation.
🌿 Nature-Based Therapy – Fosters a sense of connection, grounding, and symbolism for stress reduction, relaxation, and decreased cortisol levels.
Each person’s process of healing from trauma is unique and deeply personal. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. The therapeutic relationship is primary and rooted in transparency, collaboration, acceptance, and liberation. Wild Embrace Healing takes a holistic approach to healing trauma by integrating evidence-based treatments with sacred therapeutic practice. This way, you can process and heal in a safe and grounded environment, supporting you to address the emotional, cognitive, and physiological effects of trauma and discover greater resilience and satisfaction in life.
Maria Borghoff, MA, LPCC, E-CYT is a psychotherapist, artist, teacher, death doula, and postpartum healer. She supports people who are in seasons of healing, dying, birthing, and becoming. Her work is grounded in liberation — the intuitive and active process of coming home to our body, to our breath, to the earth beneath us and the wisdom within. Maria offers therapy for adults and couples, yoga meditation immersions, teacher training, and consulting.