3 Benefits of Having a Trauma-Informed Therapist on Your Team

What is “Trauma-Informed” therapy for pelvic pain or sexual issues?

Many people just like you suffer long-term effects from chronic pelvic pain or sexual challenges (“dysfunctions”), which can actually be considered a “trauma.” While each person’s story is unique, the body response is very similar to someone who has PTSD. 

Most people are familiar with “big T” traumas: abuse, abandonment, neglect, near-death experiences, etc. But there can also be “little t” traumas — things we don’t realize are traumatic, but cause a trauma response in the body like chronic pain, perfectionism, or a relationship where you didn’t feel like you could say what you really wanted. What may not be a big deal for one person is terribly traumatic and scarring for someone else. 

Wherever the cause, if you felt powerless or if something was “too much, too fast, or for too long,” it’s trauma. And you need help to get your life back. Dr. Peter A. Levine says, “Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence.”¹  

Have you reached out for help? Talking with a trusted friend or partner is a great first step, but it’s often not enough. A trauma-informed therapist has the specialized training and tools to guide your healing journey in a safe and long-lasting way.

What makes a trauma-informed therapist different from other providers?

We understand just how complicated the brain is. We’ve taken the time to study the science behind trauma. We get that it touches every part of your life. That’s because trauma deeply affects both your body and your brain. 

Also, we know that simply “talking about traumas” doesn’t actually resolve or heal the trauma.  You need to have deeper, body-based therapy (a.k.a. somatic psychotherapy) treatment to truly release the grip of trauma.

Trauma-informed therapy is a game changer for so many people who are struggling.

Your therapist custom designs a treatment plan for you based on your specific trauma experience and impact. And they have proven methods backed by science to help you find the relief you deserve. 

Why body-based therapy for trauma is helpful

Many forms of therapy focus on our thoughts and emotions. How do we feel about what has happened to us? Working to change how we think about our experiences is a big part of the healing process. But it can’t be the only focus.

The effects of trauma go way beyond mental and emotional suffering. Because trauma is actually stored in our bodies. So, including body-based therapy in your treatment plan is a recipe for success.

Body-based therapy (or somatic therapy) focuses on the energy that trauma creates in our bodies. Believe it or not, we naturally have cycles in our body to release toxic energy that’s built up from chronic pain or stress. But when we suffer trauma, our natural ability to release this negative energy gets damaged. So, body-based therapy works to re-wire pathways so you can safely let down your defenses.

And the benefits go far beyond releasing trauma. You’ll have a deeper understanding of your own emotions and your ability to regulate them. You’ll be able to manage stressful situations better. Because let’s face it: ups and downs are just a part of life. But body-based trauma therapy gives you the tools to navigate those challenges like a pro. 

Dr. Peter Levine developed his concept of body-based therapy after watching how wild animals recover after a traumatic event—like an attack by another animal. Sometimes, they would shake or start running, but there was some kind of physical release. Afterward, the animal was back to normal and totally fine (no PTSD symptoms sticking around in those animals!).

We have a similar ability to release stress or trauma. What gets in our way is that we’re taught to suck it up and hold it together. Since we fight our body’s natural ability to release negative energy, we end up stuck in fight-or-flight mode. Body-based therapy gets us back in tune with our own rhythms. This lets us release trauma and return to a relaxed state. Ah, so much better. ²

Is somatic therapy right for you?

Western medicine often treats the mind and body totally separate, as if one had nothing to do with the other. But understanding the connection between the mind and body isn’t new. Many cultures have long understood the mind-body connection. But modern science is quickly catching up.³

There are proven techniques to keep your healing journey moving forward. It can start with something as simple as a few easy-to-do breathing exercises. This can go a long way to calm down your fight-or-flight response. After trauma, your body goes into a hypervigilant state. Every time your body reacts this way, the easier it is to trigger the next time. Helpful tools like meditation and yoga can also calm your nervous system — but these kinds of tools don’t always work for everyone, so a trauma-informed therapist can help you figure out what works for you.

Somatic therapy gives you tools and resources to release the trauma that’s been trapped in your body. This is an important part of your healing journey. Because trauma that’s stuck in your body often causes physical pain or sexual challenges. That explains why many people who experience debilitating issues (and their doctors) have a difficult time finding an explanation or relief for it.⁴

Finding the right trauma-informed therapist

You need a trauma-informed expert to guide the way. They’ll teach you to notice bodily sensations as you discuss specific topics. You’ll build tools and skills to release the trauma you’ve been holding in. And that’s when you find true and lasting pain or anxiety relief. 

I’ve helped so many of my private clients go from debilitating pain to actually being able to enjoy intimacy with their partners again. Relief is possible. And you deserve to have a pain- and trauma-free life. If you’re ready to release all the negative emotions you’ve been holding onto, get started by connecting with me here: Kayna Cassard, Sex Therapist + Painful Sex Specialist.

Everyone suffering from trauma wants relief, especially if they’re also experiencing pain or sexual obstacles. But I understand how hard it is to talk about. Many people continue to suffer in silence for years. They feel shame and embarrassment.

I know because I struggled for over a decade before finding answers to my own diagnosis of chronic pelvic pain.

If you’re not ready to talk to someone yet, that’s okay. Your healing journey has to be on your terms, when you’re ready. I created a free 4 day online course for people just like you who struggle with pelvic pain. You can take the course from the privacy of your own home. And you’ll learn the same life-changing techniques I teach my private clients.

If you don’t have pain, take the Arousal Architecture™ assessment — it’ll give you your own personal design for learning your arousal language and overcoming sexual anxieties around performance, orgasm, or body comfort. You’ll even get a free workbook to guide you in using the Arousal Architecture™ results immediately.

I want you to find the same relief I and many others have. Try out my free course to start your healing journey today. Relief and happiness are within your reach.

1. What Is Trauma-Informed Therapy? — The Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center ↩︎
2. Somatic Experiencing: A Body-Centered Approach to Treating PTSD ↩︎
3. Mind-Body Therapies | Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing ↩︎
4. Why I Take a Mind-Body Approach to Trauma Recovery ↩︎