SUPPORT AFTER TRAUMA
Trauma & PTSD
Counselling
A place to feel heard.
Room to move at your own pace.
Difficult experiences can affect how you feel, connect with others, and move through everyday life. You don’t have to make sense of it all on your own.
Begin with a confidential online intake.
There is space
for your next step.
Support shaped around your needs
Your questions and choices matter
In-person, virtual & phone options
UNDERSTANDING YOUR EXPERIENCE
When the past still
feels present.
Trauma can leave you feeling unsettled long after an experience has ended. It may follow a single event or repeated experiences that felt threatening or overwhelming.
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is one possible response to trauma. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD. If what you’re experiencing is affecting your wellbeing, it is worth talking about.
01
Memories that interrupt
Unwanted memories, nightmares, or moments that feel as though an experience is happening again.
02
Feeling on edge
Feeling watchful, easily startled, irritable, or finding it difficult to sleep or concentrate.
03
Pulling away
Avoiding reminders, withdrawing from people, or feeling disconnected from yourself or others.
04
Difficult feelings
Guilt, shame, fear, or changes in how you see yourself, other people, and the world.
These experiences can have different causes; a clinician can help you understand them. Learn more about PTSD from CAMH ↗
WHAT TO EXPECT
Your experience.
Your voice.
A plan made together.
Counselling is a place to talk about what is affecting you now and what you would like to change. Your needs, preferences, and comfort with the process help guide the conversation.
Begin with what matters to you
Discuss your current concerns, what you hope will be different, and any questions about counselling. You can let your clinician know when something feels difficult to talk about.
Explore ways to feel more grounded
Work with your clinician on ways to respond to distress and support everyday life. This may include understanding triggers, practising coping skills, or strengthening support and routines.
Consider the next steps together
Your clinician can explain suitable approaches, what they involve, and the training they bring to that work. You can ask questions, discuss the pace, and revisit your goals along the way.
COMMON QUESTIONS
It’s okay to
have questions.
Being unsure where to start can be part of reaching out.
Will I need to describe everything that happened?
You can start by describing how things are affecting you now. Let your clinician know what you are comfortable sharing. Some therapies involve discussing traumatic memories; your clinician should explain the approach and discuss your consent and readiness before that work begins.
Can I discuss substance use or other concerns too?
Yes. Let the intake team know if substance use, anxiety, low mood, or relationship difficulties are also part of what you’re experiencing. Knowing what you need help with can support a more appropriate clinician match.
What treatments are available for PTSD?
Effective treatments for PTSD include trauma-focused therapies such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Approaches and clinician training vary. Ask the intake team which options are currently available at MHASO and which clinicians offer them. Your clinician can discuss whether an approach is suitable for your needs.
Do I need a PTSD diagnosis to reach out?
You can contact the intake team to discuss trauma-related concerns even if you don’t have a diagnosis or aren’t sure what to call your experience. They can help explore whether MHASO is an appropriate fit.
How long does counselling take?
There is no single timeline that fits everyone. The length and frequency of counselling depend on your goals, the approach, and your circumstances. Discuss these questions with your clinician and review the plan as you go.