A Resource for Healthcare Providers from Natalie Jovanic, MTC, CT, ACC

You likely see these people regularly: adults with chronic pain that doesn’t fully respond to treatment, recurring GI issues without clear medical cause, persistent insomnia, or patients who are hard to reach. What if these presentations aren’t medical mysteries, but the body’s continued response to what happened years ago?

Research shows that 64% of adults report at least one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE), and 15-43% of children experience events that shape their health trajectory into adulthood. Understanding childhood trauma is essential for comprehensive care—not because something is wrong with these patients, but because their bodies are doing exactly what they were designed to do: protect them.

Why this matters in your practice

Childhood trauma—including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)—occurs during critical developmental years when the nervous system is learning how to be in the world. Trauma-informed care asks “what happened to you?” not “what’s wrong with you?”

The impacts of early trauma aren’t symptoms to treat—they’re adaptive responses that once kept someone safe but may no longer serve them. These responses affect:

• Stress regulation: How the nervous system responds to perceived threat
• Relational patterns: How people connect with others, including healthcare providers
• Physical health: Strong associations with chronic pain, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune conditions
• Engagement with care: Trust, safety, and nervous system state all influence how people show up

How adverse childhood experiences can present in Primary Care

When to consider a referral

You might think of me (or other trauma-focused mental health professionals) when you notice:

• Chronic symptoms that don’t respond to standard medical treatment
• Patient mentions childhood experiences of abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction
• Patterns of avoidance, perfectionism, or difficulty setting boundaries
• High ACE scores (if you screen for Adverse Childhood Experiences)
• Multiple somatic complaints with unclear etiology
• Patient reports feeling “stuck” or unable to move forward in life

This isn’t about sending them away because their pain is “just psychological.” It’s about adding another layer of support for healing that goes beyond what medical care can address.

How I work: Trauma counselling & childhood trauma coaching for adults

I offer both trauma counselling and childhood trauma coaching for adults carrying the impact of adverse childhood experiences. My approach is embodied, relational, and non-pathologizing.

Please keep in mind that every trauma counsellor has their unique approach to trauma counselling—I can only speak about my approach.

Trauma doesn’t live in thoughts—it lives in the body and nervous system. Talking about what happened isn’t enough. CBT and traditional talk therapy, while valuable for many concerns, often don’t reach the roots of trauma because they focus primarily on changing thoughts rather than addressing the nervous system patterns and somatic imprints that hold trauma in place.

Many adults with adverse childhood experiences experience inner fragmentation—a split between rational parts and emotional parts. The rational parts can talk about what happened, analyze patterns, and understand concepts intellectually. But the emotional parts—the ones carrying the pain, fear, and protective responses—often stay hidden behind walls. CBT and traditional talk therapy typically engage only the rational parts, leaving the emotional parts untouched and the trauma unresolved.

For decades, the counselling field believed we could only learn to cope with trauma. Neuroscience now proves that healing is possible. The brain’s neuroplasticity means we can actually rewire trauma patterns, not just manage them. This changes everything about what’s possible for trauma survivors.

There is no magic pill for healing trauma. Unlike the medical field’s search for quick fixes, trauma recovery is a multi-layered, complex process that unfolds over time. I use an integrative trauma recovery model for trauma coaching that addresses healing on multiple levels.

Trauma-focussed counselling and coaching addresses these issues at their root, where trauma is stored in the body, nervous system, and fragmented parts of the self. Benefits your patients may experience include:

• Nervous system regulation: Learning to shift out of survival states (fight, flight, freeze, fawn)
• Somatic awareness: Reconnecting with the body’s signals and building safety from the inside out
• Parts work: Working with the different “parts” that developed to cope with trauma
• Relational healing: Building new experiences of trust, boundaries, and connection

I hold credentials as both a trauma counsellor and trauma coach and offer both modalities because healing happens in relationship and embodied practice, not just clinical knowledge. I’ve completed 4,000+ hours of specialized training with global trauma experts including Janina Fisher, Frank Anderson, and Deb Dana.

Evidence-based modalities I use:

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
• Internal Family Systems informed Parts Work
• Somatic/Polyvagal-Informed approaches

Healing typically moves through phases of safety & stabilization → processing & integration → reconnection & growth.

What people often experience

• Reduction in chronic pain, GI issues, and stress-related conditions
• Better emotional regulation and less reactivity; decreased symptoms of anxiety and depression
• Improved engagement with medical care as trust and nervous system safety increase
• Fewer crisis moments as new coping capacities develop
• Stronger relationships, including with healthcare providers

Important note: Trauma work can help heal symptoms of adverse childhood experiences to the degree that they are psychological and nervous system-related, rather than purely biological. In the beginning of the healing journey, it’s often difficult to discern which aspects are trauma-based and which are medical—this is why collaborative care between medical providers and trauma specialists is so valuable.

How to talk about referrals

Suggested language:

“I’ve noticed that [chronic pain/GI issues/fatigue] has been persistent even with treatment. Sometimes when our bodies have been through a lot—especially early in life—they can stay in protective mode even when the danger has passed. That can show up as physical pain, exhaustion, or feeling stuck. I know someone who specializes in helping adults work with these patterns in a way that goes beyond talk therapy. Would you be open to exploring that as part of your care?”

Key points:

Let’s discuss collaborative care

Natalie Jovanic, MTC (ACCT #2323) | CT (ACTA #1788) I ACC

Specialized Training: 4,000+ hours with global trauma experts including Janina Fisher, Frank Anderson, Deb Dana

14 years experience | 3,000+ client hours | Award: GHP Social Justice in Trauma Therapy Advocate 2025

Podcast: Trauma Demystified—exploring trauma healing, nervous system regulation, and anti-oppressive approaches to recovery

📧 nat@brighthorizontherapies.com
📞 403-923-2571
🌐 brighthorizontherapies.com

I welcome the opportunity to discuss referrals, answer questions, or explore collaborative care for patients impacted by developmental trauma or adverse childhood experiences. Please use the form below to get in touch.

This resource is intended for healthcare providers and is not a substitute for direct mental health support.