Learn about how trauma affects the brain and body, the stages of recovery, and the psychology behind healing. These articles deepen your understanding and help you make sense of your experiences.
I was sitting in my car surrounded by other cars. The traffic jam on the highway seemed endless. I felt trapped. My hands started sweating. I could hardly breathe. I saw an exit sign, left the highway, phoned my partner, and told him I couldn’t come. We had planned to spend the weekend in the…
Quick Summary: Not all therapy harm is obvious. This guide helps you recognize subtle warning signs of therapy harm—from trauma counsellors who can’t handle vulnerability to those who perform frameworks without embodying them. Based on research and lived experience as both client and counsellor. Why this matters Finding the right trauma counsellor can be difficult,…
The big T small t trauma framework shows up everywhere — in articles, in therapy offices, in treatment centres. If you have spent any time researching trauma or looking for support, you have probably encountered it. The framework has some merit. It attempts to acknowledge that trauma isn’t limited to dramatic, life-threatening events. That is…
Healing trauma is possible. I want to say that clearly before anything else — because when I started my own healing journey, I wasn’t sure it was. I had internalized the belief that my symptoms were permanent, that I was fundamentally broken, that the best I could hope for was learning to manage what I…
What matters to me — what has always mattered — is breaking the cycle of violence. In families. In communities. In countries. As a trauma-focused practitioner with more than 15 years of experience supporting adults, and as someone with over 30 years of personal trauma recovery, I help adults in Canada and internationally heal from…
Honoured to receive the 2025 GHP Award for Social Justice in Trauma Therapy Advocate This year, I was deeply honoured to receive the 2025 GHP Mental Health Award for Leading Social Justice in Trauma Therapy Advocate (Canada). While I don’t do this work for awards or recognition, this moment feels meaningful. Over the last 11…
You’ve probably heard the names: IFS, EMDR. They might have come up in conversation or during your research into healing trauma. You’re unsure what they are, how they differ, or if either is right for you. This article is an honest attempt to explain both — how IFS and EMDR for trauma can support recovery…
Queer folks may carry unique and layered wounds — developmental, systemic, relational, and internalized. This guide explores LGBTQ+ trauma recovery and LGBTQ+ trauma counselling, offering honest insight into what healing requires in a world that often feels hostile. (I use the term “LGBTQ+” here for international relevance, while recognizing that in Canada, “2SLGBTQI+ community” is…
Welcome to Trauma Demystified, a podcast brought to you by Bright Horizon Therapies. I am Natalie Jovanic, your host on this journey. Before we dive into today’s episode, I want to express my gratitude. Trauma Demystified has grown incredibly this year, and I’m deeply thankful to everyone who tunes in, shares the episodes, and supports…
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is one of the most powerful ways to heal from trauma and build resilience. I combine EMDR with parts work and somatic therapies in the Integrative Trauma Recovery Model™. This approach to trauma counselling supports adults heal from childhood trauma, complex trauma and relational trauma. But here’s the real…
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Bright Horizon Therapies is located on the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprising the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Wesley First Nations). This land is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. We acknowledge the traditional caregivers of the land and the importance of a commitment to continued decolonization of our work.
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