If you’ve experienced relational trauma—domestic violence, abusive relationships, or childhood abuse—dating can trigger familiar emotional patterns and parts of the self. Maybe you people-please and let boundaries slip. Maybe you want to leave, even if the other person seems healthy. Maybe overwhelming emotions arise that you can’t explain. These patterns may appear when you start…
CBT is one of the most commonly recommended approaches in mental health today. Throughout my counselling training, I kept asking myself whether it actually goes deep enough to heal early-life wounds. My own recovery had never been based on it — and I was starting to understand why. While my CBT teacher vehemently told me…
Disclaimer: This article discusses healing childhood sexual abuse as an adult and stigma. It explores what healing looks like when the people around you — including professionals — don’t believe it’s possible. Healing is possible, but it is often a gradual journey that requires patience, persistence, and curiosity. If you feel activated while reading, please…
“Just set healthy boundaries.” Sounds easy. But does it? I grew up without knowing what boundaries were. When I first heard the concept, I had no idea what they were asking me to find. Where are my boundaries? What are my values? What are my needs? These sounded like foreign concepts — not because I…
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,…
You’re not contradicting yourself — you have parts. I once was dating somebody, it was early on, when I had just discovered parts work. I see my parts as animals. Generally, I am like a cat: independent, clear, not too attached to the outcome. But when I started dating them, I suddenly felt like a…
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…
Tried IFS or EMDR for complex trauma and felt like you failed? You didn’t fail—the approach did. I know this because I have been where you are. As someone who recovered from childhood abuse and systemic trauma, I experienced counselling approaches that did not work. Some were helpful in pieces. Others left me more confused…
Welcome to Trauma Demystified, a podcast brought to you by Bright Horizon Therapies. I am Natalie Jovanic, a trauma counsellor and trauma coach, and I am glad you are listening today. Before I jump into today’s episode, “When the past shows up: Understanding Childhood trauma triggers in adulthood,” I want to apologize for taking so…
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…
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Bright Horizon Therapies
Trauma counselling and coaching for adults with childhood trauma, complex trauma and relational trauma. Online across Canada and internationally. Evenings and Saturdays available.
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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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