Acupuncture for Trauma Healing
When we experience trauma, the body can hold on to it long after the event has passed. Acupuncture for trauma helps to release this tension, calm the mind and body, and guide you back to feeling grounded and safe.
Acupuncture for Trauma Healing
When we experience trauma, the body can hold on to it long after the event has passed. Acupuncture for trauma helps to release this tension, calm the mind and body, and guide you back to feeling grounded and safe.
Acupuncture for Trauma Healing
Trauma can come in many forms, whether it is emotional, physical, or psychological. It often is stored in our body, lingering for years after the events themselves, and doesn’t always have to have a flair for the dramatic. Trauma can be caused by the most minor things, or from accidents, injuries, abuse, and many other significant life changes.
Sometimes it is small conditioning from a young age, where even though not intentional, it creates a prism that we live the rest of our lives for until someone points out the blind spot. Left unprocessed, trauma can show up in so many different ways, whether it be flashbacks, anxiety, chronic pain, or sensations like feeling stuck.
Acupuncture can offer a gentle, supportive treatment to help free you from trauma by reconnecting you with yourself and allowing you to feel more grounded.
Why Trauma Can Be So Overwhelming
Trauma affects the body, mind, and spirit. Each person is unique, but symptoms often include:
- Hypervigilance, anxiety, or flashbacks
- Sleep disturbances or nightmares
- Depression and low moods
- Headaches and migraines
- Muscle tensions and chronic pains
- A sense of emotional disconnection or numbness
In Chinese Medicine, trauma is often linked to various meridians and organ imbalances. For example, the Heart relates to the emotions, the Kidney is linked to fear and resilience, and the Lungs are associated with grief and letting go. When these channels are blocked, tryama can feel like it gets “trapped” in the body.
“I have loved visiting Josh for my acupuncture appointments. He has created a safe, warm space that feels spiritual / chatty / friendly / healing all at the same time. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him.”
— Sarah
How Acupuncture Helps with Trauma
Acupuncture provides a safe, non-confrontational way of addressing trauma. Patients can take things steadily, only opening up when they’re ready, and never feeling like they have to go through the trauma every session continuously. You can talk as much or as little as you want about what is affecting you, as we can use the many different diagnostic techniques of acupuncture to treat you.
Having said that, acupuncture can help you to:
- Calm the nervous system, reducing hyperarousal and fight-or-flight responses
- Encourage emotional release in a gentle, supported way
- Improve sleep and reduce nightmares
- Relieve physical symptoms like tension and pain
- Restore balance to the Heart, Kidney, and Lung meridians
This holistic approach helps you feel safer in your body and more able to process and heal from trauma.
What to Expect in Treatment
Compassionate intake: We explore your story at a comfortable pace, ensuring you feel supported throughout. Often, the first session goes into great detail, but we can go as deep or as shallow as you feel comfortable with. Acupuncture can use your story's broad brushstrokes, or we can go into the minute details that help you move on from what holds you back.
Holistic assessment: Observing your energy, posture, and breathing to understand trauma's effects. The consultation looks at you as a whole person, including your health experience and how you move through life. This is so important as it gives us clues on how we can help you heal.
Gentle acupuncture session: An acupuncture session is a noninvasive, nonpainful, and natural solution. Most patients don't feel any pain with the needles, although sometimes you feel them when they are inserted. They can help you heal from a physical, mental, and spiritual perspective. We can use calming points such as Heart 7 (Spirit Gate), Kidney 3, or Lung 3. Treatments are always tailored to your comfort level.
Many patients report a sense of release, calm, and reconnection with themselves after just a few sessions.
Why Choose Our Clinic?
- Specialist training in emotional health and trauma-informed care.
- Josh has experience with mental health, relating to his chronic pain that brought him to acupuncture, but he has also lost friends to mental health issues.
- A practitioner who is currently undergoing counselling training to provide deeper support.
- A safe, welcoming environment where you can show up as you are without any judgment and the space to tell your story.
- A holistic blend of Five Element acupuncture, classical acupuncture, TCM, and many other techniques is focused on identifying what is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is acupuncture safe for trauma survivors?
Yes. It’s gentle, non-invasive, and does not require reliving your trauma verbally unless you choose to explore this with Josh further.
Will I feel emotional during treatment?
It’s common to feel emotional release. This can sometimes show as tears, body shakes or feeling a deep sense of calm. This is part of the healing process.
How many sessions are needed?
This varies. Some notice changes within a few sessions, while others benefit from longer-term support. Typically, patients come for 4-6 sessions weekly, depending on how long the complaint has been going on. Then, the space between sessions can be extended to many patients who want to come once a month.
Acupuncture Can Help Support Trauma.
It’s a gentle, compassionate approach that treats the body, mind, and spirit. Book an initial consultation now.
