The experiences you had as a child shaped your nervous system, your beliefs about yourself, and how you relate to other people. When those experiences included abuse, neglect, instability, or emotional harm, the effects don't just go away with time. Childhood trauma therapy at Patterson Counselling Services helps you understand and process what happened so it stops controlling your present.
When You Need Childhood Trauma Therapy
You might need childhood trauma therapy if patterns from your early life keep showing up, difficulty trusting people, fear of abandonment, chronic self-criticism, or relationships that repeat the same painful dynamics.
Other signs include emotional reactions that feel bigger than the situation warrants, a persistent sense of not being good enough, difficulty setting boundaries, and physical symptoms like chronic tension or fatigue.
Many adults don't initially connect their current struggles to childhood experiences. But the body keeps the score, what happened then is often the key to understanding what's happening now.
Research published in Psychology Today identifies patterns that help explain how childhood trauma affects adults, including persistent anxiety, depression, and difficulty in relationships.
Why These Patterns Make Sense
Childhood trauma creates deep, lasting pain. And that pain often leads to ways of coping that can feel impossible to stop.
Some people find themselves caught in cycles of addiction, using substances or behaviours to quiet the noise inside. Others develop patterns around food, restriction, or control that started as a way to manage emotions too big to hold. Some carry thoughts about not wanting to be here anymore, not because they want to die, but because the pain feels endless and they are searching for any kind of relief.
These are not signs of weakness. They are not character flaws. They are understandable responses that your mind and body came up with to help you survive when things felt overwhelming, scary, or unsafe. At some point, they kept you going when you had very few other options.
As your therapist, I do not see these patterns as problems to fight or flaws to fix. I see them as protectors. Brave, creative strategies that served a real purpose when you needed them most. Part of the work we do together is gently acknowledging what those old protectors did for you, and then, at your own pace, finding softer and healthier ways to feel safe, connected, and present in your life today.
If any of this sounds familiar, you are not alone in it. And you do not have to figure it out by yourself.
Our Childhood Trauma Therapy Process
We start gently. Understanding your childhood experiences happens at your pace, in a space where you feel safe and respected.
Treatment uses Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and other trauma-focused approaches to help your brain reprocess childhood memories. ART is especially valuable here because it doesn't require you to narrate every detail.
Sessions are 50 minutes, typically weekly. Available in-person in Red Deer and online across Alberta.
Research from the University of Rochester Medical Center shows that childhood trauma and the brain are closely linked, and that early intervention can have lasting positive impacts on the brain's stress response system.
Childhood Trauma Therapy Cost in Red Deer
Costs depend on session frequency and duration. We discuss all fees before your first session.
Sessions with a Registered Psychologist are covered by most employer benefits plans. We accept Alberta Blue Cross, Manulife, Sun Life, and other major providers.
Why Choose Patterson Counselling Services
Childhood trauma requires a therapist who understands how early experiences shape the developing brain. Our Registered Psychologist specializes in this area and uses ART to accelerate the healing process.
We provide a safe, compassionate space. Our practice is women-owned, wheelchair accessible, and offers online sessions across Alberta.
Frequently Asked Questions About Childhood Trauma Therapy
I had a "normal" childhood, but I still struggle. Could childhood trauma be involved?
Yes. Childhood trauma isn't always about dramatic events. Emotional neglect, inconsistent caregiving, a parent's struggles with addiction or mental health, or simply not having your emotional needs met as a child can all leave lasting effects. If your childhood didn't feel safe or stable, even in subtle ways, it's worth exploring.
I don't remember much of my childhood. Can therapy still help?
Absolutely. Many people who experienced childhood trauma have gaps in their memory. You don't need clear memories for therapy to be effective. Trauma lives in the body and in your patterns, not just in conscious recall. We can work with what's showing up in your life now.
How does childhood trauma affect adults?
Childhood trauma can show up as chronic anxiety, difficulty trusting others, people-pleasing, emotional outbursts, relationship problems, low self-worth, difficulty setting boundaries, and physical symptoms like tension and fatigue. Many adults don't connect these struggles to their childhood until they start therapy.
Is it too late to heal from childhood trauma?
No. The brain remains capable of change throughout your life. It doesn't matter if the trauma happened 10, 20, or 40 years ago. With the right approach, healing is possible at any age.
Will this therapy help me be a better parent?
Many of our clients come in specifically because they want to break the cycle. Understanding how your own childhood experiences affect your parenting is one of the most powerful things you can do for your family. Healing your own trauma changes how you relate to your children.