Trauma Therapy in East Greenwich, RI
While many people can recover from trauma over time with support from family, friends, and their own resilience, others find themselves experiencing emotional distress long after the event has passed. Trauma can affect anyone—often unexpectedly and in life-altering ways. Whether it's childhood abuse or neglect, the loss of a loved one, a car accident, or witnessing violence, natural disasters, or war, trauma can leave lasting imprints on both the mind and body. However, healing is possible—at Rising Tides Counseling Center, we provide compassionate trauma therapy in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Our trauma-informed therapists are here to help you process what happened and make sense of your emotional responses to heal and thrive.
Understanding Trauma
Trauma is not defined by the event itself but by how it impacts you. Two people can go through the same event and respond in entirely different ways. Some traumas are "big T" events—sudden and life-threatening—while others are more subtle but equally distressing, like emotional neglect, betrayal, or feeling unsafe over time. No matter how trauma shows up, it alters your nervous system, disrupts your sense of self, and can create patterns of fear, avoidance, or emotional withdrawal.
Common Trauma Symptoms
Lingering emotional pain, anxiety, fear, and confusion can interfere with daily life, relationships, work, and overall well-being. While trauma symptoms differ from person to person, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) outlines the following types of symptoms as signs of trauma-related disorders:
- Avoidance symptoms – suppressing emotions or memories, feelings of isolation, emotional numbness, or avoiding places, people, or situations that remind you of the traumatic event
- Hyperarousal symptoms – difficulty relaxing, irritability, feeling on edge, or feeling jumpy
- Negative mood and cognition symptoms – persistent sadness, feelings of shame, loss of interest in activities, trouble trusting others, and memory gaps about the traumatic event
You don’t have to meet every one of these criteria. If you're feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or haunted by something that happened in your past, it's valid—and help is available.
How Can Trauma Therapy Help?
Trauma doesn’t have to define your life. With the proper support, healing is possible. Trauma counseling at Rising Tides Counseling Center focuses on helping you feel safe, seen, and supported as you work through painful experiences at your own pace. We take a gentle, empowering approach that honors your readiness and individual needs. We use evidence-based treatments such as:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – Helps you identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors resulting from the trauma.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) – Facilitates the reprocessing of traumatic memories to reduce their emotional impact.
- Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) – Supports healing in relationships and addresses attachment wounds and relational trauma.
- Mindfulness and somatic approaches – With grounding techniques, body awareness, and breathwork, individuals can learn to regulate their nervous system and achieve a sense of calm.
Our trauma-informed care integrates empathy, safety, and collaboration, as trauma impacts the whole person—including their sense of self, identity, and relationships. We will create a personalized treatment plan that fits your unique needs.
Reach Out to Our Empathetic Therapists
You don’t have to carry this alone. At Rising Tides Counseling Center, we understand how difficult it can be to acknowledge and talk about trauma—but your healing matters. Whether you experienced trauma recently or years ago, we’ll provide a space where your story is met with compassion.
Take the first step toward healing. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about trauma therapy in East Greenwich, RI, and how we can support your path to recovery.