It Doesn’t Have to Be Big to Be Traumatic: Understanding Trauma and How ART Can Help

When you hear the word trauma, you might picture war zones, natural disasters, or horrific accidents. And yes, those experiences can absolutely be traumatic. But trauma isn’t reserved for the most extreme events—it doesn’t have to be big to have left a mark.

Trauma is not just about what happened to you—it’s about how it impacted you. If something overwhelmed your ability to cope and left you feeling unsafe, unseen, or disconnected, it counts.

Here are just some examples of experiences that can be traumatic:

✳️ Domestic or family violence
✳️ Dating or intimate partner violence
✳️ Community violence (shooting, mugging, burglary, assault, bullying)
✳️ Sexual abuse
✳️ Emotional abuse
✳️ Physical abuse
✳️ Natural disasters
✳️ Car accidents
✳️ Death or significant loss
✳️ Serious illness or surgery
✳️ War, terrorism, or refugee experiences
✳️ Racism and discrimination
✳️ Poverty or chronic lack of resources
✳️ Emotional or physical neglect
✳️ Growing up with or being cared for by someone who abuses substances
✳️ Bullying—at any age

Or anything else that you experienced as distressing, overwhelming, or emotionally lasting.

You Don’t Have to Relive It to Heal

Many people carry trauma quietly. Maybe you’ve minimized your pain because “other people had it worse.” Or maybe you’ve tried therapy but found it too painful to revisit the past over and over again.

That’s where Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) can make a difference.

What Is ART?

ART is a brief, evidence-based form of therapy that uses guided eye movements to help the brain reprocess distressing memories. The process can help reduce or even eliminate the emotional intensity tied to traumatic images, sensations, and beliefs—without needing to talk in detail about what happened.

In many cases, ART works in just a few sessions. It’s structured, effective, and empowering—giving your brain the chance to resolve what it’s been holding onto in a gentle, non-retraumatizing way.

Healing Doesn’t Have to Take Years

Whether your trauma was "big" or "small," it matters. And it’s absolutely valid if something you went through has stayed with you long after the event.

You deserve support that respects your story and helps you move forward—without staying stuck in it.

If you’re curious about how ART might support your healing, I’d love to talk with you. Reach out anytime. You're not broken—you’re carrying something heavy, and help is available.

Is there anything you’d add to this list of traumas?
Sometimes the things that affected us most deeply are the ones we didn’t realize were trauma.