Trauma, Healing, and Psychotherapy: Getting Real About the Big Stuff and the Small Stuff

Big “T” Trauma, Little “t” Trauma, and Why They Both Matter

When someone says “trauma,” what pops into your head? War? Natural disasters? Brutal accidents? Yeah, those are the usual suspects. And sure, those are definitely traumatic. But here’s the kicker—trauma doesn’t just mean those massive, life-shattering events.

Trauma can also be the slow-burn stuff. The microaggressions. The years of being put down by a toxic parent or partner. The everyday hurts that get brushed off as “no big deal.” Spoiler alert: They are a big deal. And they can add up to feel just as heavy as the more obvious traumas.

Big “T” Trauma vs. Little “t” Trauma Psychotherapy: What’s the Difference?

In the world of psychotherapy, we like to categorize trauma into two categories:

• Big “T” Trauma: The classics. Car crashes, physical abuse, war, natural disasters—the big, terrifying, life-changing events. These are the ones everyone expects to cause PTSD.

• Little “t” Trauma: The underrated villains. Emotional neglect, chronic criticism, bullying, microaggressions, rejection. The stuff that piles up over time and leaves you feeling less-than. And if it keeps happening, the impact can be just as damaging as the big stuff.

Sometimes, those little moments you’ve dismissed for years are still haunting you today. No, it’s not “all in your head.” It’s real. And it matters.

Healing from trauma is a journey. Big ‘T’ or little ‘t’, every path to healing is valid.

Why Trauma Sticks Around (And It’s Not Your Fault)

Ever reacted way too intensely to something minor? Like, someone cuts you off in traffic and you go from zero to rage-monster faster than you can say “road rage”? Yeah, that’s not just you being dramatic. That’s your trauma talking.

Trauma messes with your brain’s processing system. Normal memories get neatly filed away with timestamps, details, and emotional context. Traumatic memories? Not so much. They get stored like a puzzle someone dumped on the floor and walked away from.

Instead of being put away where they belong, those traumatic pieces just sort of… float around. Ready to slam into you whenever something even remotely similar happens. And that’s why you might find yourself having a 10/10 reaction to a 2/10 situation. You’re not starting from zero—you’re starting from wherever the trauma left you.

Umprocessed trauma can feel like a mess your brain can't quite puzzle out.

Why Healing Takes Time (And Why That’s Totally Okay)

Here’s the deal: Healing isn’t linear. It’s not a straight line from “traumatized” to “totally fine.” It’s more like a roller coaster, with dips and loops and the occasional oh-my-god-am-I-gonna-die moment. But that’s normal.

You might work through a trauma in your trauma psychotherapy and feel like you’ve conquered it. And then something happens—a relationship, a job, a new phase of life—that drags old wounds right back to the surface. Not because you didn’t heal before, but because the trauma has taken on new meaning. And guess what? That’s okay. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It just means you’ve reached a new level in your healing journey.

Healing is a journey, and each new experience brings opportunities for growth.

How Psychotherapy Can Help You Reclaim Your Life

Let’s be real: Trauma is Stubborn. But the Good News? So are Our Therapists.

Let’s be real: Trauma is stubborn. But the good news? So are we.

At Limestone Clinic, we specialize in trauma-informed psychotherapy designed to help you clean up that mental mess and actually process those traumatic memories. We’re talking about putting the pieces back together so they stop smacking you in the face every time something remotely similar happens.

One of our go-to tools? Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Sounds fancy, but it’s basically a method that helps your brain finally process those disorganized memories and file them away properly. Think of it like Marie Kondo-ing your brain, so those traumatic memories can finally be neatly folded and put away.

And then there’s Brainspotting. This technique is like trauma-therapy’s super-precise sniper. By focusing on specific eye positions, Brainspotting helps target and process deep, unprocessed trauma in your brain’s emotional and survival centers. It’s like finding the “save” button for those tough memories that just won’t go away.

And beyond that, we help you build resilience, manage triggers, and move forward with practical tools you can use every day. Because healing isn’t just about talking about the past—it’s about making sure it doesn’t wreck your present or future.

Psychotherapy helps you reprocess traumatic memories so they stop disrupting your life.

Ready to Leave Your Trauma Where It Belongs—In the Past?

You don’t have to keep reliving the past. And you don’t have to do this alone.

At Limestone Clinic, our trauma-trained specialists are here to help you process, heal, and move forward. Whether it’s big “T” trauma or little “t” trauma, we’re ready to walk that journey with you.

📞 Give our Kingston Mental Health Therapy & Counselling office a call at 613-877-4148 or email us at hello@limestone.clinic to start your healing journey today.

Because your past doesn’t have to define your future.