- Who it is for
- Adults and adolescents
- Format
- In person (Istanbul) · Online
What trauma is
Trauma refers to the effects that follow experiences which overwhelm a person’s capacity to cope and bring feelings of fear, helplessness or horror. These can be single events such as an accident, a loss, violence, abuse or a natural disaster, but long-lasting neglect, mistreatment or unsafe environments can also leave lasting marks.
Two people who go through the same event can be affected in very different ways. The reactions that follow a difficult experience are not a sign of weakness; they are the mind’s and body’s responses to an extraordinary situation.
How it can show itself
- Involuntary memories or dreams about the event, or feeling as if “reliving” it
- Avoiding places, people or conversations that bring back the event
- Being constantly on alert, startling easily, sleep difficulties
- Emotional numbness, feeling disconnected from others
- Guilt, shame, or a shaken sense of trust in yourself and the world
- Anger, tension and difficulty concentrating
Some of these reactions can naturally occur in the first weeks after a difficult event and may ease with time. When they last a long time or clearly affect daily life, getting support helps.
How we address it in therapy
In trauma-related work the priority is always safety and the person’s own pace. The process usually moves through these stages:
- Building safe ground: We build a safe, non-judgemental therapeutic relationship and try to understand together how what happened is affecting you today.
- Information: Understanding how post-traumatic reactions form can make it easier to make sense of what happened and to be kinder to yourself.
- Coping skills: We develop skills for coping with intense emotions, triggers and sleep difficulties.
- Working on thoughts and meanings: Drawing on cognitive behavioural approaches, we address thoughts about what happened that involve guilt, shame and insecurity.
- Returning to daily life: We plan a gradual return to avoided areas of life, at a pace the person feels ready for.
If assessment shows it is needed, a referral is made for psychiatric support or to a colleague with advanced training in trauma.
When to seek support
If the reactions you are having after a difficult experience have lasted for weeks, are affecting your sleep, work, school or relationships, or avoiding reminders of what happened is narrowing your life, talking to a mental health professional can help.
If you are not safe right now or are being exposed to violence, call 112 in Türkiye (or your local emergency number).
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to describe what happened in detail?
No. You decide when, how much and at what pace you share. The process begins with building a safe therapeutic relationship and strengthening the skills needed to cope with difficult emotions.
It happened a long time ago. Can it still have an effect?
Yes. The effects of difficult experiences can sometimes last for years, or become noticeable again with a new life event. Regardless of when the effects began, how they affect you today can be worked on together.
Might I need to be referred to another professional?
If assessment suggests that medication, or specialised methods requiring advanced training in trauma, would be helpful, a referral is made to a psychiatrist or to a colleague trained in this area.
This page is general information and is not a diagnosis, assessment or substitute for therapy. If you or someone else is in danger, call 112 in Türkiye or your local emergency number.