It can leave you feeling disconnected, hyperaware, numb, overwhelmed, or like different parts of you are carrying different stories. Dissociation is a natural response to pain that felt too big, too fast, or too much to process. Whether you’re losing time, feeling far away from your body, or navigating internal shifts that are hard to name, you’re not broken. You adapted. Therapy can help you safely reconnect, make sense of your experience, and move toward grounded healing—at your own pace.
Trauma changes how we experience the world—and ourselves.
Anchoring is about finding something steady when everything feels like too much.
In trauma therapy, we use anchoring practices to help you reconnect with the present, your body, and a felt sense of safety—without diving into painful memories. These gentle tools offer stability when emotions surge, when dissociation sets in, or when the past starts to feel like the present. Anchoring isn’t about fixing or forcing—it’s about building small, reliable moments of calm you can return to again and again.
You may feel like you’re constantly on edge—or completely shut down.
You may lose time, feel far away from your body, or not recognize yourself.
You might even feel like there are “different versions” of you—and you’re not sure who’s in charge.
If any of that resonates, you are not broken. These are adaptations. Responses. Survival skills.
You did what you needed to do to get through.
Trauma happens when something physically or emotionally overwhelming occurs—and the body doesn't get a chance to fully process or recover.
This might include:
Childhood neglect or abuse
Living in unpredictable or unsafe environments
Sexual trauma or coercion
Emotional invalidation or abandonment
Religious or institutional trauma
Chronic medical trauma
Systemic oppression, racism, ableism, or identity-based harm
Trauma & Dissociation
When the body can’t escape or fight, it protects itself by disconnecting.
This disconnection is called dissociation—and it’s incredibly common in trauma survivors.
Dissociation can look like:
Feeling “foggy” or detached from your surroundings
Losing time or memories
Feeling like different parts of you hold different emotions or experiences
Emotionally going numb or shutting down
Switching between “modes” or “selves” to get through situations
Struggling to recall what happened after something stressful
These responses are not weakness or illness. They are signs your nervous system did what it had to do to protect you.
Other Common Trauma Symptoms
Trauma and dissociation can affect every area of life.
You may also experience:
Anxiety, panic, or hypervigilance
Exhaustion or chronic fatigue
Emotional overwhelm or mood swings
Feelings of emptiness, shame, or numbness
Difficulty trusting others or yourself
Sleep issues or nightmares
Challenges with memory, attention, or staying present
Healing Is Possible
You don’t need to relive your trauma to heal from it.
At Anchor & Light Counselling, I offer therapy that is:
Relational: built on connection and trust
Trauma-informed: no pressure to talk about anything before you’re ready
Paced: your nervous system leads the way
Parts-aware: we make space for all versions of you—past and present
Neurodivergent-affirming: your unique processing, pacing, and needs are always valid
Whether you’re just beginning or deep into your healing journey, this space is for you.