Healing a Wounded Soul

It's possible to describe and classify traumatic events in a variety of ways. Below are some examples of different types of trauma:

• Complex Trauma – this the pervasive impact of being exposed to multiple, simultaneous, or prolonged traumatic stress. Examples can include repeat incidences of abuse or multiple deployments of military personnel to a war zone.
• Secondary or Vicarious Trauma – this trauma appears when an individual experiences trauma-related symptoms in response to helping or empathizing with others who have experienced traumatic events. This is common among helping professions who may repeatedly hear about or witness traumatic events happening to clients.
• Historical Trauma - this is known as generational trauma and also refers to traumatic events experienced by specific cultural or ethnic groups. Historical trauma can have an effect on populations throughout generations, resulting in individuals being hesitant to enter systems of care that have historically oppressed these populations. Examples include the forced migration and colonization of Native Americans, the internment of Japanese individuals during WWII, and the enslavement and oppression of African Americans.
• Racial/Ethnic Trauma – this type of trauma results from race- or ethnicity-related experiences that involve discrimination, prejudice, or racism. Examples of racial/ethnic trauma can range from interpersonal interactions to systemic oppression.
• Minority Stress – similar to racial/ethnic trauma, minority stress involves chronic levels of stress faced by members of stigmatized minority groups. One example of minority stress includes members of the LGBTQ+ community experiencing discrimination or violence in response to their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.