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What can you come to us with?
Trauma, abuse and PTSD
Difficult events can leave a mark that makes itself felt for years: in the body's reactions, in dreams, in avoiding certain places or subjects. Trauma therapy helps you regain calm and a sense of safety. At the Unique Psychological Practice in Warsaw we accompany you through that process with full respect for your boundaries.
Book a visitTrauma arises when an experience exceeds our capacity to cope with it at that moment. The nervous system then records it differently from an ordinary memory - as though the danger were still present. That is where reactions come from that later seem out of proportion, even though they have their own logic.
There is no single list of events that entitles you to speak of trauma. The nervous system's response lies outside conscious control, so asking whether you could have behaved differently leads nowhere. It is better to focus on defusing those mechanisms here and now.
The reactions that stayed with you were a way of surviving. Today you can say goodbye to them.
How does trauma make itself felt?
If you recognise these signals in yourself, it is worth talking.
Talk to a psychologist- Memories return against your will - during the day, in dreams or as sudden images.
- You avoid places, conversations or situations that remind you of what happened.
- You react violently to sounds or movement, you are constantly on alert.
- You find it hard to trust others or to feel close in a relationship.
- You sometimes feel you are watching yourself from the outside, as if your experiences belonged to someone else.
- You feel emotionally numb, your feelings seem muted.
- You blame yourself for something you had no control over.
- Your body reacts with tension, pain or insomnia, even though tests show no cause.
In which situations do we help?
PTSD - post-traumatic stress disorder
What it is
PTSD develops after experiencing or witnessing an event that threatens life or a sense of safety: an accident, an assault, a disaster, warfare. Symptoms may appear at once or only after months.
How it may show up
Flashbacks - intrusive returns of the event lived through as if it were happening now. Nightmares, avoiding reminders, excessive vigilance and irritability. Many people describe it as living in a state of constant readiness.
How therapy helps
Treating PTSD means gradually growing familiar with the memories in safe conditions, so that they stop triggering an alarm response. We do not start with the hardest experiences - first we build a sense of stability.
Complex trauma (CPTSD) and difficult childhood experiences
What it is
CPTSD results from long-lasting, repeated experiences that were hard to escape: violence within the family, neglect, years in an abusive relationship. Childhood trauma shapes how we later build relationships and see ourselves.
How it may show up
Beyond the symptoms of PTSD there are lasting difficulties in regulating emotions, a sense of worthlessness and problems in close relationships. Dissociation is common - a cutting off from the body or from feelings that once protected against an excess of pain.
How therapy helps
The work goes more slowly than with a single event and includes rebuilding your image of yourself. You learn to recognise your own needs and boundaries, which could not be expressed in those conditions.
Psychological and physical abuse in a relationship
What it is
Abuse in a relationship rarely begins with a blow. More often it builds gradually: from control and criticism, through isolation from loved ones, to economic and physical violence. One form of psychological abuse is gaslighting - undermining another person's perception of reality.
How it may show up
A feeling of constantly walking on thin ice, explaining away the other person's behaviour, doubting your own memory and judgement of a situation. The effects of psychological abuse can be just as serious as those of physical abuse, even though they leave no visible marks.
How therapy helps
We help you name what you are experiencing and regain trust in your own judgement. We do not judge the decision to stay in the relationship or to leave - that is your choice and your pace.
Sexual abuse and harassment
What it is
The experience of having sexual boundaries crossed - in childhood or adulthood, in a relationship, at work or by a stranger. It makes no difference how much time has passed or whether the matter was ever reported.
How it may show up
Shame, guilt, difficulty with closeness and intimacy, avoiding physical contact or feeling disconnected from your own body. Many people go for years without naming the experience directly.
How therapy helps
The aim is not to erase the memories but to take away their hold on everyday life: on closeness, trust and a sense of safety. We also offer support with difficulties in the intimate sphere, should that prove necessary.
Adjustment disorders
What it is
Adjustment disorders appear when a specific event - a break-up, job loss, illness, an accident - knocks you off balance for a lasting period. The symptoms are milder than in PTSD but genuinely get in the way of functioning.
How it may show up
Low mood, anxiety, irritability, trouble sleeping and concentrating, a feeling of being unable to return to your normal rhythm.
How therapy helps
Short, focused work is usually enough to regain balance. It is worth reaching for support before the problem settles in.
What does working with trauma involve?
The most common fear about trauma therapy concerns having to relive what happened. At Unique we talk about difficult memories only when there is room for it and you agree. Trauma therapy proceeds in stages, and each of them has its own purpose.
- 1
We build a sense of safety
Before we touch the traumatic experiences, we work on stabilisation: ways of coping with tension, sleep, a return to the rhythm of daily life. This stage can be the longest and is the foundation of all the work that follows.
- 2
We put the experience in order
Gradually and in safe conditions we look at what happened. The memory then stops functioning as an ongoing threat and becomes part of the past.
- 3
You return to life
We rebuild what trauma limited or took away: relationships, trust, plans. You regain a sense of control and inner calm.
The past does not have to decide your today
Whether the difficult experience was months ago or twenty years ago, avoidance, tension and vigilance take up an enormous amount of space in life. Trauma therapy helps you reclaim it step by step. Book a consultation in Warsaw or online.
Pick a slot in our calendar here
The booking calendar is only available in Polish. Prefer to book in English? Call or write to us and we will arrange it.
The booking calendar is only available in Polish. Prefer to book in English? Call or write to us and we will arrange it.
Patients' most frequent questions about trauma and PTSD
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
The most common are flashbacks, nightmares, avoiding everything that recalls the trauma, and a state of constant vigilance. Irritability, trouble sleeping and a feeling of being cut off from your own emotions also appear.
Do I have to talk about what happened?
Not straight away, and never against your will. Trauma therapy begins with building a sense of safety, and we move on to difficult subjects when you feel ready. You can also work on the effects of the experience without going into its details.
Many years have passed. Does therapy still make sense?
Yes. Trauma has no expiry date, and its effects can be visible decades later - especially with childhood experiences. Many people come forward years afterwards, when something in life recalls the old events.
How does PTSD differ from CPTSD?
PTSD is usually linked to a single event, while complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) develops out of long-lasting, repeated experiences. In CPTSD, alongside the symptoms of PTSD, there are lasting difficulties with emotional regulation, self-image and relationships, which is why therapy takes longer.
How do I recognise psychological abuse in a relationship?
The most common warning signs are constant criticism, control over your contacts and finances, isolation from loved ones and gaslighting - undermining your perception of reality. People experiencing abuse typically feel constantly tense and doubt their own memory and judgement.
Where can I find trauma therapy in Warsaw?
You are welcome at the Unique practice in Ursynow or for an online consultation. It is worth knowing that support from a psychologist requires neither a referral nor a specific diagnosis. Get in touch and book a visit - it is a good first step.