What Is Trauma and Can It Be Healed? 5 Key Questions Answered with Laurel van der Toorn

Is trauma only for combat veterans? Or could it be shaping your life without you even realizing it? In this powerful episode of Recoverable, licensed family therapist Laurel van der Toorn joins Terry to unpack the internet’s most searched questions about trauma — what it is, how it shows up in your body, and how to truly heal.

Find treatment near you: https://recovery.com/condition/trauma/
Learn more about Laurel: https://www.laureltherapy.net/laurel-van-der-toorn

You’ll learn how two people can live through the same event yet have completely different experiences, why trauma isn’t “what happened to you” but what happened inside you, and how to recognize the subtle signs that your past might still be affecting your relationships, sleep, or stress responses.

Laurel breaks down complex psychology into everyday language, explaining concepts like the window of tolerance, PTSD vs. CPTSD, and EMDR therapy — a groundbreaking trauma treatment proven to rewire the brain and restore emotional balance.

If you’ve ever wondered:
👉 “How do I know if I’ve experienced trauma?”
👉 “Can childhood trauma really affect me as an adult?”
👉 “Can trauma actually be healed?”
…this episode is your roadmap.

⏱️ Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: What We Get Wrong About Trauma
01:00 – Why Trauma Is More Common Than We Think
02:30 – What Is Trauma, Really?
04:30 – The Difference Between Hardship and Trauma
06:00 – Who Gets to Define a Traumatic Experience?
08:00 – Why Two People Experience the Same Event Differently
10:00 – How Resilience and Resources Shape Recovery
12:00 – PTSD vs. Complex PTSD Explained
13:00 – How to Know If You Have Trauma
15:00 – Understanding the “Window of Tolerance”
17:00 – Signs and Red Flags of Unhealed Trauma
18:30 – Trauma’s Link to Anxiety, Depression & Addiction
20:00 – The Power of Curiosity in Self-Healing
22:00 – How Childhood Trauma Shapes Adult Relationships
25:00 – Why Old Patterns Reappear When Life Gets Better
27:00 – Inner Child & Internal Family Systems Work
29:00 – Can Trauma Be Healed?
32:00 – EMDR Therapy Explained
38:00 – What an EMDR Session Looks Like
45:00 – Trauma and the Body: Why It Feels Physical
50:00 – A Simple Calming Exercise You Can Use Anytime

❓ Questions the Video Answers:
What exactly is trauma?
How can two people experience the same event but be affected differently?
How do I know if I’ve experienced trauma?
What’s the difference between trauma and a tough life event?
Who decides if something was traumatic?
How does trauma affect the brain and body?
What is the “window of tolerance” and why does it matter?
What are the signs of unhealed trauma in adults?
How does childhood trauma show up in adult relationships?
What’s the difference between PTSD and complex PTSD?
Can trauma cause anxiety, depression, or addiction?
What are the most effective trauma therapies?
How does EMDR therapy work?
Can trauma really be healed — or just managed?
What are simple grounding exercises to calm your body?

#trauma #ptsd #mentalhealth