Trauma Therapy in Maple Ridge
Something happened and part of you has been carrying it ever since.
You don’t need to understand it fully or be able to explain it.
You only need to notice that something still lives in your body, shapes how you move through the world, and makes healing feel both necessary and overdue.
At Ignite Counselling in Maple Ridge, our trauma therapists offer specialized, body‑informed care grounded in Somatic Experiencing®, Internal Family Systems™, Transforming Touch™, and Narrative Therapy™. In‑person or virtual across BC and Ontario.
When we talk about the nervous system, we mean the part of you that decides, below conscious thought, whether it’s safe to relax or whether it needs to stay on guard. Trauma teaches the nervous system to protect you. Sometimes it gets stuck in that job.
WHO TRAUMA THERAPY IS FOR
You Might Be in the Right Place
Trauma doesn’t always look like a single event. Often, it looks like years of not feeling safe, not feeling seen, or never fully landing in your own life.
You may be experiencing:
A nervous system stuck on high alert
Emotional reactions that feel too big or strangely absent
Memories, images, or sensations that surface without warning
A body that feels tense, braced, or disconnected
Exhaustion from holding everything together
Difficulty trusting others or repeating painful patterns
Numbness, disconnection, or feeling outside your own life
Struggling to feel present, grounded, or safe
Whatever you’re carrying, it makes sense. Trauma is a deeply human response to experiences that were too much, too soon, too fast, or too alone.
If this feels familiar, trauma therapy can help.
When I first started, I was struggling with anxiety and working through trauma, and I honestly felt overwhelmed. From the very beginning, Ignite Counselling created a space where I felt safe, supported, and completely free of judgment.
HOW TRAUMA IMPACTS YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM
The Three Pillars of Trauma Healing at Ignite Counselling
1. Processing Within the Capacity of Your Nervous System
Trauma therapy doesn’t mean diving into the hardest material first. We work within your Window of Tolerance, the zone where your nervous system can stay present without becoming overwhelmed. Not flooded. Not shut down. Healing happens in the middle ground.
2. Reducing Distressing Symptoms
Trauma leaves traces: anxiety, depression, flashbacks, emotional numbness, chronic tension. We use evidence‑informed approaches to loosen the grip of these symptoms — not just manage them.
3. Rebuilding Resilience
Healing isn’t only about the past. It’s about expanding your capacity to stay regulated, connected, and grounded. Over time, your Window of Tolerance widens. Life begins to feel inhabitable again.
I’ve had many counselors in my time, however none have come close to Shawna! She understood the assignment!! I have been failed by many counselors, but Shawna is 100% different I have been with her for 6 years and trust her completely. She is compassionate and empathetic. She is very intuned with how your body feels where the feeling are and how they are feeling in that moment. She asks all the right questions and doesn’t judge. If you need counseling, I highly recommend Shawna! You won’t be disappointed!!
OUR APPROACH
Therapy That Works with Your Whole Self
Trauma lives in the body, the nervous system, the protective patterns you developed to survive, and the stories you came to believe about yourself.
Somatic Experiencing®
Works directly with the nervous system to release stored survival energy. You don’t have to relive trauma, we focus on what your body is holding now.
Transforming Touch™
A body‑based extension of SE using gentle, consensual therapeutic touch to support nervous system healing. Helpful when words can’t reach what the body carries.
Internal Family Systems™ (IFS)
Helps you build a compassionate relationship with your parts. The ones that shut down, brace, or stay busy so your core Self can lead.
Narrative Therapy™
Helps you examine the trauma‑shaped stories about who you are and begin authoring something truer, more compassionate, and more whole.
IS TRAUMA THERAPY RIGHT FOR YOU?
You don’t need a diagnosis or a defining event. If any of this feels familiar, you’re likely in the right place.
PTSD or C-PTSD
Single‑incident or long‑term trauma, we meet you where you are.
Anxiety or Depression Rooted in Past Experience
Even if you’ve “dealt with it,” trauma‑informed therapy can reach layers other approaches can’t.
Unmanageable Symptoms
Flashbacks, hypervigilance, dissociation, emotional flooding, chronic tension or pain.
Difficulty Feeling Safe or Grounded
If safety feels like something other people have access to, trauma therapy can help you reach it.
One of the only places I feel 100% comfortable sharing every detail of my life with. I’ve been attending sessions for 5+ years now and I can never look back. I always feel heard, supported and validated during every single session.
WHAT HEALING CAN LOOK LIKE
Trauma‑Informed Counselling Rooted in Nervous System Healing
A nervous system that can settle
A sense of safety in your body
More space between feeling and response
Understanding your patterns with compassion
More secure, less exhausting relationships
More presence, more choice, more of yourself intact
WHAT WORKING TOGETHER LOOKS LIKE
Three Simple Steps Toward Something Different
Reach Out
Share as much or as little as you want. We’ll match you with the right therapist.
Your First Session
Gentle questions, careful listening, no pressure to share everything at once. Given tools to try between sessions.
Ongoing Support
We follow your nervous system’s pace, never faster than you’re ready.
FAQs
Do I need a formal diagnosis to access trauma therapy?
No. You don’t need a PTSD diagnosis or a referral. If something feels unresolved, even if you can’t name it, that’s enough reason to reach out.
Will I have to talk about everything that happened?
No. Many of the most effective approaches work with the body’s response to trauma rather than the narrative. You will never be pushed to share more than you’re ready to share.
How long does trauma therapy take?
Some clients notice meaningful shifts within a few months; others engage in longer-term work. The pace will always be guided by what’s right for you.
Do you offer virtual sessions?
Yes, both in-person in Maple Ridge and virtual therapy across BC and Ontario. Virtual trauma therapy is equally effective and lets you access support from the safety of your own space.
Is my therapy covered by insurance?
Many BC extended health plans cover Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC) and Registered Clinical Social Workers (RCSW). We’re happy to provide receipts for submission.
What does therapy at Ignite cost?
Our fees vary by counsellor and session type, including sessions with supervised intern counsellors at a reduced rate. Reach out and we’ll walk you through current options.
What if I'm not sure I'm ready?
That’s completely okay. Ambivalence is a normal part of the process. Reaching out doesn’t commit you to anything, it simply opens the door. We’ll take it one step at a time, together.
WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE IGNITE FOR TRAUMA THERAPY
Trauma‑Informed. Body‑Aware. Genuinely Human.
We work with the nervous system, not just the story
We never push faster than your system can tolerate
We integrate body‑based and parts‑based approaches
We offer deeply collaborative, non‑judgmental care
We support long‑term healing, not quick fixes