- Visit Us Daily from 8.00 AM to 9.00 PM
- 20103 40th Ave #107, Brookswood, Langley, BC. V3A 2W3
- Visit Us Daily from 8.00 AM to 9.00 PM
- 20103 40th Ave #107, Brookswood, Langley, BC. V3A 2W3
- (778) 554-0174
Trauma Counselling in Langley: How Treatment Can Help
Skilled Trauma Treatment Begins With Understanding You
Our therapists bring relevant clinical training and experience to understanding how trauma affects your life. Together, we establish meaningful goals and choose research-informed treatment approaches to help you work through distressing experiences, change patterns that keep you struggling, and participate more fully in life.
Throughout treatment, we explain the work, review progress with you, and respect your choices and pace.
Learn about trauma-informed practice — Province of British Columbia
This resource shares information and clinical perspectives connected with Dr. Michael “Mike” Dadson’s work. Current counselling services are provided through Gentle Currents Therapy in Langley.
On this page: How counselling helps · Treatment options · What happens in sessions · Reviewing progress · When to seek help · Clinical background
How Can Trauma Counselling Help With PTSD and Everyday Life?
You may understand what happened and still struggle with its effects. Knowing you are safe may not settle the alarm you feel. Wanting closeness may not prevent withdrawal. During conflict, you may react in ways that leave you distressed or disconnected.
Our therapists explore these difficulties with you: how they developed, what keeps them going, and what you want to change. Your experiences deserve careful understanding, and your goals deserve a thoughtful treatment plan.
Moving From Understanding to Change
If conflict leaves you shutting down, we might explore what happens before you withdraw, practise communicating what you need, and address experiences that make disagreement feel threatening.
If reminders lead you to avoid situations, your therapist can help you understand that pattern and consider an appropriate treatment plan. The work may include developing skills and gradually approaching safe situations that have become difficult.
Your priorities give treatment direction. Together, we connect the work in sessions with changes you want in your relationships, responsibilities, and everyday choices.
When Should I Consider Counselling?
What Treatments Can Help With Trauma and PTSD?
Research supports several treatments for PTSD, including specific trauma-focused approaches. Choosing treatment involves considering that evidence alongside your concerns, preferences, circumstances, and the clinician’s qualifications.
Our therapists explain what they recommend, why it may help, and what the work involves. Different clinicians offer different approaches; you do not need to choose a method before contacting us.
Compare Trauma Therapy Approaches and Their Research Foundations
EMDR and Processing Distressing Memories
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured treatment supported by research for PTSD. It includes assessment, preparation, and work with distressing memories while using bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements.
Carlie Dinwoodie’s training includes EMDR. You can explore her background and discuss whether this approach may fit your concerns.
Working With Physical Responses and Relationships
Some trauma-related difficulties involve physical activation, shutdown, shame, or expectations about closeness and safety. These experiences deserve attention within treatment planning.
Dr. Michael “Mike” Dadson’s training includes Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Levels I and II, Observed and Experiential Integration (OEI), and attachment-informed clinical work. His profile explains his training, research, and experience in greater detail.
Cognitive, Behavioural, and Relational Work
Counselling may address patterns of avoidance, self-blame, communication, and coping. Depending on the treatment plan, this can involve examining beliefs, practising skills, and exploring different ways of responding to difficult situations.
Dan Lloyd’s profile describes his use of practical CBT strategies, collaborative action plans, and relational understanding.
General CBT strategies and specific trauma-focused PTSD treatments are not interchangeable. Your therapist can explain the approach being offered and how it relates to your goals.
Can Neurofeedback Be Part of Trauma Care?
Our team can discuss whether LENS neurofeedback may be appropriate alongside counselling. We consider your concerns, preferences, and treatment goals, explain what sessions involve, and review how you respond.
Research into neurofeedback for PTSD is developing, with promising findings for some approaches and continuing uncertainty about effectiveness. LENS differs from the methods used in many PTSD studies, so those results should not be assumed to apply directly to LENS. Our team can explain the evidence, limitations, and alternatives when discussing whether it belongs in your care plan.
Learn About LENS Neurofeedback at Gentle Currents
Read a Research Review of Neurofeedback for PTSD
Read the U.S. Defense Health Agency’s Neurofeedback Evidence Brief
How the Sequential Trauma Narrative Informs Our Work
Dr. Dadson developed the Sequential Trauma Narrative (STN) as a framework that informs our treatment planning and understanding of trauma recovery across the body, personal meaning, relationships, and participation in life.
STN helps connect clinical thinking about regulation, relational safety, narrative, and integration. Decisions about particular treatments also require attention to their evidence, your therapist’s qualifications, and your needs.
Research supporting individual treatment approaches should be distinguished from evidence evaluating STN as a complete framework.
What Happens During Trauma Counselling Sessions?
Our therapists begin by getting to know you, understanding your concerns, and discussing what you hope to change. We explain confidentiality and its limits, review consent, and consider treatment options together.
You can ask how a proposed method works, what it involves, and how difficult reactions will be managed. Sessions may include discussion, structured therapeutic exercises, skills practice, or work with memories, emotions, and physical responses.
Your therapist explains the purpose of the work and invites your feedback.
Will I Have to Talk About Everything That Happened?
You do not need to describe everything at your first appointment. Counselling can begin with what is affecting you now and what would help you participate in treatment.
The amount and type of memory work vary with the approach. Your therapist will discuss what is involved so you can make informed decisions, raise concerns, and consider alternatives.
How Will We Know Counselling Is Helping?
Together, we review progress toward your goals. Are reminders becoming more manageable? Can you remain more connected during difficult conversations? Are you returning to activities you value?
Your observations matter. Where appropriate, structured questionnaires can also help track symptoms and functioning.
If treatment is not helping as expected, we discuss what may need to change, including adjustments, other approaches, or referral options. Our commitment to dignity, compassion, and hope includes taking your concerns seriously and working toward changes that matter to you.
When Should I Consider Trauma Counselling?
You can consider trauma counselling when experiences from the past—or something happening now—are affecting your ability to live as you would like. You do not need to wait until difficulties become overwhelming or have a PTSD diagnosis before asking for help.
When Your Efforts to Cope Are No Longer Enough
Some ways of coping may still help; others may now be creating problems. Avoiding reminders, withdrawing from relationships, working constantly, or relying on alcohol may offer temporary relief while making life more restricted.
Our therapists explore these patterns with curiosity and respect. Together, we consider what they have helped you manage and what could give you more choices now.
When Daily Life Is Becoming Harder
Perhaps it is becoming difficult to concentrate, remain present with people you care about, or recover after conflict. Even if you continue meeting your responsibilities, the effort may feel exhausting.
Your therapist considers different possible explanations rather than assuming trauma is the cause of every difficulty. Together, we explore what kind of support or assessment may help.
When Previous Support Has Not Brought the Change You Need
If you have tried counselling before, we want to understand what helped, what did not, and what you felt was missing.
That conversation can inform the choice of clinician, treatment approach, and goals. You are welcome to ask how the proposed work would address your concerns.
Clinical Experience and Research Behind This Resource
Dr. Michael “Mike” Dadson, PhD, RCC, CCC, is the Clinical Director of Gentle Currents Therapy in Langley. His work brings together counselling, clinical supervision, trauma research, and experience supporting people affected by PTSD and traumatic stress.
His background includes service as Executive and Clinical Director of the Veterans Transition Network and co-authorship of a published evaluation of a group intervention for veterans who experienced military-related trauma. In 2016, he contributed testimony to a House of Commons committee examining operational stress injuries and PTSD.
This website draws on that clinical and research background to help readers understand trauma counselling, consider treatment options, and ask informed questions about care.
Qualifications & Clinical Experience
Published Research on Military-Related Trauma
Research DOI: 10.1521/ijgp.2014.64.3.367
Parliamentary Testimony on PTSD & Operational Stress Injuries
Exploring Trauma Counselling at Gentle Currents
Our team can help you learn about our therapists and consider whose experience and approach may fit your concerns. You can also ask about fees, benefits coverage, accessibility, and current appointment options.
You can begin with a question. We will work with you to understand the next step.