CivilPsych Services

Individuals, Arkansas and Missouri

Trauma

The event is over. What often keeps going are the conclusions you drew from it: the world isn't safe, it was my fault, I'm damaged for good.

Written by Dr. Heath, Ph.D. Neuropsychology, Ph.D. Forensic Psychology. 40+ years of cognitive behavioral work. Reviewed November 2026.

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What's really going on

What people say"I'm traumatized." The word gets used as if the event were still happening inside you.
What's usually happeningA memory is not a recording. Each time you recall it, your brain rebuilds it, and you decide what it means today. When the old conclusions go untested, you give every reminder the same old reading, and the alarm follows the reading. Test the conclusions and a reminder goes back to being what it is: a reminder.

What you might notice

  • Memories of the event come back when you don't want them.
  • You steer around places, people or conversations that remind you of it.
  • You startle easily or stay on guard in safe places.
  • Sleep is broken by dreams or by lying awake.
  • You blame yourself for what someone else did, or for not stopping it.

How we work on it

The same method every time: find the thought, test it, practice a better one.

  1. Go at your paceYou decide how much to say and when. Nobody pulls the story out of you.
  2. Find the conclusionsWhat you decided the event meant about you, other people and the world.
  3. Test themAgainst the facts of what happened and the facts of your life since.
  4. Field-test the conclusionsCognitive Field Testing: one reminder at a time, you go where the old conclusions kept you out and check what they predicted against what happens.

Questions

Do I have to tell you everything that happened?

No. The work starts with what you are ready to talk about.

Is it too late if it happened years ago?

No. The conclusions are running today, and today is when they can be tested.

What if talking about it makes me feel worse at first?

We go step by step and keep each step small enough to handle.

Next

Call (870) 219-6312 Other ways to reach me

If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911.