LONG TERM DISABILITY SERVICES • MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT INSURANCE
VETERANS AFFAIRS CANADA • WCB EXPOSURE THERAPY
FIRST RESPONDER TRAUMA
MENTAL HEALTH • TRAUMA • CHRONIC PAIN • SSP
POST CONCUSSION • COGNITION • SENSORY PROCESSING
BEHAVIOURAL ACTIVATION • PGAP • RETURN TO WORK
Occupational therapists support people to participate and engage in self care, leisure, and productive activities through collaborative goal setting, and supporting improvements in health and functioning, and modifying the activity or environment.
Trauma can get in the way of many of our everyday activities. Through an OT lens, we address trauma by increasing capacity and safety in the nervous system in order to support you in doing what you need and want to do.
Car accidents and other fast or high impact accidents can feel like a boundary violation; this is because another vehicle or object enters your space suddenly and with a lot of force.
There are often injuries associated, as well as a lot of unexpected sights, sounds, and smells. Some people present with a heightened startle response and driving anxiety after a car accident.
Creating time and space for the nervous system to process the accident can support the healing process.
Trauma among first responders and veterans is common and multifaceted. First responders run into danger that others run away from.
First responders are often skilled at inhibiting natural survival responses to serve the needs of others. With repeated exposure to high stress situations, the nervous system can get stuck in unhelpful patterns of fight, flight, or freeze.
The nervous system can be supported to complete these incomplete responses and return to increased health.
Work related trauma can occur in many forms.
Some examples of workplace trauma include falls, accidents, assaults, robberies, physical or emotional injury, and witnessing serious injury or death. Workplace trauma can have a huge impact on both home and work life.
As with other trauma, the nervous system can get stuck in a state of threat. Through trauma work, we can increase the nervous system’s capacity for safety, work through triggers and stressors related to the event, and support a return to meaningful activity.
