Trauma Therapy in St. Catharines and Online Across Ontario

Understanding the effects of trauma and finding ways to move forward

Experiences from our past can sometimes continue to affect us long after the circumstances themselves have changed. We may struggle with anxiety, depression, difficulties in relationships, or patterns of thinking and behaving that seem difficult to change.

Psychological trauma can take many forms. Sometimes it follows a frightening or overwhelming event. At other times, its effects develop gradually through repeated experiences, particularly during childhood.

I’m David Moyes, MSW, RSW, a psychotherapist, Registered Social Worker and trauma therapist in St. Catharines with extensive experience treating anxiety, trauma-related difficulties, and longstanding emotional and relationship problems. I offer in-person psychotherapy in St. Catharines and online trauma therapy throughout Ontario.

What Is Psychological Trauma?

Psychological trauma occurs when an experience, or a series of experiences, overwhelms our ability to cope emotionally and leaves a lasting impact on how we feel about ourselves, relate to others, or experience the world.

Trauma is commonly associated with frightening or life-threatening events, such as accidents, violence, or abuse. These experiences may leave people struggling with fear, intrusive memories, avoidance, or a persistent sense of danger, even when the original threat is no longer present.

However, psychological difficulties can also develop through less obvious experiences, particularly during childhood. Repeated criticism, rejection, humiliation, emotional neglect, or growing up in an unpredictable or threatening environment can have enduring effects on emotional development.

Not everyone who experiences adversity develops psychological trauma. The impact depends on many factors, including the nature of the experience, the person’s developmental history, and the emotional support available to them.

How Past Experiences Can Affect Us Today

One of the more difficult aspects of trauma is that its effects may continue long after the original experience has ended.

Sometimes these effects are readily recognizable. A person who has experienced a serious accident, assault, or other frightening event may continue to experience anxiety, distressing memories, or avoidance of situations that remind them of what happened.

In other cases, the connection to earlier experiences may be less obvious.

Our childhood and adolescent experiences contribute to the development of beliefs about ourselves, other people, and what we can expect from relationships. When these experiences are repeatedly painful or emotionally difficult, we may develop ways of thinking and coping that continue into adult life.

For example, someone who grew up with frequent criticism may become excessively self-critical or perfectionistic. A person who experienced repeated rejection may become especially sensitive to signs of disapproval or distance in relationships. Others may learn to avoid conflict, suppress their emotions, or become overly self-reliant.

These responses may have helped us manage difficult circumstances earlier in life. However, they can become sources of distress when they continue to influence our lives long after those circumstances have changed.

When Earlier Difficulties Become Problems in the Present

The effects of earlier experiences are not always obvious or continuous.

Sometimes a significant life change, a new relationship, a loss, or an emotionally demanding situation brings longstanding difficulties into sharper focus.

A person who has managed reasonably well for years may begin experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, or a sense of being overwhelmed.

Common difficulties that may be associated with trauma or adverse experiences include:

Persistent anxiety, worry, panic, or avoidance
Depression, low self-esteem, or excessive self-criticism
Difficulties with trust, closeness, or maintaining relationships
Strong emotional reactions to rejection, criticism, or conflict
Perfectionism, excessive responsibility, or difficulty setting boundaries
Distressing memories or persistent feelings of fear and vulnerability
Unhelpful coping patterns that seem difficult to change

These difficulties do not necessarily mean that someone has experienced psychological trauma. Understanding how they developed, and what continues to maintain them, is an important part of therapy.

How Trauma Therapy Can Help

Effective psychotherapy begins with understanding the particular difficulties a person is experiencing and how those difficulties developed.

For some people, treatment focuses primarily on the continuing effects of a traumatic event. Trauma-focused CBT in St. Catharines may involve reducing anxiety and avoidance, working through distressing memories, and changing beliefs associated with the experience.

For others, the difficulties are more longstanding and involve patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating to people that developed over many years.

As a trauma therapist in St. Catharines, my approach draws primarily on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Schema Therapy. These approaches can be used separately or together, depending on the nature of the problem.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Trauma-focused CBT in St. Catharines helps people address the emotional and behavioural consequences of traumatic experiences.

Treatment may involve learning to manage anxiety, understanding how avoidance maintains distress, gradually confronting feared situations or memories, and reconsidering beliefs that developed following traumatic events.

I have experience using structured Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) in my earlier work with children and families. My approach to adult trauma treatment, including trauma-focused CBT in St. Catharines, draws on established cognitive behavioural methods, including exposure, cognitive restructuring, and working with the meaning of traumatic experiences.

Schema Therapy: Understanding Longstanding Emotional Patterns

Schema Therapy is particularly relevant when difficulties have developed through repeated experiences during childhood or adolescence.

Our early relationships play an important role in shaping how we understand ourselves and others. When important emotional needs are not consistently met, we may develop enduring beliefs and coping patterns that continue to influence our adult lives.

Schema Therapy helps identify these patterns, understand how they developed, and develop healthier ways of responding to difficult emotions and relationships.

The goal is not simply to revisit the past, but to reduce the influence that earlier experiences continue to have on our lives today.

What to Expect in Therapy

Therapy begins with an assessment of the difficulties you’re experiencing, your personal history, and what you would like to change.

Together, we develop an understanding of the problem and a treatment approach that fits your needs.

Some people benefit from a relatively focused course of therapy, such as trauma-focused CBT in St. Catharines, addressing a specific difficulty, such as anxiety following a traumatic event. Others may need more time to understand and change longstanding emotional or relationship patterns.

Treatment is collaborative, with attention to both understanding the problem and making practical changes in everyday life.

It is not always necessary or helpful to discuss every painful experience in detail. The approach depends on your circumstances, your goals, and what is clinically appropriate.

About David Moyes, MSW, RSW

I am a Psychotherapist, a Registered Social Worker and a trauma therapist in St. Catharines with extensive experience in hospital-based mental health services and private practice.

My professional background includes:

Thirteen years with Niagara Health’s Outpatient Mental Health Program.
Earlier work as a child and family therapist, including the development of family-based CBT approaches for childhood anxiety.
Advanced training and extensive clinical supervision in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Schema Therapy with Dr. Janet Klosko, a leading figure in the development of Schema Therapy.
Training and experience with mindfulness-based approaches, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills.

As an anxiety therapist in St. Catharines, my clinical work has included treating anxiety disorders, trauma-related difficulties, and longstanding emotional and interpersonal problems.

In-Person and Online Trauma Therapy

I offer psychotherapy in person at my St. Catharines office, and as a virtual therapist in St. Catharines and throughout Ontario.

In-person appointments: 320 Vansickle Road, Unit 6, St. Catharines — $180 per hour.
Online trauma therapy in Ontario: Secure video or telephone sessions available across Ontario — $150 per hour.

Many extended health insurance plans provide coverage for psychotherapy services delivered by Registered Social Workers. Direct billing is available with many insurance providers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to have experienced a major traumatic event to benefit from therapy?

No. People seek therapy for many reasons, including longstanding anxiety, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, and patterns of coping that may have developed through earlier life experiences. Not all of these difficulties necessarily involve trauma.

Do I have to talk about everything that happened in my past?

No. Therapy is guided by your current difficulties, treatment goals, and what is clinically appropriate. When working with traumatic memories is helpful, this can be approached gradually and collaboratively with a trauma therapist in St. Catharines.

Can trauma therapy help with anxiety and depression?

Yes. Anxiety and depression can sometimes be associated with traumatic experiences or longstanding emotional difficulties. Treatment focuses on understanding the factors contributing to these problems and selecting appropriate therapeutic methods, including trauma-focused CBT in St. Catharines.

Can I attend trauma therapy online?

Yes. I provide online trauma therapy in Ontario by secure video or telephone.

How long does trauma therapy take?

The length of treatment depends on the nature of the difficulties and your goals. Some problems respond well to relatively brief, focused treatment, while longstanding patterns may require more extended work.

Taking the First Step

If you’re struggling with the effects of trauma, anxiety, or longstanding emotional difficulties, an initial conversation with a trauma therapist in St. Catharines can help determine whether therapy may be useful.

I offer a free 15-minute telephone consultation to discuss your concerns, answer questions about my approach, and explain how online trauma therapy in Ontario works.

David Moyes, MSW, RSW
Phone: 289-501-5810
Email: DavidBMoyes@gmail.com

In-person appointments in St. Catharines | Online trauma therapy in Ontario

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