Rethinking Trauma: From Neuroscience to the Nervous System
How do we define trauma?
If you're a therapist, a client, or someone interested in mental health, you might assume that psychology already has a consensus on what trauma is. But in her 2023 Illinois Counseling Association (ICA) presentation, Lauren Brdecka, LCPC revealed a surprising truth: there is no singular, consistent definition of trauma in scholarly counseling literature. Most definitions describe trauma but do not define it.
At CARE Counseling, Inc., we turn to neuroscience, embodied practices, and clinical wisdom to deepen our understanding of trauma, not as a label—but as a lived, physiological experience.
Defining Trauma
Let’s begin with this powerful, client-centered definition offered by Brdecka:
“Trauma is anything an individual was unprepared for (internal and external resources) at the time of the event(s), which resulted in lowered functioning or symptom development.”
—Brdecka, 2023
This definition shifts trauma from being about the event itself to the person’s experience of the event. It's not about how “bad” something was—but about whether someone had the emotional, physical, and social tools to process it at the time.
It’s inclusive of:
Developmental and relational trauma
Systemic trauma (e.g., racism, marginalization)
Medical and spiritual trauma
Chronic or complex experiences that often go unrecognized
A Few Notes on the Neuroscience of Trauma
In her presentation, Brdecka explores how trauma affects the entire nervous system, not just our thoughts or emotions.
The brain functions like a staircase:
Step 1 (Brainstem – Survival): Controls heart rate, body temperature, and basic safety functions.
Step 2 (Limbic System – Emotion): Where fear, memory, and attachment live.
Step 3 (Cortex – Logic): Our rational thinking, language, and planning.
In trauma, we often drop to the bottom step—operating from survival mode (fight, flight, freeze). This is why clients with trauma histories may struggle to "think their way out" of dysregulation. The body has taken over.
Bottom-Up Approaches: Healing from the Inside Out
Top-down therapies (like CBT) focus on thoughts and behaviors. While valuable, they may not fully access the parts of the brain impacted by trauma.
Brdecka highlights bottom-up modalities—approaches that start with the body and the nervous system. These include:
Brainspotting: Uses eye position to access deeper brain processing for trauma resolution.
Somatic Experiencing: Helps clients complete unfinished stress responses trapped in the body.
Internal Family Systems (IFS): Connects to protective “parts” of the self shaped by trauma.
NeuroAffective Touch & Polyvagal Theory: Uses physical attunement and safety signaling to recalibrate the nervous system.
Trauma and the Stress Response
Trauma activates the HPA axis—a hormonal system involving the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands. This system governs:
Cortisol (stress hormone) release
Inflammatory responses
Sleep, appetite, immunity, and sexual function
Prolonged HPA activation is linked to physical health issues like fatigue, digestive problems, autoimmune flare-ups, and even heart disease.
Brdecka notes that trauma is often stored in the body—not just in the mind—making body-based healing essential.
Techniques for Regulating the Nervous System
Trauma therapy isn’t just about talking—it’s about creating safety from the inside out. Three somatic techniques Brdecka encourages include:
Resourcing: Teaching the body to return to a felt sense of “okayness.”
Pendulation: Moving gently between distress and safety to build resilience.
Titration: Addressing trauma in small, manageable doses to avoid overwhelm.
These practices work with the nervous system's natural rhythm, honoring the body’s pacing rather than rushing healing.
What This Means for Therapy at CARE Counseling
At CARE Counseling, Inc., we understand that trauma is not a weakness—it’s a nervous system adaptation to overwhelm. Whether you’re processing recent events, childhood wounds, or chronic stress, our therapists are trained in bottom-up and neuro-informed approaches that promote integration and wholeness.
We believe that trauma is not about what’s wrong with you—but about what happened to you. And healing is absolutely possible.
You don’t have to carry it alone. There’s a way back to safety—starting from the bottom up.