Think You Don’t Have “Real” Trauma for EMDR Therapy? Why That’s Complete Garbage – You Deserve Healing Too
Your therapist probably never told you this, but that crushing Sunday Scaries feeling? The one that seems to come up at random times, and feels wildly disproportionate to what’s going on around you?
That’s actually trauma talking.
We’ve medicalized trauma so much that most people think they need a tear-jerkingly tragic backstory to deserve healing. High-achievers, in particular (you know, like entrepreneurs who start their own businesses), often think their trauma isn’t “big” enough to need EMDR therapy – or to be messing up their lives and careers.
Meanwhile, they’re white-knuckling through internal panic in boardrooms.
So what’s the deal? I’m gonna spell out the difference between “Big T Trauma” and “complex trauma,” explain how EMDR therapy helps (without the usual meaningless clinical mumbo-jumbo), plus give you practical exercises (no deep breathing or bubble baths here, I’m talking realistic exercises backed by legitimate entrepreneur therapy techniques) to start working through your trauma.
Because, believe it or not, you may very well be wrestling with trauma, and I want to help you overcome it and become the badass boss you really are.
Big T Trauma vs. Complex Trauma: Why You Assume Your Trauma Isn’t “Bad Enough” for EMDR Treatment
Most people, when they think of trauma in the therapeutic sense, tend to picture something horrific: war combat, violent abuse, car crashes, etc. And, to an extent, they’re correct: those things fall into the category of one type of trauma.
But trauma is sneaky like that; it takes multiple forms, and the less identifiable forms of trauma can have the same disastrous effects on the mind and body as being hit by a bus.
So, what exactly are big T trauma and complex trauma, and what’s the difference? Let’s get into it:
Big T Trauma: these are the obvious villains in the trauma stories everyone thinks of. Assault, natural disasters, serious injury, etc. The stuff that makes people nod and say, “of course you need EMDR therapy.”
But here’s the secret: complex trauma is the real epidemic. It doesn’t stem from one big event, like big T trauma – it’s death by a thousand paper cuts. Here are just a few of the MANY seemingly “small, innocuous” things that can add up to complex trauma:
Growing up as the “responsible one”
Parents who loved you, but were emotionally unavailable workaholics
Being praised only for achievements, never for just existing
Subtle but constant messages that your productivity = your worth
In short? Complex trauma is the trauma hiding in plain sight in corner offices and LinkedIn profiles, and it’s every bit as serious and devastating as big T trauma. The good news? An experienced EMDR practitioner or entrepreneur therapist can help you work through both types.
The Truth About EMDR Therapy for High-Achievers
Maybe you’ve heard about EMDR sessions before, but you thought it was just for war veterans with a formal diagnosis of PTSD.
But here’s the reality: does EMDR work for entrepreneurs and business owners? Absolutely!
It’s not just for flashbacks and nightmares. EMDR for business professionals is incredibly effective for:
That voice in your head whispering “you’re not doing enough”
The physical tension you carry from always being “on”
The inability to celebrate wins without immediately moving on to the next goal
Imposter syndrome that coaching and talk therapy alone haven’t touched
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: most successful people (high-achieving professionals and entrepreneurs like you) are walking around with textbook symptoms of complex trauma and PTSD, but because they’re functional (and profitable), everyone pretends it’s normal.
Spoiler alert: needing three cups of coffee to feel human and checking emails at 11:00 p.m. isn’t “driven” – it’s dysregulated.
And it’s exactly what EMDR for business owners is designed to address.
3 Practical Exercises to Identify Trauma Before Your First EMDR Session
Still think your trauma isn’t “big” enough to affect your life and career? Well, there are a few ways to check.
These are evidence-based techniques to help you start to find and understand your trauma, that are safe to do without a professional.
For the record, I definitely recommend working with a licensed EMDR specialist, but if you’re not ready to take that step just yet, these exercises are a good place to start.
Exercise 1: The Body Scan Truth Bomb
Close your eyes. Think about checking your business bank account.
Notice what happens in your body.
Shoulders? Jaw? Throat? Stomach? Anything tensing up, clenching, or growing hot?
That’s trauma talking…
Your nervous system learned that money = danger somewhere along the way. This kind of somatic awareness is exactly what you’ll explore deeper in EMDR treatment.
Exercise 2: The Childhood Achievement Audit
Write down your proudest childhood moment.
Now write how the adults responded.
Were you celebrated for being you, or for what you accomplished?
This reveals the blueprint running your adult nervous system and often uncovers the root of imposter syndrome that many entrepreneurs face.
Exercise 3: The Sunday Test
Rate your anxiety 1-10 every Sunday at 6:00 p.m. for two weeks (the day/time is important, it has to do with your feelings about the upcoming workweek).
If it’s consistently above a 5, you’re carrying something that talk therapy alone might not reach – but an EMDR session could help you process.
What You Can Do to Heal Complex Trauma Now: EMDR Therapy
You don’t need to earn the right to feel better. You don’t need a tragedy to justify wanting peace in your nervous system.
The truth is, it’s almost impossible to fully heal from trauma on your own. It takes time, a great deal of introspection, and community support. The best way to get moving is working with an EMDR therapist to identify and work through your trauma.
Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat this – healing isn’t a quick fix or a weekend workshop. It’s messy, uncomfortable, and requires showing up even when you don’t want to.
But here’s what I know after years of doing this work: you’re fucking stronger than whatever happened to you, and you deserve to live without carrying that weight around every damn day.
Whether you’re dealing with big T trauma that everyone can see coming from a mile away, or complex trauma that’s been quietly running the show behind the scenes, EMDR can help you process it and move forward. Your nervous system can learn to feel safe again. Your business can thrive when you’re not constantly fighting old battles in your head; therapy for business owners isn’t a luxury – it’s an investment in your success.
If you’re ready to take that next step toward improving your life and career, give me a call. I’m an entrepreneur therapist in Portland, and I am licensed to provide online business therapy and EMDR therapy in Washington, Wisconsin, Colorado, Oregon, Arizona, and Florida.
Stop waiting for permission to heal. You already have everything you need to start.