What Is Possible: The Power of Trauma Healing and Presence

Real Stories of Transformation

I want to share the stories of two clients, both of whom gave me permission to speak about their experiences in a way that fully protects their identity. Their journeys were very different, but the outcome was remarkably similar: peace, clarity, and a return to the self that trauma had buried. What’s possible in this work can be more profound than many people realize.

One client came to me carrying decades of pain, including panic in crowded places, emotional shutdowns, cycles of depression, and a history of relational trauma. After just one session using Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), they experienced something extraordinary: immediate and powerful relief. They described it as feeling “high” on their own neurochemistry, as if their nervous system had finally exhaled after years of bracing. Over the next six months, we continued our work, focusing on repairing what trauma had disrupted: communication, presence, self-regulation, and a return to joy. They began sleeping better, re-engaging with life, and showing up to relationships from a place of strength instead of survival.

Another client’s transformation came more slowly, but it ran just as deep. When we began, she was in the thick of emotional chaos, struggling with self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and deep relational pain. She had previously been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and had gone through Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), but felt it never truly helped. It’s worth noting that many clients who receive this diagnosis have actually experienced significant unresolved trauma, and in some cases, may have been misdiagnosed altogether.

Research shows that individuals with BPD are significantly more likely to have experienced childhood emotional abuse and neglect, and that trauma is often a key driver of emotional instability (source). In my experience working with clients who carry this label, I have yet to meet someone who couldn’t be helped through trauma-focused modalities like ART and Brainspotting. These approaches go beyond surface-level coping skills and help the nervous system unhook from patterns of fear, overwhelm, and abandonment at their root.

For her, it wasn’t until the fifth ART session that she began to feel the shift. But once it came, it was profound. The emotional reactivity started to fade. The despair softened. The need to self-destruct gave way to a desire to live. She began to describe a quiet presence within herself, a stillness, a sense of simply being. Less thought. More peace. Over time, she grew into someone who could thrive at work, enjoy a stable relationship, and look forward to her future.

It’s important to note that trauma is not only connected to BPD, but also deeply intertwined with a wide range of mental health challenges. A landmark meta-analysis confirms that trauma is a transdiagnostic risk factor contributing to conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorders, and more. In another study, adults who experienced multiple types of childhood adversity were found to be at significantly higher risk for nearly all forms of psychological distress (ACE Study).

This is the kind of transformation that becomes possible when we treat trauma not just at the surface, but at its root. My approach combines cutting-edge trauma modalities like ART and Brainspotting with practices drawn from ancient Eastern wisdom traditions, including somatic introspection, meditations that deepen awareness, and inquiry into the nature of being itself. These spiritual elements are entirely optional. Some clients prefer to focus purely on trauma resolution using neuroscience-based techniques, and that alone can be life-changing. For others who are open to blending both paths, the results often feel extraordinary.

Healing does not have to mean spending a lifetime talking about the same wounds again and again. You can move forward. You can come back into your body, your joy, and your clarity. Whether your path is clinical, spiritual, or a blend of both, you are not broken, and this work can help you remember that.

What I Treat

I specialize in working with anxiety, depression, and trauma. These are the areas I focus on and have the most experience helping clients resolve. That said, clients with other diagnoses sometimes find their way to my practice. While I can’t make promises outside my main specialties, many still experience meaningful relief when we address the trauma-related aspects of their struggles. If your nervous system is carrying pain, fear, or overwhelm, there may be something here for you, even if your story does not fit neatly into a diagnostic box.

Work With Me

If this resonates with something deeper in you, not just intellectually but intuitively, you may already be ready.

If you are ready to experience this work directly, not just read about it, I invite you to reach out.

🔗 Here is a link to my private practice profile on Zencare.

📩 You’re welcome to email me anytime at therapy@arthurbilbreylmft.com
📞 Or call me directly at (619) 289-7161