23/09/2025
The Trauma Tree & Stages of Growth
I often use the Trauma Tree as a way to explain how past experiences can shape our present.
The roots symbolise our early experiences, the foundations of safety, trust, and belonging.
The trunk reflects how we’ve grown and formed our sense of self.
The branches and leaves show the challenges we see on the surface; things like anxiety, relationship struggles, feeling “on edge,” or turning to unhelpful coping strategies.
Many people come to therapy focused on these surface “leaves.” They sit down to talk about a current issue in their life, stress at work, conflict in relationships, or a lingering feeling of not being good enough. It’s only through reflection, and opening up in therapy, that they begin to connect the dots. They realise that certain past experiences, often ones they never thought of as traumatic left deep marks in their roots.
This is where Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages of development are helpful. Each stage in life asks us to face a key challenge, and when we resolve it, we move forward with more strength and resilience. But trauma can interrupt that process. Instead of progressing, we can get “stuck” in a stage repeating old patterns or carrying wounds from earlier years into adult life.
For example, if a child grows up without consistent care, their sense of trust may not fully develop. As adults, this might show up as difficulty building secure relationships or always being on guard. In other words, the roots of trauma can shape the way the tree continues to grow.
Therapy isn’t just about trimming the leaves or managing the symptoms in front of us. It’s about gently exploring the roots and finding healing there. When the roots are nurtured, the whole tree, the whole person has a chance to flourish.
This isn’t about blaming the past. It’s about understanding how it shaped you, so you can finally move forward and create a stronger, healthier future.
If you’ve ever felt like you keep running into the same struggles, it doesn’t mean you’re weak or broken. It may simply mean the roots need attention and therapy can provide the support and tools to do just that.
Healing begins with awareness. If you’re ready to explore what’s beneath the surface and strengthen your roots, I’d love to walk that journey with you.
credit for image: unknown
