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Understanding Relational Trauma: The 5 Most Common Types I Treat

Writer's picture: Sophia KhanSophia Khan

As a trauma therapist specializing in relational trauma, I often see the profound impact of traumatic relationships on my clients’ emotional and psychological well-being. Relational trauma occurs when our fundamental need for connection, safety, and trust is violated, often leaving scars that deeply affect our ability to engage in healthy relationships. Below, I outline the five most common types of relational trauma I work with in my practice.


1. Narcissistic Abuse


Narcissistic abuse often stems from relationships with individuals who exhibit narcissistic traits or personality disorders. This form of abuse can be insidious, involving manipulation, gaslighting, emotional exploitation, and control.


Impact: Survivors frequently experience self-doubt, confusion, and a diminished sense of self-worth.


Healing Approach: Therapy focuses on rebuilding self-trust, identifying and releasing internalized blame, and fostering resilience against future manipulation.


2. Betrayal Trauma


Betrayal trauma arises when someone we deeply trust violates that trust, often through infidelity, deception, or other breaches of trust.


Impact: The shock and pain of betrayal can lead to feelings of devastation, hypervigilance, and difficulty trusting others.


Healing Approach: Addressing betrayal involves processing the emotional aftermath, rebuilding personal boundaries, and re-establishing trust—first within oneself and, potentially, in future relationships.


3. Parental Trauma


This occurs when caregivers fail to provide emotional safety, stability, or support during childhood. It can include overt abuse or more subtle forms of neglect.


Impact: Parental trauma often leads to attachment issues, feelings of unworthiness, and patterns of codependency or avoidance in adult relationships.


Healing Approach: Therapy involves reparenting the inner child, processing the unmet needs of the past, and developing healthier relational dynamics.


4. Emotional Neglect


Emotional neglect happens when someone we rely on fails to validate or respond to our emotional needs. While less visible than other traumas, it can be just as damaging.


Impact: Survivors often feel unseen or unworthy of love, struggle with emotional expression, and develop a harsh inner critic.


Healing Approach: Treatment focuses on identifying unmet emotional needs, cultivating self-compassion, and learning to express emotions effectively.


5. Emotional Invalidation


When individuals are consistently told their emotions are wrong, exaggerated, or insignificant, they may internalize the belief that their feelings don’t matter.


Impact: This type of trauma can lead to chronic self-doubt, difficulty asserting needs, and emotional suppression.


Healing Approach: Therapy emphasizes validating emotions, challenging self-criticism, and fostering a sense of emotional safety.


Moving Toward Healing


Relational trauma can feel overwhelming, but healing is possible. Therapy provides a space to process pain, rewrite unhealthy narratives, and reclaim your sense of self. Whether you’ve experienced one or multiple forms of relational trauma, remember that recovery is a journey—one step at a time.


If any of these resonate with you, consider reaching out for support. You don’t have to navigate this path alone.


Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation with Sophia Here (Open to residents of BC, SK, MB, and ON, Canada): https://superbloomwellness.intakeq.com/booking


About the Author


Sophia is a trauma therapist, a dietitian, and most importantly, a fellow human navigating the complexities of the human experience. She holds both a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. She is deeply passionate about walking alongside clients looking to heal from various forms of trauma, such as complex trauma (including C-PTSD), betrayal trauma, relationship trauma, childhood trauma, parental trauma, narcissistic abuse, and/or intergenerational trauma. She specializes in supporting clients through healing the impacts that trauma can have on their most important relationships: including their relationship with self, with others, with their body, and with food. She draws from numerous trauma-focused modalities including EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic and Mindfulness-Based Approaches, Attachment Theory, Polyvagal Theory, and Psychodynamic Therapy.

 

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Clinical Trauma Specialist
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