Beyond Fight or Flight

At the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre in northeastern Nova Scotia, a single trauma therapist is supporting women and gender-diverse people from Antigonish, Guysborough County, and surrounding rural communities—many of whom have carried their stories alone for years. Some arrive after recent assaults or crises; others come with wounds from childhood that have shaped every part of their adult lives. In this episode, host Alex sits down with Terri Pitts, a Registered Counselling Therapist with over ten years’ experience specializing in trauma. Terri supports people of all genders, 16 and older, who have experienced sexual trauma and gender-based violence, along with other mental health concerns. Grounded in non-profit women’s centre work, her practice is feminist, client-centred, and deeply relational—helping people understand their experiences, reauthor their stories, and learn to manage their emotional and mental well-being. Together, they explore what trauma therapy really looks like beyond the familiar language of “fight or flight.” They discuss: How early access to trauma‑informed care can prevent long‑term anxiety, depression, shame, and health problems Why people often wait years to seek help—and how fear, shame, and bad past experiences with systems like policing or healthcare keep survivors silent What actually happens in a first session, from concrete explanations of what to expect to reducing no‑shows by easing pre‑appointment anxiety How concepts like the window of tolerance, freeze, and fawn responses help survivors understand that their reactions were survival strategies—not personal failures The role of narrative therapy, EMDR, and a client‑centred approach in gently “reauthoring” shame‑based stories and rebuilding a sense of safety and control Why wraparound, one‑door support—where trauma therapy, support workers, and nurse practitioners work under one roof—can keep people from falling through the cracks From rising rates and awareness of gender‑based violence to the impact of social media on how we talk about trauma, Terri reveals both the possibilities and the limits of rural mental health systems—and what’s at stake for families and whole communities when survivors can’t access care. At the end of the episode, you’ll hear how the One Door project aims to expand space, add more students and groups, shorten waitlists, and create a safe, integrated hub where women, youth, elders, and gender‑diverse people across rural Nova Scotia can heal, learn, and thrive. Learn More & Support One Door: To learn more about the One Door campaign, the new purpose-built centre, and how you can support this $5 million capital project, visit: https://onedoor.awrcsasa.ca Chapters: 00:00 – Why Trauma Therapy Matters 00:57 – Meet Terri Pitts & the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre 01:22 – What Is Trauma Therapy? 02:13 – How Long Does Trauma Therapy Take? 03:09 – The Power of Early Intervention 04:16 – Removing Barriers to Accessing Care 05:15 – Working with Long‑Term and Childhood Trauma 07:12 – The First Visit: What to Expect 09:37 – Shame, “I Let It Happen,” and Reauthoring the Story 11:23 – Beyond Fight or Flight: Freeze & Fawn in the Mainstream 13:00 – Why Retelling Trauma Can Be Harmful 14:19 – Negative Responses from Systems & Supports 16:18 – What Clients Are Facing in Antigonish & Guysborough 17:25 – Collaboration, Referrals, and Wraparound Care 18:10 – Therapeutic Modalities: Narrative, EMDR, and Client‑Centred Work 20:10 – Waitlists, Priority Triage, and Support Workers 21:49 – Bringing Trauma Therapy to Guysborough County 23:14 – Why People Don’t Reach Out Sooner 25:35 – Training the Next Generation: Student Counsellors & Youth Group 27:36 – Rising Awareness of Gender‑Based Violence 29:14 – Naming Violence Gently 31:06 – One Door, Many Supports: The Wraparound Model 35:00 – Looking Ahead: The New Centre & More Capacity 36:10 – What Trauma Therapy Really Looks Like 38:45 – The Window of Tolerance & Survival States 40:38 – Building Emotional Regulation Tools That Fit the Client 42:41 – Processing Trauma & Rewriting the Narrative 46:14 – Hopes for Therapy & Knowing When It’s Working 47:22 – What’s at Stake if Services Don’t Grow 49:18 – Closing & Call to Support One Door