What Is Trauma? Understanding the Types of Trauma That Impact Women Most
Something we see all the time as women’s mental health specialists at Virago Wellness, is the sneaky ways trauma shows up for women, sometimes without you even realizing it. Women experience higher rates of PTSD, women are disproportionately affected by certain types of trauma, and as a result, trauma therapy for women needs to look different. This blog breaks down what trauma is, what are the types of trauma, what causes trauma for women specifically, and what you can do about it.
What is Trauma?
Let’s start by defining what trauma is:
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk noted: “We have learned that trauma is not just an event that took place in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on the mind, brain, and body. This imprint has ongoing consequences for how the human organism manages to survive in the present.”
Trauma is an experience, at any age, that causes significant emotional disturbance and overwhelms your ability to cope with that experience. It’s not just about the event itself but how you experience that event and the support you do or DO NOT receive afterward. Your nervous system has normal responses to these abnormal experiences. These trauma responses are connected to biological wiring that are subconscious and automatic. These events can be large, shocking, single incidents that include real or perceived threats of physical, psychological, or sexual harm to yourself or someone you love. They can also be chronic, more subtle adverse experiences with cumulative effects over time such as emotional neglect or chronically unmet basic needs. It’s important to note that many people experience things that could be traumatic but don’t have lingering impacts for a number of reasons. And that it is not the fault of the individual if there are lingering impacts from experiences.
Common Types of Trauma That Impact Women
Women tend to experience a few types of traumatic experiences in particular. These include but are not limited to interpersonal violence, sexual trauma, childhood neglect, medical and reproductive trauma, and systemic and cultural trauma, Not all women will experience these types of trauma and men and nonbinary folks may also be impacted by these types of experiences.
1. Interpersonal Violence
One of the most common types of trauma women face is interpersonal violence, including intimate partner violence (IPV) and domestic abuse. This can take many forms—physical harm, emotional manipulation, psychological control, or sexual coercion—and often happens over time, eroding a person’s sense of safety and self-worth. Survivors may feel isolated, confused, or ashamed, especially if the abuse was minimized or dismissed by others.
At Virago Wellness, we understand that trauma from abuse doesn’t end when the relationship does—and healing is possible in a supportive, validating environment.
2. Sexual Trauma
Sexual trauma includes sexual assault, rape, harassment, sexual abuse, and unwanted sexual attention, and it is heartbreakingly common. The aftermath often leaves survivors questioning their safety, autonomy, and even their identity. Women frequently face additional layers of shame or blame, especially in a culture that too often minimizes or dismisses these experiences.
We specialize in helping women navigate the long-term impact of sexual trauma, from reclaiming their sense of self to building safety and trust in their relationships again. (Link to support group)
3. Childhood Trauma and Neglect
Early experiences of neglect, abuse, or abandonment—often referred to as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)—can leave deep, lasting imprints. These attachment wounds shape how we relate to ourselves and others well into adulthood. For many women, childhood trauma lays the groundwork for patterns of self-doubt, people-pleasing, or difficulty setting boundaries.
At Virago, we take complex PTSD seriously. Our trauma-informed therapists understand how these early experiences continue to show up in your adult life—and how to help you shift those patterns with compassion and care.
4. Medical and Reproductive Trauma
Medical trauma can stem from experiences where bodily autonomy was dismissed or violated—traumatic childbirth, fertility struggles, pregnancy loss, or forced or rushed medical procedures. Women often report feeling unheard or disregarded in healthcare settings, particularly around pain or reproductive concerns.
We believe your body’s story matters. Whether you’re healing from birth trauma, a reproductive health crisis, or ongoing medical neglect, you deserve care that honors your voice and your experience.
5. Systemic and Cultural Trauma
Beyond personal experiences, many women carry the weight of systemic and cultural trauma—the kind that comes from living in a world that marginalizes your identity. This can include racial trauma, transphobia, fatphobia, ableism, sexism, or workplace harassment. These traumas are often chronic, cumulative, and dismissed by mainstream systems.
Virago Wellness holds space for this complexity. We take an intersectional feminist approach to therapy, recognizing that healing from discrimination and marginalization is just as important as healing from individual trauma.
How trauma affects women differently
Trauma affects women in a variety ways. It can show up as challenges tending to oneself due to caregiver roles. Women tend to be in caregiving roles more frequently, whether for children or aging parents, or even siblings, women are often in roles of caring for others which can make it difficult to find time for self care especially after a trauma event. Women experience cultural socialization that tells us it’s selfish to center ourselves or put ourselves first leading to feelings of guilt or shame connected to self care. Women may be surrounded by loved ones who consciously or subconsciously expect caregiving. This can lead to anxiety, depression, dissociation, relationship issues, stress and overwhelm and low self worth. .
The Importance of Trauma-Informed Therapy for Women
At Virago Wellness, we often see women come to therapy for the side effects of trauma like relational problems, low self worth, stress and overwhelm, anxiety and depression and find underlying trauma. All of our therapists are trained to partner with you so you feel empowered to be in the driver’s seat for your own mental health journey. We provide therapy from an intersectional feminist lens that is culturally sensitive to your world and life experiences. We offer trauma therapy and EMDR therapy for women that takes into account the unique challenges women often face in health care. So many women carry the burden of their trauma alone but it doesn’t have to be that way. Naming that you have experienced trauma is the first step towards healing.
Trauma is a widespread issue for women but healing is possible and support is available. Whether it’s individual therapy, EMDR for trauma, or our Women’s Sexual Trauma Support Group, Virago Wellness offers a variety of services for women in Southern Maine and New York. Schedule a free consultation with one of highly trained therapists today.
