Trauma Therapy Ajax Pickering
Our Ajax Trauma Therapists can help you heal from traumatic events, PTSD, CPTSD, and anxiety.
Supporting clients from Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Bowmanville, and across the Durham Region
In Person Therapy in Ajax & Oshawa
Virtual Therapy Across Ontario
Get Matched With a Therapist Within 24 Hours
Trauma Therapy in Ajax & Durham Region
Do Past Experiences Still Control Your Present?
Do you find yourself reacting intensely to situations that others seem to handle easily?
Are intrusive thoughts or memories disrupting your daily life?
Do you feel constantly on edge, like you're waiting for something bad to happen?
Is it hard to trust people or let them get close, even when you want to?
Have you been avoiding places, people, or situations because they remind you of what happened?
Trauma doesn't just affect your memories—it changes how your nervous system responds to the world. You might feel like you're stuck in survival mode, unable to relax or feel safe even when there's no real danger. The hypervigilance, the racing thoughts, the emotional overwhelm—these aren't character flaws. They're your brain and body trying to protect you from threats that have already passed.
If past experiences continue to affect how you feel about yourself, how you relate to others, or your ability to feel safe in the world, you're not alone. At The Relationship Agency in Ajax, our trauma therapist Momna Sajid uses Cognitive Processing Therapy—a structured, research-backed approach that can help you heal from PTSD, complex trauma, abuse, and childhood wounds.
You're Not Broken—You're Experiencing the Lasting Effects of Trauma
Trauma therapy can help you reclaim your sense of safety, quiet the racing thoughts, and rebuild your capacity for connection and trust.
Most People Don't Realize How Common Trauma Really Is
Trauma isn't rare—and it doesn't always look the way you might expect. Research shows that approximately 70% of adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime, and many people carry the effects of trauma without recognizing what's happening.
What Counts as Trauma?
Trauma can result from:
Single incidents like car accidents, assault, medical emergencies, or sudden loss
Prolonged experiences like childhood neglect, emotional unavailability from caregivers, or ongoing abuse
Witnessing violence or repeatedly being exposed to traumatic situations (common for first responders)
Growing up in an unstable, unpredictable, or unsafe environment
You don't need to have survived a single dramatic event to benefit from trauma therapy. Many of our Ajax clients have spent years believing they "should just get over it" or that their experiences weren't "bad enough" to warrant help.
The Impact Shows Up in Your Nervous System
When you experience trauma, your brain and nervous system adapt to keep you safe. But sometimes these protective responses don't turn off—even when the danger has passed. That's why you might:
Feel constantly vigilant or easily startled
Have trouble sleeping or experience nightmares
Struggle with relationships because trust feels impossible
React with anger or shut down emotionally without knowing why
Avoid reminders of what happened, even when it limits your life
You're Not Alone in This
Many of our Durham Region clients come from cultural backgrounds that value resilience and self-reliance—where seeking help can feel like admitting weakness. We also work with first responders from Ajax and throughout Durham who carry the weight of traumatic calls and critical incidents, often in silence because of the "tough it out" culture in their professions.
If you've been carrying this alone, we see you. And we want you to know: seeking help isn't weakness. It's wisdom.
The good news is that with specialized trauma therapy, your nervous system can learn to recognize that the threat has passed—and you can finally experience the peace and safety you deserve.
Results Our Ajax Trauma Therapy Clients Experience
Success looks different for everyone, but common changes include:
In Your Mind: A calm mind without constant racing thoughts. Memories that no longer intrude on your present. The ability to think clearly during stress.
In Your Body: Reduced physical anxiety (tight chest, racing heart, stomach knots). Better sleep. Feeling relaxed instead of constantly braced for threat.
In Your Relationships: Fewer emotional blow-ups. The ability to stay present during conflict. Deeper trust and connection. Feeling safe being vulnerable.
In Your Life: Socializing feels manageable. Enjoying activities you used to avoid. Making decisions without constant second-guessing. Feeling like yourself again.
Trauma Therapy in Ajax Can Help You Heal
At The Relationship Agency in Ajax, our trauma therapist Momna Sajid works with clients using Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)—one of the most strongly recommended treatments for PTSD by the American Psychological Association and the U.S. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense.
How Cognitive Processing Therapy Works
Trauma doesn't just leave you with memories. It leaves you with conclusions.
It was my fault. I should have seen it coming. I can't trust my own judgment. Nowhere is safe. If people really knew, they'd leave.
Those beliefs feel like facts. They're not—they're what your mind came up with under impossible circumstances, trying to make sense of something that didn't make sense. In CPT we call them stuck points, and they're what keeps trauma running years after the event is over.
CPT is structured work on those stuck points. Your therapist helps you find them, examine them honestly, and test them against what you actually know now. Not positive thinking—actual evidence. Over time the beliefs shift, and when they shift, the symptoms follow: less shame, less hypervigilance, fewer intrusions, more room to live.
What Makes CPT Different
It has a shape. CPT typically runs around 12 sessions with a clear structure and a defined end point. You'll know what you're working on and why. You'll have short practice assignments between sessions, because the work that happens between appointments is where a lot of the change comes from.
You don't have to narrate every detail. CPT focuses on what the trauma made you believe, not on retelling it blow by blow. Some people choose to write an account as part of the work; many don't. You stay in control of what you share.
It's built for the beliefs that don't budge. If you've done talk therapy and felt better temporarily but never shifted the core sense that you're damaged, or that it was somehow your fault, this is the level CPT works at.
Who We Work With
Momna works with Ajax and Durham Region clients in person, and with clients across Ontario virtually, on:
PTSD from single traumatic incidents (accidents, assault, medical emergencies, loss)
Complex PTSD (CPTSD) from childhood trauma, ongoing abuse, or repeated exposure
Sexual violence and domestic abuse — Momna spent a year at a rape crisis centre supporting adolescents and adults affected by sexual violence, domestic abuse and PTSD
Childhood trauma and attachment wounds from abuse, neglect, or emotionally unavailable caregivers
First responder trauma — police, fire, paramedics carrying the weight of critical incidents
Anxiety and depression rooted in past trauma that keeps you feeling unsafe in the world
Relationship difficulties stemming from trauma or attachment wounds
Perinatal and postpartum distress
What Makes Our Approach Different
We don't believe in one-size-fits-all trauma treatment. Alongside CPT, Momna uses Internal Family Systems (IFS)—an approach that helps you understand the different "parts" of yourself that developed in response to what happened.
This pairs well with CPT for complex trauma because it helps you:
Understand why you feel pulled in two directions at once
Work with the protective parts of you that developed to keep you safe
Access your core Self—the calm, steady centre underneath the trauma
We also draw on CBT, narrative therapy, and trauma-informed play therapy for younger clients, depending on what you need.
Trauma Therapy for Children and Teens
Not every trauma client is an adult. Momna has over five years working with children and adolescents around trauma, abuse, anxiety, emotional regulation and family stress, and uses play therapy with younger kids—because a six-year-old will tell you the truth through play long before they'll do it in a face-to-face conversation about feelings. She works with parents alongside the child, because home is where progress is made or lost.
We're Part of Your Community
Our therapists don't just work in Durham Region—we live here. In Pickering, Ajax, and Oshawa. We understand the communities we serve, and we're committed to making trauma therapy accessible to our neighbours who've been carrying these burdens alone.
Meet Your Trauma Therapist: Momna Sajid, RP(Q)
Momna Sajid is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. She brings structured, evidence-based trauma treatment together with a genuine warmth that clients notice in the first session.
Momna's trauma-specific background:
Formal training in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD
One year at a rape crisis centre supporting adolescents and adults affected by sexual violence, domestic abuse and PTSD
Gender-Based Violence training
LivingWorks safeTALK — Suicide Alertness training
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Play Therapy for children and younger teens
Five-plus years with children, adolescents and families around trauma, abuse, anxiety, emotional regulation and parenting
Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, Yorkville University
Registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)
What Momna says about her approach: "I work from a treatment plan, not a hunch. I'll tell you which approach I'm using and what I expect it to do. If it isn't working, I'd rather change the plan than keep going out of politeness. Trauma work needs structure and pacing, not just warmth."
Clients tell her they appreciate that she's direct about the plan, and that she isn't easily scandalized—you can tell her the part your family doesn't know.
Momna sees clients in person at our Ajax location at 62 Harwood Ave South, with free on-site parking and a comfortable, private space, and virtually across Ontario. She works in English and Urdu.
Our Trauma Therapy Process: What to Expect
Step 1: Free 20-Minute Consultation
Your healing journey starts with a no-pressure conversation. Fill out our Get Started form or call us, and we'll match you with Momna for a free 20-minute consultation.
In this consultation, you'll:
Meet Momna and get a sense of whether you feel comfortable with her
Learn how trauma therapy actually works
Ask any questions you have
Talk about whether this approach is the right fit for you
There's no obligation—just honest information to help you make the best decision for yourself.
Step 2: Intake & Safety Building
Your first full session is about getting to know you, understanding your history, and building your treatment plan together. Before we go anywhere near the hard material, we spend time on your emotional resources and coping skills. You'll learn ways to settle your nervous system and manage difficult emotions between sessions.
This part matters and we don't rush it. Some people need a few weeks here; others are ready sooner. We move at your pace.
Step 3: The Trauma Work
Once you're steady enough, we start working directly on what the trauma left behind—the beliefs about yourself, other people, and the world that have been running the show. You'll do short practice assignments between sessions. What surprises a lot of people is how much can shift without having to relive every painful detail.
Step 4: Integration & Healing
As those beliefs loosen, you build new ones that actually fit your life now. This is where you notice the real changes:
Racing thoughts quiet down
Physical anxiety symptoms ease
You can be in public or social situations more comfortably
Conflicts with loved ones decrease
You feel more present and less guarded
Ready to Begin Your Healing Journey?
You Don't Have to Carry This Alone Anymore
You've already taken the hardest step—recognizing that something needs to change and that you deserve support.
At The Relationship Agency in Ajax, we believe healing from trauma is truly possible. Not just managing symptoms, but genuinely living with more peace, freedom, and connection than you ever thought possible.
Here's what we wish more people knew: You really can significantly reduce the impact trauma symptoms have on your life. The racing thoughts can quiet. The hypervigilance can ease. The relationships that feel so hard can become sources of comfort and joy.
Book Your Free Consultation with Momna Sajid
Or call us at 289-271-1909 to speak with our team.
We'll get back to you within 24 hours.
Trauma Therapy at Our Ajax Location
The Relationship Agency - Ajax Office
62 Harwood Ave South, Unit 4
Ajax, ON
Conveniently located:
Just south of the 401
Free on-site parking
Easy access from Ajax, Pickering, and eastern Durham Region
Next door to Coyote Jacks (great for grabbing breakfast after your morning session)
We serve clients from: Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Oshawa, and throughout Durham Region. Virtual therapy is also available across Ontario.
Scheduling: Day, evening, and weekend appointments available. Sessions are 50-75 minutes. We currently have availability for new trauma therapy clients.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma Therapy
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No. No. Cognitive Processing Therapy focuses on the beliefs the trauma left behind—about yourself, other people, and the world—rather than on retelling the event blow by blow. Some people choose to write an account as part of the work, and many don't. You stay in control of what you share and when.
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We build your coping skills before we go near the difficult material, and we don't skip that step. You stay in control throughout, we go at your pace, and if something is too much, we slow down. Momna is direct about the plan and will tell you what you're doing and why, so you're never wondering what's coming next.
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Cognitive Processing Therapy is designed to run around 12 sessions for a single traumatic event, which is one of the reasons we use it—there's a defined shape and an end point. Complex trauma, or trauma layered over years, usually takes longer. Your therapist will build a plan with you and check in on progress as you go, and you should always feel comfortable asking how things are tracking.
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Yes. A lot of what brings people in isn't a flashback—it's anxiety that won't settle, depression that keeps coming back, shame that shows up in every relationship, or a sense that something is wrong with you. When those are rooted in past experiences, trauma therapy can reach them in a way that general talk therapy often doesn't. Your therapist will help you figure out whether this is the right approach for what you're dealing with.
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Yes. Momna has over five years with children and adolescents around trauma, abuse, anxiety and emotional regulation, and uses play therapy with younger kids. She works with parents alongside the child, because home is where the progress sticks.
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event—such as a serious accident, assault, natural disaster, combat, or sudden loss of a loved one. While it's normal to feel upset after trauma, PTSD occurs when symptoms persist long after the event and significantly interfere with your daily life.
PTSD Symptoms Include:
Re-experiencing: Flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories that make you feel like the trauma is happening again
Avoidance: Going out of your way to avoid people, places, activities, or conversations that remind you of the trauma
Hyperarousal: Feeling constantly on edge, having difficulty sleeping, being easily startled, or experiencing irritability and angry outbursts
Negative changes in thoughts and mood: Persistent negative beliefs about yourself or the world, feeling detached from others, loss of interest in activities, difficulty experiencing positive emotions
PTSD keeps your nervous system stuck in "survival mode," as if danger is still present even when you're safe. Trauma therapy helps your brain recognize that the threat has passed, so you can finally feel at peace.Item description
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What is Complex PTSD (CPTSD)?
Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) develops from prolonged, repeated trauma—especially trauma that occurred over time and in situations where escape wasn't possible. This often includes:
Childhood abuse, neglect, or growing up in an unpredictable environment
Domestic violence or ongoing relationship abuse
Long-term captivity or exploitation
Ongoing community violence or war
Chronic medical trauma
CPTSD affects not just how you remember specific events, but your core sense of self and your ability to feel safe in relationships. The good news? EMDR therapy, combined with other trauma-focused approaches, can help you rebuild your sense of safety, self-worth, and connection.
CPTSD includes PTSD symptoms plus:
Emotion regulation difficulties: Intense emotions that feel uncontrollable, frequent emotional overwhelm, or feeling emotionally numb
Negative self-concept: Deep-seated beliefs that you're worthless, broken, damaged, or fundamentally unlovable
Relationship difficulties: Trouble trusting others, fear of abandonment, difficulty maintaining healthy boundaries, or patterns of unhealthy relationships
Dissociation: Feeling disconnected from yourself, your body, or reality; losing time or feeling like you're watching yourself from outside your body
