What’s below the surface of the iceberg is fairly massive so if you were to chip away at it, it could be a bit of work but it would be a worthwhile thing to do to start healing, right? Healing isn’t a step-by-step process; first do this, then that, then these next few things, and Voila! Healed. No-no-no. If it were that easy everyone would do it, right!
Trauma is layered because there is the initial trauma (usually childhood but not always), then there are the life experiences that are layered on top of it which buries it deeper and deeper within.