What is Trauma-Informed Therapy? 5 Key Points

Walking into a counselor’s office for the first time is overwhelming. Where do you even start with your story? If you have reached out to a counselor because of trauma, that can lay the groundwork for your goals in coming to counseling. But how do you know if you have experienced trauma? And what is trauma-informed therapy? Learn more here.

What is trauma?

Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that can have lasting negative effects on your mental, physical, and emotional health. It can be caused by a variety of events, including accidents, natural disasters, war, violence, and abuse. These events are physically or emotionally harmful or life-threatening and can have lasting effects on mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.

Some of these events are a one-time occurrence, sometimes referred to as “big T” Trauma. For other events, it was a recurring, ongoing experience, such as an abusive or toxic relationship. This is sometimes referred to as “little t” trauma. No matter how the trauma occurred, you can experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.

PTSD

Trauma can lead to a variety of symptoms, including flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, depression, and difficulty sleeping. It can also make it difficult to trust others, form relationships, and cope with stress.

Sometimes PTSD will interfere with the function of normal life. Other times it can be ignored and only shows up with a trigger. Working with a counselor helps you identify what is triggering your PTSD reactions. If you have experienced trauma, it is important to seek help from a mental health professional. There are effective treatments available that can help you heal from trauma and live a healthy, fulfilling life.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

In trauma therapy, one area they may look at is your Adverse Childhood Experiences, also known as ACEs. Using different metrics your counselor will help you evaluate different situations that occurred in your childhood and how you coped with them. People can go through similar adverse experiences, but not everyone will experience trauma from those situations.

Whether you realize it or not you have learned certain coping mechanisms throughout your life. These have given you some level of resilience for going through hard things as an adult. If you had little support, comfort, and care during an adverse childhood experience, you may struggle more with such circumstances as an adult.

Trauma-informed Therapy: 5 Key Points

Safety.

You are in a safe place, with safe people. You may practice EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and safe place exercises with your counselor as a way of building your ability to cope with PTSD symptoms.

Trustworthiness.

Knowing that you are safe is key to establishing trust. Your counselor is there for you and wants you to heal. If there are boundaries you are not ready to cross be upfront with your counselor so that you can work at your pace. You can trust yourself in this process of healing as well.

Choice.

As you start to understand when, where, and how the trauma occurred you can determine what choices you did or did not have. You will learn to focus on the choices you can make now. This will help you feel in control of situations. Exercises to practice this may involve using your senses to ground yourself in the present. (Name five things you can see, four things you can hear, three things you can smell, etc.)

Collaboration.

As you feel safe and begin to feel confident making your choices, you will learn to collaborate with your counselor and others. The exercises and conversations with your counselor will help you work through all the ins and outs of the traumas you have experienced.

Empowerment.

Coming out of trauma-informed therapy should make you feel more comfortable and confident to take on the world. While symptoms may show up from time to time, you will gain the ability to recognize what is happening and have the tools to cope with it effectively.

Moving forward

As you build resilience through trauma-informed therapy, you will be able to face new challenges with a greater sense of self-awareness and equilibrium. It will help you set boundaries with difficult people, and teach you what kind of self-care best serves you after major events occur. Knowing yourself, and having a safe and trusted environment can minimize the possibility that you will be retraumatized.

If you have experienced trauma, big or little, and would like to move forward with healing call our offices today. We will connect you with a counselor that best fits your needs, and help you on the journey toward healing and resilience.