Trauma Treatment
Have you experienced a disturbing event that you can’t seem to get past?
Have you been the victim of violence or physical, sexual, or emotional abuse?
Have you gone through another stressful event that is very upsetting, even if it happened months or years ago?
All of these questions show the impact of trauma in your life. If you have been traumatized, you may experience a range of feelings: anger, shame, sadness. You may even feel numb inside, almost like you are disconnected from the world around you. You may feel on edge, easily startled by sights and sounds that are connected to the trauma. Along with these feelings, you may have disturbing thoughts. Your memories of a trauma may be so real that it is like you are experiencing them again. Along with these thoughts and feelings, the trauma shapes your actions. It can impact your ability to have deep and lasting relationships. You begin to avoid certain places and activities because you fear they may trigger a reaction.
You can’t undo the event or situation that led to the trauma, but through trauma treatment, you can learn how to move beyond it and experience a full and meaningful life.
Many People Experience Trauma
What is trauma? It is the physical and psychological response you have when you experience high levels of stress or fear, but you do not have the chance to escape or get away from it. Trauma is a very personal experience. What may be traumatic for one person may barely impact another.
Trauma is not just the result of dramatic events like war, accidents, natural disasters, or violence; it can include events that happen to people every day: the death of a loved one or the ending of a marriage. It is not the event itself that causes the trauma; instead, it is your reaction to the event. The trauma comes when in response to any event, you experience excessive stress that overwhelms your ability to cope.
Trauma is more common than you think. Automobile accidents are a common source of trauma. There are over 6 million automobile accidents every year in the United States resulting in around 32,000 deaths and 3 million injuries. Research has found that 50 percent of U.S women and 60 percent of U.S. men are exposed to a traumatic event in their lifetime; 75 percent of individuals have experienced a stressor that meets the criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
PTSD is a psychological disorder caused by exposure to a traumatic event. There are three types of symptoms that are part of a PTSD diagnosis. Reexperiencing involves the intense distress from reliving the event through memories or flashbacks. Avoidance symptoms involve efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings, and situations that are reminders of the trauma; they also include feeling detached from others and not being able to recall aspects of the trauma. Hyperawareness symptoms include irritability, anger, hypervigilance, and an exaggerated startle response.
Even if you have never been diagnosed with PTSD, the trauma you are experiencing disrupts your day-to-day functioning. In fact, people who struggle with trauma are more likely to have other psychological concerns like anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. There are moments when life seems fine, and then the symptoms of trauma appear and rob you of your ability to enjoy the events and the people of your life.
The good news is that I have a variety of ways to work with people who are experiencing trauma, and we can work together to give your life meaning and vitality.
Two Approaches to Trauma Treatment: ACT and EMDR
One of the main struggles that you might have with trauma is trying to control your thoughts and feelings. It makes sense that you would want to avoid the negative internal experiences of trauma and PTSD. Most likely, you were taught by family and society that negative thoughts and feelings are a problem; they are a sign that something is wrong, so you should be in control of them. Control can work in helpful ways in the world around you; this control is not as helpful with the world inside of you. Giving all your energy to fighting, avoiding, or trying to understand your trauma can actually make it more present in your life. And even if you are controlling the thoughts and feelings for a period of time, you are no closer to living the life you want.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is one of the approaches I use in trauma treatment. The goal of ACT is to develop a rich and meaningful life WHILE handling more effectively the painful thoughts and feelings of trauma. With ACT you will not eliminate your trauma; you will develop a different relationship with it. You will learn a variety of mindfulness and acceptance practices that allow the thoughts and feelings of trauma to be there without fighting or following them. As you grow in your ability to do this, you will have enough psychological flexibility to clarify what is truly important and meaningful. You will use that know knowledge to guide and inspire you to make choices more in line with what you value.
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) has proven in various studies to be an effective treatment for trauma and PTSD. EMDR works by helping your brain to reprocess the painful memories associated with the trauma and to release the difficult emotions associated with them. With EMDR you do not go back and relive the trauma. Instead, you bring the painful memory to mind, and go through a series of eyes movements while focusing on that memory. Then, you give your attention to a positive self-affirmation while going through the same eye movements. EMDR does not make the memory go away; instead, when the traumatic memory comes up, it does not have the emotional power it had in the past.
I Still Have Some Questions About Trauma Treatment
Won’t my trauma subside or go away over time?
You often get the message from others that problems like trauma are something you just deal with. You do the best you can; you try to put it aside, and move on. These efforts may work in some areas of life, but with emotional struggles like trauma it doesn’t really help. Trying to avoid the thoughts and feelings of the trauma, or trying to fight them off, can actually give them more control in your life.
Trauma is something that remains with you, even if it not always present. Suddenly, the thoughts and feelings will erupt and begin to impact the way you think, feel, and act. Traumatic events change the way your brain thinks, and it cannot heal itself, even with time. However, with therapy, you can learn some practices, like mindfulness and EMDR, that can allow your brain to heal. Most likely, the goal that you have for therapy is not to simply bear or tolerate your trauma. Instead, you want to choose ways to live in the world that are more aligned with the values that give you meaning. Trauma treatment can help you do that.
What about the cost of therapy?
I encourage you to think of therapy as an investment in learning how to live a full and meaningful life. If your insurance does not cover the cost of some of the therapy, I have a reasonable private pay fee. While it is important to consider your financial situation, it is hard to put a price on the changes that you can experience in therapy, and the new freedom that comes with these changes.
It is really hard to talk about the trauma. How do I deal with that?
It is difficult to reach out for help, but I assure you that I will be there to give you support and guidance. Over the years, I have seen many people use the information they gain in trauma counseling to face these difficult thoughts and feelings, move beyond them, and go on with a vital life.
Take your first steps to a new life.
I would welcome the chance to work with you as I have with so many others. These approaches to treating trauma and PTSD have proven to be highly effective. Click on the CONTACT button below to schedule a free, 15-minute consultation, or schedule an appointment, and begin your journey of healing.
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