Traumatic events and past trauma can impact a person at deeply psychological and emotional levels, which may intermittently or permanently interfere with functioning in their daily life. Traumatic events may be experienced due to being present in dangerous or life-threatening situations, or due to being a recipient of physical, sexual or emotional abuse. Due to the highly charged nature of these events, they can lead to mental health conditions such as PTSD, and/or prompt individuals to seek coping mechanisms such as addictive substances or addictive behaviors.
Trauma therapy (also called trauma-focused therapy, trauma-informed therapy) is a type of psychotherapy and related modalities that are effective in helping people process traumatic events and overcome the effects of trauma on their daily life.
Have you experienced Trauma?
Take a look at some of the traumatic events people experience and see if you can relate:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse /assault
- Domestic violence
- Childhood abandonment
- Bullying
- Severe medical conditions
- Traumatic accidents
- Witnessing traumatic accidents
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- TBI during Combat
- Environmental disasters
If you have experienced any of the above or a similar event, you may be impacted by trauma. Some ways in which you may experience trauma include having troubling nightmares, sleeplessness, extreme fear and isolation, unconscious reactions to certain triggers, and other areas which may be interfering with your regular functioning. If you have experienced trauma, trauma therapy is very effective in helping to process and overcome its impacts.
Types of Trauma Therapy we Use:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is an approach to identify negative thinking patterns that are self-destructive and can create challenges in an individual’s life; and then to evaluate them from a realistic perspective. CBT is effective in treating depression, anxiety, panic attacks, trauma and a variety of other mental health issues.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is another kind of talk therapy, especially aimed at individuals who experience intense emotions by helping them to understand their thoughts and thereby helping them to change their unhelpful behaviors. It is used in patients who experience trauma, suicidal ideation, and borderline personality, among other disorders.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
While it’s still a controversy whether EMDR is the same as CBT with the addition of eye movement, what is true is that EMDR has been shown to be an effective treatment technique for PTSD, panic disorder and other trauma induced disorders.
Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
MBCT combines mindfulness practices of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MSBR) therapy with principles of cognitive therapy to create an effective way to reframe an individual’s thought patterns and replace using drugs and alcohol with healthier coping strategies.
Benefits of Trauma Therapy
Trauma therapy has been shown to be extremely beneficial in replacing substance use to cope with trauma. Some of the benefits of trauma therapy are:
- Learning to recognize negative thought patterns
- Processing and reframing traumatic events
- Learning to control responsive reactions and behaviors
- Improving social and relationship skills
- Learning to reduce environmental triggers
- Finding alternative coping skills
If you are ready to address the deeper roots of your addiction and mental health conditions, start today. It is possible to change the direction of your life by taking this first step.
Reach out to learn more! 865-800-0947
