Trauma Therapy
Experiencing some sort of trauma does not necessarily mean you'll develop post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Different people find different things traumatic, and not everyone responds to trauma in the same way. If this is the case, then what exactly is trauma?
Broadly speaking, trauma occurs when an experience overwhelms someone's ability to cope and causes problems with processing that experience. In fact, traumatic experiences can go unprocessed for years. However, humans are resilient and are equipped with ways of coping with traumatic and distressing experiences. For instance, some people find that their feelings dull with time, or they may not even remember certain experiences altogether. However, these coping mechanisms can cause problems over time and get in the way of daily functioning.
While only some meet criteria for PTSD, most of the people we see in our practice in Edmonds have experienced some sort of trauma which impacts their life. While the thought of working through your trauma may feel frightening and even overwhelming, we can help walk you through the process at your own pace and in ways that you feel comfortable with. The good news is that there is hope. Many people who have felt similarly have also found healing. So why not you?
Symptoms of Trauma
Some symptoms of trauma include:
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intrusive memories or dreams
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intensely distressing feelings and physiological reactions to things that remind you of traumatic events
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avoidance of memories or external reminders
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difficulty remembering parts of or entire experiences
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diminished interest in significant activities
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difficulty experiencing positive emotions
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increased irritability or outbursts of anger
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reckless or self-destructive behavior (like substance abuse or self-harm)
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feeling on edge
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exaggerated startle response
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problems with concentration
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sleep disturbance
Single-Incident Trauma & Complex Trauma
Treatment for Trauma & PTSD
While not everyone we see meets has PTSD, most have experienced some sort of trauma. We believe that the most effective treatment is a holistic one. Consequently, we integrate several approaches in treating trauma:
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Mindfulness-based therapy
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Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
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Exposure therapy/exposure and response prevention (ERP)
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Psychodynamic psychotherapy
By integrating these approaches, our holistic treatment approach we will help you to deal with trauma in four key domains:
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Body: reduce traumatic stress by activating the body
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Thoughts: reduce traumatic stress by challenging faulty thought patterns
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Behavior: reduce traumatic stress by reducing unhealthy coping and activating more healthy means of coping
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Feelings: reduce traumatic stress by processing related experiences (often from childhood)
Address the Emotional Roots of Trauma
All of these approaches can be extremely helpful in coping with traumatic stress and often provide a sense of empowerment and control over what you feel. It can also be important to explore what might be some of the reasons for your traumatic stress in order to deal with the root of the problem. Two people may share all of the same symptoms but be experiencing them for different reasons. Each of us is unique; we all have different life experiences and a unique story. Exploring and working through your history and significant emotional experiences can lead to deep and lasting change, free from the affects of trauma.
If you would like some help with your trauma or would like more information, please contact us.
