Therapy for Trauma

Unfortunately life isn’t always kind. In fact sometimes it can be downright cruel! If you’ve been the victim of trauma you know you don’t just move on after something like that has happened to you. Most of us will experience at least one event in our lives that can be described as traumatic. For some they experience multiple traumatic events. Traumatic events do not necessarily mean you will develop symptoms in response to these events but for those who do they can be debilitating and affect many aspects of your life! 

Fight, Flight, or Freeze

Most people have heard the term fight, flight, or freeze when talking about trauma. This is how our body responds when faced with traumatic events. Unfortunately, those who experience symptoms of trauma continue to have this response when faced with situations which remind them of the traumatic event. 

But there’s hope. Trauma can be effectively treated! By starting to look for a therapist, you are taking a huge step towards improving your mental health! At GBHC, our therapists have worked with many people who are also processing trauma and helped them break through the pain and hopelessness!

How Do I Know If I Need Therapy?

The decision to start therapy is highly personal. There is no one hard and fast rule to determine if you need therapy. However, there are a few signs which suggest you might benefit from support from a mental health professional:

• Recurring flashbacks – reliving the traumatic event including physical symptoms such as a racing heart
• Recurring dreams or nightmares related to the traumatic event
• Actively avoiding places, things or people that remind you of the event
• Actively avoiding thoughts or feelings related to the event
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Using alcohol or substances excessively
• Engaging in risky behaviors without caring about what happens
• Feeling irritable or having angry or aggressive outbursts
• Feeling guilty or blaming yourself for what happened
• Lack of interest in activities that were once enjoyable
• Thoughts of death or self-harming behaviors

This is by no means an exhaustive list of reasons to start therapy. It is meant to give you a few signs to look for if you are unsure if therapy could be helpful for you. You can also take this trauma screening to get a better idea of the severity of your symptoms.

There are many others reasons people may seek out therapy such as: 

• I don’t feel like myself
• I want to better understand myself and change unhelpful behaviors
• I want to improve my relationships and communication skills
• A big change in my life is coming up and I want to get ahead of any problems

These are all normal reasons to seek out help from a mental professional! The goal of therapy is to help you improve your well-being, become the best version of yourself, learn strategies to manage life challenges, and develop healthy fulfilling relationships. If any of these are things you want for yourself, therapy can help! 

What Should I Expect From Therapy?

GREAT QUESTION! Therapy, also referred to as counseling or psychotherapy, involves meeting with a trained professional to address concerns related to your mental health. The goal of therapy is to help you improve your well-being, become the best version of yourself, learn strategies to manage life challenges, and develop healthy fulfilling relationships. 

Many people who have experienced trauma worry about having to relive the traumatic event in therapy sessions. While there is benefit to discussing these events, the main point is to connect how they impact your current behavior so you can make changes to your life now. It is not usually necessary to go through the event in specific detail to make progress in treatment. 

While every therapist is a bit different, you can expect a few things during your sessions. Your therapist will create a safe and confidential space for you to share. There is no judgment! Our goal at GBHC is for you to feel comfortable opening up so we can help you better understand yourself. By gaining insight into your behaviors and patterns, you can recognize when these are happening and do something different! 

You are encouraged to come to therapy with something you want to work through with your therapist.

This approach allows you to address issues that are important to you. Contrary to what you may think, your therapist is not going to tell you what to do, but rather they will walk with you as you navigate your journey. They will listen and support you, discuss different ways and strategies to address your specific needs, and help you figure out what option feels right for you.

Therapy is an investment in yourself!

It is important to show up to your sessions ready to do the work. Your therapist will likely ask you to practice some of the strategies outside of session to help you build the skills you are working towards. You will see more benefits when you are more actively participating in the process.

Therapy is most beneficial when you meet regularly with the therapist to work through and develop strategies to address your challenges. The frequency and duration of sessions vary based on the person’s needs, goals, and practical considerations. However, the more frequently you attend sessions the faster you will get relief from your symptoms!