I work predominantly with adults who have experienced trauma. Those who seek me out want help with the following:
- Gaining control of their lives
- Managing feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, mad, frustrated, or sad
- Improving relationships
- Feeling better about themselves
How do You Know You Need Counseling?
Anyone at any time can benefit from counseling, especially those who have experienced unspeakable acts committed against them.
If you don’t know if counseling will help, ask yourself the following questions. If you answer with even one “yes,” you might consider counseling.
- Do you ever feel like your life is on fire?
- Are your emotions out of control?
- Do you feel like you’re just barely hanging on?
- Is staying in bed all day or not talking to anyone for days at a time a common occurrence?
- Is your sleep non-existent?
- Are you eating too much or not eating enough?
- Do you need alcohol or any other substance, including food, to feel calm or happy?
*This is not an end-all-be-all list of questions that I can ask but is based on my work with my clients who have experienced a serious violation of their body, chronic psychological abuse by a parent/caretaker or partner, childhood neglect, domestic violence to name a few things which cause long-lasting trauma.
The following is information on counseling for trauma.
The Impact of Trauma
The impact of trauma can affect anyone, regardless of age, profession, or background. It interferes with both personal and professional relationships and reduces overall well-being.
Trauma can have profound, long-term effects on an individual’s emotional, psychological, and physical health. The body’s nervous system is also affected and is an area that will need attention.
In simple terms, trauma can be defined as the wound(s) left behind after a severely distressing event, such as physical or sexual violence. Often, the individuals I work with have also experienced adverse experiences in childhood, such as parents divorcing, the death of a parent or a sibling, neglect, physical or emotional abuse, sexual abuse, or chronic bullying.
The wounding may manifest in various ways:
- difficulty managing emotional responses to stressors
- mental health disorders
- anxiety and or depression
- mood swings
- being easily agitated or quick to anger
- difficulty relaxing
- hypervigilance or feeling “on guard” all the time
- difficulty establishing or maintaining healthy relationships
- poor sleep habits
- substance use
- eating disorders
- negative perception of self or low self-esteem
Often, individuals carry these emotional burdens into their careers, parenting, and social lives, unaware of how their unresolved trauma continues to shape their experiences. Counseling can be essential to the healing process. It allows people to process their experiences, develop coping strategies, and reclaim their sense of self.
For many, the pressure of managing work, family responsibilities, and other life demands often takes precedence over addressing personal trauma. It’s understandable, but inevitably, the wounds of the bad experiences that caused them will have negative consequences, such as divorce or being unable to keep a job.
I’ve had numerous clients come to me because their relationship was in dire straits. This was the motivation to get help, but eventually, their individual pasts surface as part of their contributing problem(s) in the relationship. So, it’s crucial to recognize the signs of trauma and the need for support.
A few comments about PTSD…
Those who meet the criteria for PTSD have experienced severe trauma. That said, not all trauma is PTSD.
Individuals with PTSD likely experience:
- Re-experiencing – intrusive thoughts, trauma memories, nightmares, feeling distressed when the thoughts or memories surface
- Avoidance – of thoughts, people, and places that are reminders of the trauma
- Thought or mood changes – blame, guilt, amnesia, numbing, loss of interest, disconnecting from others
- Arousal and reactivity – sleep and concentration difficulties, hyperarousal, and startling easily. (DSM-5, 2013)
*If this sounds familiar, please reach out to me or any counselor who can support you.
The Role of Counseling in Trauma Recovery
Counseling offers a safe and structured environment to explore trauma, understand its impact, and begin the healing process.
Here is the general counseling process for trauma:
1. Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment
For many, seeking help can feel intimidating or even shameful. Counselors create a non-judgmental, confidential space where clients feel understood and empowered. This supportive environment fosters trust, allowing adults to explore their trauma at their own pace.
2. Working with the Body to Understand the Mind
Trauma affects the entire person: mind, body, and spirit. The nervous system stays stuck in overdrive, specifically stuck in “fight or flight”. Being able to calm the nervous system is a top priority.
Bodywork, or somatic therapy, aims to help individuals self-soothe and includes simple techniques such as breathing exercises or gentle movement. These techniques signal to the nervous system that there is no danger in the present moment. The “rest and digest” part of the nervous system can be activated resulting in a sense of calm. Then, one can work with emotions, thoughts and memories in a productive way.
Finding the techniques which work best for you will require being open to trying and practicing them. Once this is determined, it becomes an available resource that can be used readily.
3. Identifying and Understanding Trauma
Often, individuals may not fully understand the extent of how trauma has affected them. A counselor can help them identify past traumatic events, recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma, and explore how those experiences have shaped their current emotional state and how they interact with the world around them. This understanding is a step toward healing.
4. Processing Trauma
Trauma counseling often involves helping clients process their painful memories and experiences. This may include exploring and making sense of emotions, confronting difficult memories, and recognizing how this affects them in the present. For some, it might also include learning how their self-esteem has been affected and how to gain a healthier sense of self.
5. Learning Coping Skills
A valuable aspect of trauma counseling is learning effective coping strategies. Often, trauma survivors get “triggered” by something external and then have an intense internal reaction, such as rage or shutting down and isolating. Being able to deal with it appropriately when it happens is crucial. Left unchecked, triggered reactions can interfere with daily functioning in personal and professional settings.
Techniques may include body awareness practices, grounding exercises, and relaxation techniques that allow individuals to regain control over their emotional responses. Clients can try different strategies and identify which are most effective.
6. Building Resilience
Counseling is not just about addressing past trauma but also about helping to build resilience for the future. By equipping clients with tools to manage stress, set healthy boundaries, and cope with challenges, counselors can help adults regain a sense of empowerment and strength.
Healing from trauma is a long-term process, but with the proper support, individuals can thrive and develop a more positive outlook on life, as well as be less impacted when stressful things occur.
The Approach is Called Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-informed care is a therapeutic approach that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and prioritizes safety, trust, and empowerment. A trauma-informed counselor understands that clients may have experienced varying degrees of trauma and tailors the therapy to meet their specific needs.
Key principles of trauma-informed therapy include:
- Safety: Ensuring that the therapeutic environment feels secure and that clients are proactive throughout the process.
- Trustworthiness: Building trust through transparency, reliability, and consistent support.
- Choice: Giving clients the autonomy to make decisions about their therapy, empowering them to take an active role in their healing.
- Collaboration: Working with clients as partners in their healing journey, respecting their input, and recognizing their strengths.
- Empowerment: Fostering a sense of self-efficacy by helping clients identify their own coping strategies and build on their inherent strengths.
Overcoming Barriers to Seeking Counseling
While counseling can be incredibly effective for dealing with trauma, many may face barriers to seeking help. Stigma, fear of vulnerability, financial constraints, and lack of time are common obstacles. However, recognizing the importance of mental health and the value of counseling can help individuals overcome these challenges.
For anyone dealing with trauma, the first step is often the hardest: acknowledging that support is needed. This is not a sign of weakness but a brave and essential step toward reclaiming one’s life and emotional well-being.
Whether reaching out to a counselor, talking to a trusted friend or family member, or seeking out resources, the journey toward healing begins with that initial step.
Conclusion
Trauma can have a severe and lasting impact on one’s emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. However, with the proper support, healing and growth are possible. Counselors are pivotal in helping clients understand, process, and recover from their traumatic experiences. Trauma-informed therapy can help build resilience, improve mental health, and result in more fulfilling lives.
Seeking counseling is a brave and essential step toward reclaiming one’s life and well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling with trauma, reaching out to a professional counselor can be the first step in a transformative healing journey. With support, healing and growth are not just possible but inevitable.
