Too many people avoid therapy because they fear that the therapy will overwhelm them.
They have good reasons for feeling this way. When we talk directly about traumatic events, when we unearth those memories, even if they are not spoken aloud, the brain believes they are happening again (right now). This can, and will, cause symptoms that stem from these experiences to worsen.
Did you know that you do not actually need to talk (much) about a traumatic event to gain relief? Did you know that it is not actually even recommended to go into details, or that it may not actually be helpful to “tell the story?” Did you know that how you talk in therapy is as, or perhaps even more, important as what you talk about?
I have extensive experience treating trauma and teaching other clinicians how to practice trauma informed care to help bring the greatest benefits and relief without causing worsening conditions or symptoms.
Some elements of trauma informed care include:
- Building capacities to contain or calm physical and emotional responses to triggers
- Regulating the nervous system through practical daily habits
- Increasing felt safety inside and away from therapy
- Using physical sensation, and body-based mindfulness to slow and contain responses
- Selecting appropriate targets for trauma resolution and talking about them and recalling them in a very specific manner so that they are no longer disturbing.
If you have been hesitant to address past traumatic experiences in therapy, please set up a free consultation with me to discuss how these approaches might help you.
