Trauma Therapy
Do You Feel Like Trauma Is Disrupting Your Life?
Are you having trouble connecting with your family and friends, even though you know they’re concerned about you? Do you feel numb, like you just can’t enjoy everyday activities? Have you struggled to keep up with your responsibilities at work or in school?
Perhaps you wish you could open up to someone about what happened, but you worry that your loved ones just won’t understand. Maybe you miss who you were before experiencing trauma - yet you don’t know how to move on.
Trauma Can Significantly Impact Your Mental Health
If you’ve been living with trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder, your symptoms can impact every area of your life. Intrusive thoughts and unwanted memories can send you reeling when you least expect it, and nightmares can leave you tossing and turning at night. You might try to avoid situations that bring up memories of what happened, leaving you feeling isolated and alone.
You may feel on edge or be easily startled, even when you’re physically safe. Hypervigilance can develop as a protective mechanism if you’ve survived trauma, but this reaction can interfere with your daily life, decision making, and who you spend your time with. You might have trouble concentrating or get easily irritated by minor inconveniences.
Perhaps you’ve tried to pick up your old hobbies again or return to activities you used to enjoy, yet you feel emotionally numb and disengaged. You might feel like you have little to look forward to, and you may have trouble believing that things will get better. But you do not have to keep struggling on your own. By working with a therapist, you can heal from past trauma and create a bright future.
PTSD Isn’t A Weakness - Anyone Can Experience Trauma
Coping with PTSD can feel lonely, but unfortunately, trauma is not a rare occurrence. In fact, most people will face at least one potentially traumatic event in their lifetime. Trauma is not limited to any particular age, gender, or socioeconomic group.
While not everyone who lives through trauma develops PTSD, people who live through multiple traumatic events or lack a strong support system are at a higher risk for developing this condition. PTSD is not a personal weakness - anyone can face a traumatizing experience.
Traumatic Situations Are Widespread In Our Society
Trauma commonly occurs within relationships. Losing a loved one, divorce, separation, and abuse or neglect from family members or romantic partners can all be traumatic. Some people also experience trauma after serving in the military or facing mistreatment in a medical setting. Survivors of disasters, like fires or floods, are also at risk for developing symptoms related to trauma.
Sometimes, people struggle with trauma as a result of political or societal events. Over the past few years, countless people have suffered from trauma related to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Others have developed PTSD or are experiencing symptoms related to trauma after living through mass shootings or other violent acts.
Trauma can have a profound psychological impact on survivors, and symptoms of trauma and PTSD will not disappear without treatment. People often hesitate to reach out for help because they blame themselves for what happened, but trauma is never the survivor’s fault. With the right support, you can learn to manage your symptoms and begin moving forward in life.
Trauma Therapy Can Help You Rebuild Your Life
You might be nervous about sharing your traumatic experiences with a therapist. Opening up about your trauma isn’t easy. At Foothills CBT, your therapist will help you move through treatment at your own pace, and they will never push you to talk about an experience before you’re ready.
In therapy, you’ll identify your symptoms within the context of your unique experiences. Your therapist will also help you develop essential skills and strategies for coping with traumatic memories in a healthy way. You’ll also become better equipped to handle distressing situations and manage your triggers. You can safely process your experiences in a safe, welcoming space with professional guidance.
What To Expect In Trauma Therapy Sessions
During your first session, you’ll talk to your therapist about your reasons for pursuing treatment, the trauma symptoms you’ve been struggling with, and what you hope to gain from counseling. You do not have to divulge any information that you do not want to - we understand that it can take time to feel comfortable discussing your past experience with a therapist.
Your therapist will help you explore the roots of your symptoms, let go of the shame surrounding trauma, and recognize your innate strengths. You’ll have the opportunity to rediscover who you are beyond your trauma.
Treatment Approaches For Trauma Therapy
Your therapist will work closely with you to design a personalized treatment plan that addresses your specific symptoms and goals. We integrate multiple evidence-based therapeutic approaches to support you along your healing journey.
Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT), specifically Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), can help you shift the negative, distorted thought patterns you may have adopted as a result of your trauma. Furthermore, your therapist might suggest Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy, which gives you the chance to alleviate your responses to triggers through gradual exposure in a safe, controlled environment. Many people with PTSD also find that Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a powerful tool for healing trauma.
You’ll also work on beneficial techniques that you can apply on your own outside of sessions. For example, your therapist will guide you through relaxation strategies like breathwork, as well as mindfulness meditation skills. Additionally, you’ll practice distress tolerance and emotional regulation to help you navigate difficult situations with confidence.
With treatment, you can heal from traumatic experiences without letting them weigh you down. Through sessions with a compassionate counselor, you can free yourself from the weight of trauma, strengthen your relationships, and fall back in love with your passions.
But You May Still Have Questions About Trauma Therapy…
Can therapy really help me recover from trauma?
If you’ve been suffering in the aftermath of trauma for months or even years on end, you might have doubts that you can recover and find genuine happiness again. But with professional support, healing is entirely possible. Our therapists will apply highly effective, evidence-based treatment approaches to help you overcome trauma and PTSD while tailoring sessions around your specific symptoms and goals.
I’m worried that talking to a therapist could be re-traumatizing.
After living through a traumatic event, it’s normal to feel a bit hesitant about allowing yourself to be vulnerable in therapy. At Foothills CBT, you will never be pushed into sharing any personal details about your trauma. Furthermore, your therapist will help you develop distress tolerance and emotional regulation skills, which will help you talk about difficult experiences without feeling re-traumatized.
How long will I need to be in therapy?
Everyone is unique, and the amount of time you need to spend in therapy will depend on your specific circumstances and the severity of your symptoms. We typically recommend committing to therapy for at least two to three months, as most evidence-based treatment approaches for trauma are based on protocols lasting from six to eighteen sessions. While some people might find relief within a short timeframe, others may choose to pursue therapy on a long-term basis to continue the process of healing and self-discovery.
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You Can Overcome Trauma And Live Life Fully
With therapy, you can recover from trauma and cultivate a life that brings you joy again. If you’re interested in learning more about our practice, call our office at 720-432-7061 or email us to schedule an appointment, or connect with a provider for a free, 10-minute consultation.
