Trauma Therapy
Do You Feel Stuck Reliving Past Traumatic Experiences?
Are you struggling to cope with intense, disturbing thoughts and emotions related to something traumatic you experienced recently or long ago? Have you been avoiding people, places, or thoughts that remind you of a distressing situation? Has it been a long time since you’ve felt safe and calm in your mind and body?
Perhaps you’ve experienced abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual), grief and loss, or an accident that causes unwanted flashbacks. Or maybe when you were younger you experienced childhood trauma that has remained with you throughout your life.
You wish to feel safe, happy, and able to live in the present moment without being haunted by your past.
Trauma Symptoms Show Up Differently For Each Person
Having trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a difficult experience that brings with it a myriad of symptoms.
You may be struggling with recurrent, unwanted distressing memories, flashbacks, nightmares, upsetting dreams, severe emotional distress, physical reactions, and avoidance of the trauma.
You could also be experiencing negative thoughts about yourself or others, hopelessness, memory problems, maintaining close relationships, feeling detached from others, lack of interest, difficulty experiencing positive emotions, feeling numb, easily startled, on guard, insomnia, concentration problems, irritability, and shame.
If PTSD is left untreated, it can also lead to depression, anxiety, and various health issues.
Because of how deeply you’re hurting you may resort to drugs, alcohol, and other unhealthy coping mechanisms. Over time, these negative behaviors could impact your personal life and work performance. Socially, your relationships may be suffering because you’ve limited your interactions, only feeling at ease in the solace of your home, by yourself.
Living with trauma or PTSD can feel as if you’re frozen in time, trying your best to navigate life with these overwhelming emotions. Though you may doubt your ability to move on from traumatic experiences, trauma/ PTSD therapy can help you heal your mind and body and put the pain of the past behind you.
Why Trauma Is More Common Than You Think
Many people have experienced some kind of trauma within their lifetime. While trauma is common, its impact varies significantly depending on the person and the circumstances.
PTSD can affect anyone and is not limited to a particular ethnicity, nationality, or culture. It affects 3.5 percent of adults in the U.S. every year. Additionally, it is estimated that one in 11 people will be diagnosed with PTSD within their lifetime. (1)
Experiencing trauma can be an immensely draining and debilitating journey that takes a profound toll on your physiological and physical well-being. Trauma/PTSD therapy can help you gradually take steps to restore a sense of safety and peace of mind in your life.
Events That Lead To The Creation Of Traumatic Wounds
Multiple experiences contribute to the development of trauma and PTSD. These include abuse, sexual and physical assault, oppression, natural disasters, serious accidents, war, grief and loss, and major health issues.
PTSD does not always result from directly experiencing a traumatic event. Sometimes it happens when you witness something traumatic happen to someone else. Other times, learning about someone who experienced a traumatic event is enough to cause PTSD. It can be a one-time event or a series of events.
Regardless of the nature of the trauma you are suffering from, the ultimate goal is to help you heal from the pain and distress you’ve been experiencing. Recovery is possible, and moving on to living a purpose-driven life is achievable through trauma therapy.
We Specialize In Trauma Therapy So you Can Feel Supported Throughout Your Healing Journey
Therapy provides you with a safe and non-judgmental space for healing. Here, you can process traumatic events at a pace you feel comfortable, in an environment where you are seen, and heard, and with a specialist who is trained to help people work through trauma.
At Romero Counseling & Wellness, we can help you identify the root of your traumas and develop useful strategies to cope with and reduce symptoms. With the support of our gentle trauma therapists, you will learn how to experience self-acceptance and find the courage to heal the hurt deep inside your mind and body.
Trauma And PTSD Therapy Approaches
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Practices, and Trauma Informed Care are the modalities we use in trauma and PTSD therapy.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is used in processing and healing from recent and past traumas. EMDR involves guiding you to recall a particular traumatic memory, along with associated body sensations, negative thoughts, and distressing emotions associated with it.
Your therapist will use bilateral stimulation, including eye movements, taps or sounds, to help you process traumatic memories until they are no longer disturbing, and you no longer have negative beliefs associated with the memories. Once the memories are processed, your therapist will help reinforce positive beliefs.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a valuable therapeutic approach to treating trauma and PTSD. We begin our sessions with psychoeducation about how trauma affects the brain and body. We then focus on identifying and altering unhealthy/negative thought patterns that contribute to distressing emotions and behaviors.
This modality helps you challenge negative beliefs that have developed as a result of your traumatic experiences. Through guided sessions with your trusted therapist, you will learn to replace unhelpful thoughts and behavioral patterns with more realistic and balanced ones. By gradually addressing and changing these negative cognitive patterns, CBT empowers you to regain resilience and a healthier outlook on your healing journey.
Mindfulness Practices are incorporated into trauma therapy to help you establish a sense of stability in the present moment. We combine grounding exercises, emotional regulation, mindfulness meditation, and self-compassion exercises to further enhance your self-awareness and help relieve suffering.
Trauma-Informed Care is a compassionate approach to therapy, taking great care to prevent re-traumatization. With this modality, we meet you where you’re at and avoid invasive techniques or approaches that could trigger intense distress. Instead, we prioritize methods that promote gradual healing.
Our trauma/PTSD treatment methods can give you the relief you’ve been longing for. At Romero Counseling & Wellness, we can help you become healed and finally gain a positive outlook on yourself and your future.
Perhaps You Still Have Some Questions About Trauma/PTSD Therapy…
I have been dealing with this for many years. Is it too late to get treatment?
It is never too late to seek treatment. The impact of untreated trauma may last for years, even decades. No matter how long you’ve been dealing with your symptoms, treatment with a trauma-competent therapist can help you significantly improve your quality of life.
Will I ever learn to trust myself/others again?
Yes. With therapy, you can learn to have faith in yourself and trust others again. Though rebuilding trust isn’t easy, having a gentle therapist by your side can make the process feel more comfortable and the result more worthwhile.
Will my therapist believe what I have to say and not judge me?
We believe you. In therapy, we always approach sessions with a non-judgmental mindset. We support you and want you to know that throughout this journey you are heard and validated. We encourage you to communicate openly as we take gradual steps toward helping you recover.
You Can Move On From Trauma/PTSD And Find Peace
Struggling with fear, sadness, anxiety, overwhelm, and shame is no way for anyone to live. At Romero Counseling & Wellness, we understand the pain that trauma/ PTSD causes and want to help you regain your security, self-worth, and peace of mind.
To see how we can support you in your journey toward healing, please call us at (623) 267-5596 or schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
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https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd
