Trauma

WHAT IS TRAUMA?

Trauma counseling is a specialist field of counseling which helps people address, come to terms with and recover from a traumatic event.  Trauma counselors are typically involved if someone is struggling physically, emotionally or psychologically after a traumatic event.  Trained Counsellors  with a mental health background can help someone who is struggling in response to a traumatic event.

A traumatic event can be any stressful event that an individual has difficulty coping with afterwards.

Any situation (to name a few) which causes you to feel distressed:

  • Sexual assualt or rape
  •  Losing a loved one
  •  Hijacking / mugging / armed robbery
  •  Divorce
  •  Job loss / retirement
  •  Car accident
  •  Illness
  •  Natural disasters

SYMPTOMS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA?

  • Shock, denial, or disbelief
  • Confusion, difficulty concentrating
  • Anger, irritability, mood swings
  • Anxiety and fear
  • Guilt, shame, self-blame
  • Withdrawing from others
  • Feeling sad or hopeless
  • Feeling disconnected or numb

WHAT IS TRAUMA-FOCUSED THERAPY?

Trauma-Focused Therapy is a specific approach to therapy that recognizes and emphasizes understanding how the traumatic event impacts a client’s mental, behavioural, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.

This type of therapy is rooted in understanding the connection between the trauma experienced and the client’s emotional and behavioural responses.

The purpose of trauma-focused therapy is to offer skills and strategies to assist a client to better understand, cope with and process emotions and memories tied to a traumatic event, with the end goal of enabling a client to create a healthier and more adaptive meaning of the experience that took place in his/her life.