Trauma Therapy

Has A Traumatic Event Changed The Way You Live?

Have you experienced a traumatic event that has led to symptoms that make it difficult to cope with everyday life? Are you reliving a painful event or being hounded by reminders that trigger intense fear and panic? Do you constantly feel on-guard or edgy because you are waiting for something terrible to happen? Are you experiencing disturbing dreams, flashbacks, or memories of events that you wish you could forget?

Perhaps you avoid social situations, have trouble leaving the house, or feel uncomfortable in public. You may find yourself lashing out at loved ones or missing days of work because you don’t know how to manage the overwhelming emotions. 

If you have survived a traumatic event, you may be struggling to deal with many confusing and painful layers of wounding. You may have lived through a scary car accident, a difficult medical procedure, a sexual assault, a natural disaster, or the trauma of warfare. Conversely, maybe you were exposed to a long a string of negative life experiences, such as childhood abuse or neglect, bullying, or toxic relationships, that make it hard to feel safe or secure as an adult. Despite the obvious pain that the trauma is still causing, you may even be blaming yourself for not getting over it by now.

Fortunately, you do not have to endure these or any other symptoms of trauma alone. Would you like to free yourself from the limitations of fear and doubt and empower yourself to live peacefully with confidence?

If You Are A Trauma Survivor, You Are Not Alone 

Traumatic experiences are so common that approximately half of us will endure at least one traumatic event in our lifetime. What exactly is a traumatic event? It is an overwhelmingly shocking or dangerous event that you witness or directly experience in which you fear for the life or safety of yourself or another person. According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, about 60 percent of men and 50 percent of women report having experienced at least one traumatic event in their lives. 

Most of us who survive a traumatic event develop some symptoms afterward. For some survivors, the symptoms naturally subside over time, while other survivors will continue to struggle with symptoms. Moreover, others may have symptoms that qualify for a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

Sometimes, signs of PTSD develop right after a traumatic event, and sometimes, the symptoms develop months or years after the trauma. If you are struggling with PTSD symptoms, you are not alone. Approximately 10 percent of women and 4 percent of men will struggle with PTSD symptoms at some point in their lives. 

The good news is that because trauma and PTSD are so common, a lot of research has been done to understand it better, and effective therapies are available that can relieve your symptoms and help you get your life back. 

You Can Find Peace Through Trauma Therapy 

A therapist skilled in treating trauma can help you move beyond past painful experiences and start moving forward with your life again. Human beings are often stronger than we realize, and when we go through traumatic experiences we develop and hone “survival skills,” such as resiliency, independence, courage, and empathy for others. Those skills can come in handy when working through past trauma. Together we will help you identify your own strengths and use them to help you overcome the obstacles that have been holding you back. 

Your therapist will work with you to help you discover all the ways the traumatic experience has negatively affected you, your life, and your relationships. Together we will explore how the trauma may have altered your view of yourself and others, your thoughts and perspectives, and your sense of safety. We will share our knowledge with you about the effects of trauma and methods used to counteract those effects. We will also teach you new skills with the goal of helping you regain your sense of self, overcome symptoms, and stabilize your mood. Along the way, we will provide encouragement and support while you decide which changes you would like to make to restore your peace and happiness. 

Your therapist will draw on knowledge and experience derived from numerous trauma-related trainings, workshops, and reading materials. She may suggest that you work together using one particular approach for treating trauma, or she may integrate strategies from different therapy approaches, depending on what she thinks will be most helpful for you. Some of the treatment methods that our therapists may rely on to help you achieve recovery include: Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR therapy), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

With the help of a supportive, compassionate, and skilled therapist, you can learn how to let go of painful memories and recover parts of yourself that were lost or stolen by trauma. You can learn to stop blaming yourself and find the courage to reconnect with the people you love. And you will be empowered to find your voice and start speaking your truth even when that means learning to say “no” and setting firm boundaries with the people who have harmed you. These are just a few of the many possible benefits of trauma counseling that await you. Whatever you hope to achieve, we will be here to help you achieve it.

You may be considering trauma therapy but still have some concerns...

What if going to therapy makes coping even more difficult?

Fear of making things worse is a common fear in overcoming trauma. An important goal of trauma and PTSD treatment is symptom reduction. Therefore, we will begin our work together by creating a safe environment, building coping strategies, and learning how to reduce overwhelm. By facing your traumatic experience in therapy and learning skills to calm down your nervous system, you can experience long-term relief from symptoms.

I am afraid the therapist will make me talk about the trauma, and I don’t want to talk about it.

We understand how difficult it can be to talk about the details of the trauma—even in therapy. At Three Peaks Counseling, we strive to work at a pace that feels comfortable for you, and as such, we will never push you to share details of what happened to you unless you feel ready. In fact, talking about the details of the trauma is often not even necessary to get relief from symptoms. In counseling sessions, we can focus instead on helping you recover the things missing from your current life because of past trauma, such as a sense of safety and calm, freedom to move about in the world without anxiety, and the ability to reconnect with others. And, of course, if you decide you want to share your story, we are here to listen and process it with you.

What if the therapist asks me to do homework? I don’t have time for that.

In some types of therapy, homework assignments are a regular part of the therapy protocol. That’s because research has shown that people who are working toward therapy goals between sessions tend to feel better sooner and achieve goals faster. Fortunately, our homework assignments take as little as 5 to 20 minutes to complete. However, if time is an obstacle for you, be sure to tell your therapist so we can help you find the time or alter our therapeutic approach to one that does not include homework.

Let Us Help You Find Greater Peace

With the help of a therapist from Three Peaks Counseling, you can heal from the wounds of the past and create the life you want. If you would like to know more about how we may be able to help you, please call (720) 425-1111 for your free consultation. We are passionate about trauma recovery, and we have the knowledge and experience to help you. 

This discussion on trauma was written by Cindy Pace, MA, LPC

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