Breaking the Chains: How to Overcome Trauma & Reclaim Your Life
Trauma can feel like an invisible weight, pressing down on you and making every day a struggle. Did you know that nearly 70% of adults have experienced some type of traumatic event in their lives? Whether it’s the aftermath of an accident, the scars of abuse, or the lingering effects of a natural disaster, trauma affects us in profound ways. Although it may seem like an uphill battle at times, there is hope. Trauma therapy can help you break free from the chains of your past and reclaim your life.
What is Trauma Therapy?
Trauma therapy is a specialized form of counseling designed to help people process and heal from difficult and stressful experiences. It is a collaborative journey where you work with a trained therapist to understand and address the impact of trauma on your life. The goal is to help you reduce your symptoms (such as pesky nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, shame, and self-doubt) and build a life where you feel safe and empowered.
What is Trauma?
Trauma is a deeply distressing experience that impacts your emotional and psychological well-being. There isn’t always a cookie cutter definition, though, because no two people experience events in exactly the same way. Even though there are varying experiences and impacts, experts agree that there are several similarities that help define trauma:
Acute Trauma: Caused by a single incident, like an accident or assault.
Chronic Trauma: Results from repeated and prolonged exposure to distressing events, such as ongoing abuse or exposure to workplace stressors (EMTs, police officers, firefighters, military).
Complex Trauma: Involves multiple or long-term traumatic experiences, often starting in childhood, such as parental abuse or neglect.
Common sources of trauma include accidents, abuse, natural disasters, witnessing or knowing someone who experienced a sudden and tragic death, lack of basic needs being met (housing, food, etc.), or any event that leaves a lasting emotional impact.
How Does Trauma Therapy Work?
Trauma therapy aims to help you understand and work through the impacts of trauma. One of the most important aspects of whether or not trauma therapy will work is how safe and connected you feel with your therapist. With a solid therapeutic alliance, your therapist will help you to process the trauma and restore a sense of balance in your life again. Once a secure therapy relationship is built, there are many techniques a therapist may use to address your trauma. I’ll highlight a couple here:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Focuses on understanding the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and actions. Trauma therapists who use CBT may emphasize creating an understanding of how trauma has impacted your thought patterns, your actions (how you learned to survive), and the emotions that are associated with trauma. They will then help you use that understanding to create new patterns to find relief.
Somatic Experiencing Therapy: Emphasizes the body’s sensations and responses to trauma. This approach focuses on the connection between the body and the mind and utilizes body-centric methods for releasing stress and tension that get stored as a result of trauma.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy: This approach uses a therapeutic protocol to address the negative imagery (memories), body sensations, and thought patterns that are created by trauma. Accelerated Resolution Therapy (also known as ART) helps clients reprocess traumatic events and reduce the emotional charge left by trauma in a quick, safe, and effective way. This approach is known for resolving problems quickly because it is paired with rapid eye movements.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is the primary method I use with my therapy clients. I love how it takes something difficult like trauma and creates a gentle and safe environment for healing. My clients and I are always happily surprised at how quick and effective it works - sometimes in as little as one to five sessions.
What to Expect in Trauma Therapy
Your journey with trauma therapy starts with an initial consultation. This is where you will discuss your experiences (briefly - most consultations are only 15 minutes) and what you hope to achieve through therapy. Your potential therapist will likely also share with you their expertise and approach for helping you. My biggest piece of advice is to place an emphasis on how you feel while talking during the consultation. If it doesn’t feel like a good fit, trust your gut and consider alternate options.
After the consultation, you and your therapist will have an initial session. This is where the focus on therapy goals, treatment methods, and therapeutic rapport begins to be built. Therapy sessions typically happen once per week and then gradually reduce in frequency as you start to feel better. This varies based on your needs and your trauma therapist’s recommendations. For most, sessions consist of talking through your experiences, learning coping strategies, and creating a deeper understanding of the life you want to build after experiencing a life-altering stressor.
Many people who begin their healing journey notice a ripple effect of numerous benefits:
Emotional Relief: Alleviation of symptoms like anxiety, depression, shame, and guilt can make way for joy, peace, and relief. Hypervigilance, feeling guarded, and avoiding trauma reminders does not have to be the norm anymore.
Improved Relationships: Deeper emotional connections seem more possible, especially because many people who’ve experienced trauma also have had ruptures in trust. Understanding that trust, safety, and emotional connections can be safe is a common outcome.
Enhanced Quality of Life: Many people don’t truly realize the reach trauma has on their life until they experience healing. Sleep quality improves for those who have nightmares or difficulty sleeping. Concentration tends to go up and irritability tends to decrease. Life holds a greater sense of peace and functioning.
Conclusion
Trauma therapy is a powerful tool that can help you overcome the effects of trauma and lead a fulfilling life. It offers a pathway to emotional relief, improved connections, and a renewed sense of self. If you are struggling with the impact of trauma, consider reaching out for support. Contact me to learn more about how I can help you start your journey toward balance and healing. You don’t have to do this alone and you’re worth it!
Additional Resources
In a crisis, contact:
MN residents, click here for phone numbers for each county.
CA residents, click here for phone numbers to each county.
Nationwide: Dial 988 to speak to a crisis advocate or be connected with a local crisis line.
In an emergency: Dial 911 or go to your local emergency room.