The Healing Power of Trauma Counselling in the Recovery Process

Trauma is defined as a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. It occurs when a person is exposed to high levels of stress and/or anxiety without the ability to escape. It’s often the result of negative life-changing events such as sexual assault, abuse, losing a loved one, war, or divorce. While some individuals can overcome trauma on their own, many find it an interruption to their daily life and routine. In these cases, trauma counselling can be a helpful way to overcome and move on.

Recognizing the Need for Trauma Counselling

If you or a loved one has experienced a traumatic event, understanding the symptoms of ongoing trauma is the best way to recognize whether counselling is necessary. These symptoms typically include:

• Re-living the event: Those who’ve experienced trauma often re-live the event through flashbacks and nightmares involuntarily.
• Avoiding triggers: After trauma, it’s difficult to be reminded of the situation that caused it. If people, places, or situations trigger those memories, a person who’s suffering from trauma may avoid them at all costs.
• Negativity or pessimism: Individuals who’ve experienced trauma often develop a negative or pessimistic outlook on life, ultimately losing trust in the people and things they’ve previously sought comfort from.
• Hyperactivity and irritability: It can be difficult to unwind and relax after experiencing trauma. That can lead to individuals constantly being in a high-energy state or frequently feeling irritable.

In addition to the symptoms above, you may notice yourself or your loved one exhibiting an array of other symptoms after trauma, including difficulty concentrating, memory loss, tension, fatigue, and sleep disturbances.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that often lingers after an individual experiences trauma. Symptoms of this include:

• Emotional withdrawal
• Heightened alertness or anxiety
• Fear for the safety of oneself or others
• Recurring thoughts, nightmares, or flashbacks
• Disconnection
• Unexplained depression or despair

PTSD usually requires trauma counselling and other treatment to overcome.

How Trauma Counselling Can Help

Trauma counselling gives those in need a safe space to discuss their emotions, fears, and concerns, as well as the tools to work through traumatic events and overcome negative feelings surrounding them.

Counselling can help reduce negative symptoms, including anxiety, hyperactivity, and avoidance. It can also encourage the person to rebuild relationships that have been damaged as a result of their trauma. It can also address any negative feelings or beliefs, and ensure the person doesn’t further inflict trauma on others, which is a common problem in many cases.

What to Expect in Trauma Counselling

At The Family Psychology Place, we provide trauma counselling for those suffering from the negative consequences of events such as abuse, war, death, and divorce. We use a variety of techniques and modalities, including:

Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Trauma-focused CBT is a form of talk therapy that helps individuals change the way they think and behave in the face of triggering situations.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR helps individuals alter their memories through guided discussions with a psychologist, giving them the power to overcome traumatic experiences and memories.

Safe, Supportive Trauma Counselling in Calgary

Experiencing trauma is difficult under any circumstances. It affects individuals of all genders and ages, and can be caused by various factors and experiences. For most, going through it alone is nearly impossible. Trauma counselling is a great way to overcome negative feelings surrounding past experiences and learn better ways to cope with triggers.

The Family Psychology Place offers trauma counselling in Calgary, administered by qualified psychologists. Contact us for an appointment if you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of trauma or PTSD.