Trauma Therapy
California, Texas, 41 PSYPACT States
Trauma Therapy: When the Past Interferes With the Present
Introduction
Trauma is any experience that emotionally overwhelms you and makes you feel psychologically and/or physically unsafe. Sometimes trauma is a single event, such as a natural disaster or an experience of assault. Other times, trauma occurs over a longer period of time, such as abuse in childhood or domestic violence. Trauma often goes unacknowledged and unspoken but it’s actually incredibly common. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 61% of adults report at least one trauma in their lifetimes.
The Impact of Trauma
If you have experienced trauma, it may impact how you deal with stress, conflict, and relationships. In addition, trauma tends to increase your chance of developing mental health conditions such has depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress (PTSD). Even when a trauma survivor does not meet full criteria for a mental disorder, they may have trouble in work, relationships, and self-esteem because their traumatic experience(s) have made it hard to trust others or deal with rejection and uncertainty. Many trauma survivors struggle to have a stable sense of self-worth because their experiences can lead to a constant sense that something bad is bound to happen.
Why It’s Difficult to Get Help for Trauma
The word “trauma” is now a big part of the cultural zeitgeist, but it isn’t necessarily something that people are aware may be impacting them in their present lives. I’ve worked with many clients who in therapy were able to get a lot more clarity about how their past has been affecting the way they function today. In many cultures, trauma is not something that families talk about openly, though thankfully, that is changing. For many trauma survivors, past experiences may be shrouded in secrecy because of the fear of blame, judgment, and/or shame. Even when clients enter therapy to work on current concerns, they may minimize the role of their past experiences in shaping who they are today. This is a universal and self-protective tendency. Part of the process of self-discovery in therapy includes accepting and grieving that we experienced things in the past that may continue to affect us today.
In my experience, trauma survivors who are struggling with the consequences of trauma may have thoughts such as:
“I should be over this by now.”
“I must be weak if this is affecting me as an adult.”
“Other people go through worse things so why should this bother me?”
Although these reactions are understandable, they reinforce the unhelpful idea that a person is weak for having mental health problems. It’s important to consider that when we are harmed in some way, it may not be so natural for us to “just get over it.” It is only when we accept the full magnitude of how something has affected us that we can actually begin to heal and grow.
How Trauma Therapy Can Help
In general, the impact of trauma is reduced when a person can discuss their experiences in a safe and supportive space. When survivors finally put into words what they’ve been through and how it has affected them, the difficult emotions that arise can be felt and released. The painful memories and experiences a person has been avoiding can be faced. When a person looks at their trauma experiences head-on and finds that they can survive facing them, it can affirm that the memories may not be as scary as they thought and strengthen their resolve to heal.
Trauma Therapy: Post-Traumatic Growth
We often hear about “post-traumatic stress.” But have you heard of its counterpart, post-traumatic growth? This refers to how a person grows, becomes resilient, and makes meaning from their challenging experiences. This is an important concept to weave into trauma therapy because the ultimate goal of good therapy isn’t just to reduce the problems associated with trauma but also to help a person grow in positive ways. Post-traumatic growth may take many forms. Some survivors clarify what a meaningful life looks like for them and actively work towards realizing that. Some may come to recognize their unique strengths and abilities and allow those to be sources of esteem and pride. Yet another example might be deliberately practicing an appreciation for the life they have now, including their positive relationships, opportunities, and joyful experiences. Post-traumatic growth doesn’t look the same for everyone but it’s an important focus that comes after reducing the painful impact of trauma.
Hi, I’m Chu Hui, aka Dr. Cha.
I provide online therapy to adults in California, 42 PSYPACT states, and worldwide.
I’m a Licensed Psychologist with 13 years of clinical experience. I have a lot of experience in trauma-informed therapy approaches, and I know what it takes to heal and move forward. When starting therapy to work on trauma, it’s important to find a therapist who is a good fit for you. I encourage you to read more about me, and if I seem to be a good fit for you, start by booking a free consultation.
“Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.”
