Trauma therapy

What is trauma?

Trauma is psychological harm that can be caused by any number of stressors. When we are physically harmed, our bodies go through a process of repair and restructuring. Bones fuse back together, cuts coagulate and scab, and bruises swell. Although our bodies are quite good at healing themselves over time, some injuries tend to endure.

Trauma works in a very similar way. Life is filled with stressors that affect our mental state. Sometimes the stressors may be minor (i.e. deciding what to wear to school), while others are debilitating (i.e. combat experience). The mind responds to these stressors with a mending process, and often we are able to continue life as usual. However, some injuries cause significant damage that requires more than time to heal.

Here at Depth Counseling, our trauma therapists in Chicago works with clients who have experienced intense traumatic life events. Although trauma can happen in many different ways, the trauma treatment and recovery process look very similar. A few causes of trauma we have helped people work through include:

• Surviving an act of sexual or physical violence
• Abuse
• Car accidents
• Sudden loss
• Witnessing an act of violence or abuse
• Combat experience
• Near death experience

The response to trauma (or traumatic stress) can vary dramatically from person to person. As such, the symptoms of traumatic stress can sometimes be difficult to identify. Our minds try to make sense of the trauma and begin the repair process naturally, which can lead to problematic changes — much like a bone that mends without being properly set. Here are some examples of symptoms that can occur after someone experiences trauma.

1. Avoidance of certain situations or people
2. Flashbacks or re-experiencing of traumatic memories
3. Distress or anxiety that remains after the traumatic event
4. Physical or bodily symptoms (aching, nausea, etc.)
5. Recurrent (or ruminative) thoughts about the trauma
6. Major changes in personality or behavior
7. Increased drug or alcohol use to cope with traumatic stress
8. Aggression or irritability

Left untreated, the symptoms of traumatic stress can significantly reduce health and wellbeing (Bichescu et al, 2005; Brewin, Andrews, & Valentine, 2000), which is why early diagnosis and treatment are so important. If you have experienced a traumatic life event, do not wait. Contact Depth Counseling today and let us help you find freedom from your trauma.

How can trauma therapy help?

Trauma therapy helps by giving you a place to freely process the hardship and stress of your life — in a safe, confidential space. Psychotherapy (also called counseling or therapy) is the most effective treatment option for working through trauma (Bisson et al, 2007; Wilson, Friedman, & Lindy, 2012).

Psychodynamic psychotherapists, such as those at Depth Counseling, attune to the processes and thoughts that may not be immediately apparent, or unconscious (Stark, 2000). This allows clients to gain a deeper understanding of how the trauma affected them and why the traumatic stress persists. Although we cannot take away the traumatic experience, we can help clients overcome the after-effect of traumatic stress through post-traumatic stress disorder treatment.

Trauma-focused therapy can be very difficult, and sometimes people begin to feel worse at the beginning of treatment. Much like engaging in physical therapy for a back injury, this is an important part of the healing process. Once the trauma can be processed and properly understood, trauma survivors are able to regain a sense of normalcy and wellness (Bradley et al, 2005).

How can Depth Counseling help?

Depth Counseling has a team of providers who specialize in helping trauma survivors overcome their struggles. If you’re searching for therapists who specialize in trauma, we’re your solution. We provide individual and couples counseling services for adults and families here in Chicago, Illinois and the surrounding area. Our trauma treatment sessions are entirely confidential and held in the comfort of our offices on North Side and the Loop. Once you connect with us, we can schedule your first appointment with one of our providers based on fit and availability. We deeply value the therapeutic relationship, and we strive to demonstrate that value to each of our clients.

As you work through your trauma with one of our therapists, you will notice:

• Decreased responses to traumatic triggers
• Greater understanding of self and others
• Feelings of compassion and forgiveness
• Insight regarding potentially harmful life patterns
• A greater understanding of your unique personality
• Greater capacity for emotional communication
• Improvements in social relationships

Each of our therapists is dedicated to providing a safe space where you can explore your psychological world. We are passionate about serving our community through thorough treatment and diagnosis, empathic understanding, and client-centered care. If you have difficulties with anger, anxiety, depression, or trauma, Depth Counseling can help. Do not just wait for things to get better—contact us today.

References

Bichescu, D., Schauer, M., Saleptsi, E., Neculau, A., Elbert, T., & Neuner, F. (2005). Long-term consequences of traumatic experiences: an assessment of former political detainees in Romania. Clinical practice and epidemiology in mental health, 1(1), 17.

Bisson, J. I., Ehlers, A., Matthews, R., Pilling, S., Richards, D., & Turner, S. (2007). Psychological treatments for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis. The British journal of psychiatry, 190(2), 97-104.

Bradley, R., Greene, J., Russ, E., Dutra, L., & Westen, D. (2005). A multidimensional meta-analysis of psychotherapy for PTSD. American journal of Psychiatry, 162(2), 214-227.

Brewin, C. R., Andrews, B., & Valentine, J. D. (2000). Meta-analysis of risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder in trauma-exposed adults. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 68(5), 748.

Stark, M. (2000). Modes of therapeutic action. Rowman & Littlefield.

Shedler, J. (2010). The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy. American psychologist, 65(2), 98.

Wilson, J. P., Friedman, M. J., & Lindy, J. D. (2012). Treating psychological trauma and PTSD. Guilford Press.