Trauma Therapy
“There is no timestamp on trauma. There isn’t a formula that you can insert yourself into to get from horror to healed. Be patient. Take up space. Let your journey be the balm.”
– Dawn Serra
Mental health is not linear. Many mental health conditions don’t make themselves known until later in life, often evolving alongside us.
Nearly 70% of people will experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Traumatic events happen more often than you think and aren’t always what you’d expect. These events and how they sit in our psyche vary from person to person.
Can you think of someone who’s been in a car accident? What about someone who’s lived through losing their home to a fire? Do you know someone who’s been abused by a family member or spouse?
These are all common examples of traumatic events, but they’re not the only ones. Our team at Wings Recovery deeply understands how trauma impacts people on a physical and mental level, and that’s why our trauma therapy program is so effective.
What We Treat: Trauma and PTSD
Trauma can happen at any age, to any person, in any circumstance.
Our brains are complex machines that are designed to help us survive. Because of this, so many people are unaware of how deeply their trauma is impacting their daily lives. They’ll live through consistent anxiety, physical responses, depression, and more without knowing the root cause lies in trauma.
If any of the following symptoms is hindering your routine and goals, you could be living with untreated trauma:
- Changes in sleeping and eating patterns
- Increased feelings of sadness and stress
- Increased agitation or irritability
- New or worsening headaches and body pains
- Thoughts of self-harm or harming others
- Disturbed dreams and flashbacks
- Increased paranoia
- Feeling on edge and easily startled
- Difficulty concentrating
- Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
- Lingering feelings of shame or guilt
What’s the Difference Between Trauma and PTSD?
All people who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have experienced trauma, but not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD.
This doesn’t mean that their trauma doesn’t impact them, it simply means that their trauma didn’t explicitly manifest as PTSD.
While many people recover from trauma over time, some develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a symptomatic condition that interferes with daily life. Individuals with PTSD may experience flashbacks, nightmares, heightened anxiety, or a constant state of alertness, as if the danger is still present. In short, trauma is the event itself, while PTSD is a response that impacts a person’s mental and emotional well-being in the long term.
How We Treat: The Importance of Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-informed care is a whole-person approach to healing and addressing mental health. It doesn’t refer to a specific treatment modality but rather a foundation for approaching recovery in all forms.
Not only does a trauma-informed approach look to your past to see how you got to where you currently are, but it also acknowledges the potential for future traumas. Through this understanding, our medical team crafts a plan unique to you, your life, your needs, and your goals. They work with you and keep you informed about the path ahead. This is your journey; we’re just helping you pave the way. You deserve to be kept in the loop and part of the planning process.
Understanding the Different Approaches to Trauma Therapy
With the foundation of trauma-informed care in mind, what specific treatment and modality types are best for addressing trauma?
Our staff are trained and versed in multiple facets of trauma and recovery. We understand that mental health is complex and varies greatly from person to person. This is why we offer many different approaches to healing that we utilize for every client who reaches out to us for support.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
This form of psychological treatment primarily focuses on unhelpful ways of thinking, ways of behaving, and learned patterns. Once those are pinpointed, CBT teaches coping skills to address and adjust these mindsets.
CBT is effective in addressing mental health and substance use in many forms and intensities. The emphasis of CBT is to set the individual up to address any future obstacles and traumas with their tools and skills first.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a form of treatment designed explicitly with trauma and PTSD in mind. It recognizes that many of the symptoms associated with trauma lie within the memory of the traumatic event itself. Through EMDR, trained therapists utilize eye movement and other external stimuli to safely address traumatic memories and change the emotions and responses tied to them.
Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Dialectal Behavioral Therapy is another form of psychotherapy originally developed off of CBT for specific mental health conditions. However, It was realized that the DBT approach was applicable and effective for a wider range of conditions. DBT focuses on accepting, understanding, and regulating emotions and reactions to different circumstances in the past, present, and future.
Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS)
Despite its name, IFS is not exclusive to family therapy sessions. Internal Family Systems therapy is a modality that focuses on the many facets of “self” and how their relationships and interactions impact your emotions, thoughts, and more. It breaks down how different aspects of our thoughts and feelings influence each other and leads to the ultimate result of our actions and self-worth. Through this understanding and reshaping, they help individuals, couples, and families to form a deeper understanding of their selves.
Can Trauma Therapy Help With Things Beyond PTSD?
Yes, trauma therapy can help with many mental health concerns.
Trauma therapy isn’t exclusive to people with trauma-specific mental health conditions. Here at Wings Recovery, we approach mental health in all forms with an understanding of how trauma impacts it. Not everyone’s trauma develops into PTSD, but it can influence their depression, anxiety, and more.
The basis of trauma therapy is designed to heal you in a well-rounded and person-first way. This approach helps lay a strong foundation for recovery from any mental health condition.
Start On Your Healing Journey at Wings Recovery Center Today
The journey of healing and recovery isn’t out of reach. No matter what your history of mental health, trauma, or recovery is – there are options available here for you.
Our team at Wings Recovery is dedicated to your journey. We offer gender-specific programs that allow you to connect with individuals and medical staff who are there to understand the unique situations you’ve lived through and help you heal. From housing options to ongoing outpatient therapy, you’ll receive support at every level of care.
You can get started today; there’s no need to wait. We’ll work with you to craft a plan that fits your needs and circumstances. You deserve quality care at every step.
With many evidence-based treatment options under our roof, we are committed to finding the right combination for your recovery. We also offer nutrition programs, yoga, equine therapy, and more. Call us today at 888-790-9377 to learn how we can help you heal.
Wings – Rising to Meet Recovery