The Impact of Trauma-Focused Therapy

 

What is Therapy?

Therapy provides a safe and confidential place for a person to talk to a professional about personal experiences, thoughts, feelings, or problems. People who go to  therapy may have experienced a situation that that disrupts and/or impacts his or her thinking, mood, feelings, or ability to relate to others. A person may also seek out therapy because they want a neutral and safe place to talk about general life experiences. Many people seek out therapy: adults, youth, teens, even therapists themselves. Everyone needs somewhere they feel safe and supported.

The role of the therapist is to help the person understand his/her situation, teach strategies to express him/herself, and cope with potentially stressful situations. The therapist can also offer the individual or family tools to help them manage difficult feelings, and/or negative thoughts and behaviors.

What is Trauma-Focused Therapy?

Trauma-Focused Therapy is a specific approach to therapy that recognizes and emphasizes understanding how the traumatic experience impacts a child’s mental, behavioral, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. This type of therapy is rooted in understanding the connection between the trauma experience and the child’s emotional and behavioral responses. The purpose of trauma-focused therapy is to offer skills and strategies to assist your child in better understanding, coping with,  processing emotions and memories tied to traumatic experiences, with the end goal of enabling your child to create a healthier and more adaptive meaning of the experience that took place in his/her life.

Benefits of Trauma-Focused Therapy

Trauma-Focused Therapy can be beneficial to youth who have experienced a traumatic event . By engaging in trauma-focused treatment, your child can learn more about what he/she is experiencing,how to address the concerns, and develop healthier ways of coping. The following are a few examples of the benefits of trauma-focused therapy:


Trauma-Focused Treatment Activities

There are a large variety of different activities or strategies that used within the trauma-focused treatment process. These trauma-focused activities may look different based on age, trauma experience, setting, or location. Therapists may use creative strategies and activities to address memories, emotions, or problematic behaviors associated with traumatic experiences as part of the therapy process. These are conducted in a way that is sensitive and unique to your child’s experience and are often used in conjunction with relaxation skills.

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Types of Trauma-Focused Treatments

Many different types of trauma-focused and trauma-informed treatments exist today. These may also be referred to as  trauma-focused interventions. One intervention type is not “better” than another, but rather each was developed to meet the different needs of individuals and families. Trauma-focused treatments may look different based on age, trauma experience, setting, or location.

To find specific trauma-informed interventions based on your child’s needs, visit the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Empirically Supported Treatments and Promising Practices by clicking HERE.

How Do I Know if a Therapist is Trauma-Informed?

Currently there are no state or national regulations defining “trauma-informed provider” or “trauma-informed therapist.” However, some states are working toward “credentialing” or ensuring that clinicians have minimum education and training around trauma-informed practice. No matter where you live or what a professional’s background may be, there are questions you can ask a therapist to learn more about his/her training and experience working with children exposed to trauma. Some questions you may consider asking include:

  • What is your educational background (degree, professional title)?

  • What are your specialties?

  • How long have you been conducting therapy?

  • What is your experience in working with youth who have experienced trauma?

  • What is your approach to working with youth who have experienced trauma?

  • Have you had any type of specialty training in the treatment of childhood trauma?

  • Do you consider yourself a “trauma-informed therapist”? How?


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