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Counseling for Trauma
Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime, such as a car accident, abuse or neglect (any form – physical, emotional/psychological, verbal, sexual), the death of a loved one, a violent criminal act, exposure to the violence of war, a natural disaster, the COVID-19 Pandemic. But Trauma doesn't just include the "Big T's," but also the "Little T's," such as a breakup/divorce (especially from an abusive/narcissistic partner), getting fired from a job, feeling betrayed by a loved one, or even moving to a new location. These experiences can all be threatening and cause injury to the nervous system.
While many people can recover from trauma over time with the love and support of family and friends and bounce back with resiliency, others may discover effects of lasting trauma, which can cause a person to live with deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or posttraumatic stress during or far after the event has passed.
In these circumstances, the support and guidance of a therapist is fundamental to healing from trauma.
Here are the different modalies I use in my practice to address trauma:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – changing negative thought patterns & core beliefs about self & others
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy – Mindfulness (learning how to enjoy the present moment), Distress Tolerance (learning how to tolerate stress), Emotion Regulation (learning how to manage emotions), Interpersonal Effectiveness (learning better communication & relationship skills)
- Narcissistic Abuse Recovery - all of these modalies listed, see more details here
- Exposure & Response Prevention Therapy – reducing anxious responses to trauma triggers through exposure in "baby steps"
- Brain/Body Based Work such as Emotion Freedom Technique (also known as “Tapping” to process emotions and reduce stress), Trauma Informed Tai Chi/Qi Gong (slow paced, relaxing way to relieve stress and tension), Trauma Informed Yoga (fixed poses to release stress and tension), Breath Work (respiration training to reduce Fight or Flight response), NeuroSomatic techniques (brain + body), Trauma Informed Dance/Movement Therapy (to release trapped symptoms of trauma stored in the body), Trauma Informed Martial Arts/Kickboxing (to empower the client to take back control of their body), Energy Psychology (moving and creating energy in the body)
- Polyvagal Theory Techniques based in Neuroscience incorporating the Vagus Nerve (largest cranial nerve in the body connected to the “Fight or Flight”/Freeze Response) to calm the nervous system
- Object Relations/Psychodynamic Theory– discovering root cause of unmet needs and how adult behaviors have been affected from adverse childhood relationships/experiences
- Spiritual Work (if desired) – Exploring how trauma has affected belief in Higher Power
Trauma Symptoms
According to the four types of symptoms listed in the DSM-5:
Avoidance Symptoms
- Avoiding specific locations, sights, situations, and sounds that serve as reminders of the event
- Anxiety, depression, numbness, or guilt
Re-experiencing Symptoms
- Intrusive thoughts, nightmares or flashbacks
Hyperarousal Symptoms
- Anger, irritability, and hypervigilance
- Aggressive, reckless behavior, including self-harm
- Sleep disturbances
Negative Mood and Cognition Symptoms
- Loss of interest in activities that were once considered enjoyable
- Difficulty remembering details of the distressing event
- Change in habits or behavior since the trauma
Please contact me to schedule a free 30 minute consultation or ask any questions.
Have some questions first?
You can always email me directly at coaching@leahpetrucci.com
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