“I feel stuck in my past.”
“I feel like I’m going crazy.”
“I don’t know how to move forward.”
These are words often stated by those who’ve experienced trauma.
Experiencing trauma and suffering is difficult and scary. Developing deep wounds can lead to fears, anxieties, and mistrust in yourself or your child, the world, and others. It can be a lonely road. Sometimes, you or your child can question who you are and what you believe. Trauma and suffering can change you or your child. It can affect your or your child’s relationships. It can overwhelm you or your child.
Even if you or your child has experienced the evils of trauma and suffering, hope and comfort await. Through PTSD treatment and trauma therapy, you or your child can experience the healing and renewal that you’re longing for!
What Is Trauma, and What Are Trauma Symptoms?
Trauma.
This is a word we hear a lot in today’s times. So how do you know if you have experienced trauma?
Those in the trauma therapy world sort out big “T” traumas and little “t” traumas. A big “T” trauma involves a life-threatening event that may have happened to a person where the person (or someone a person may know) may have been seriously hurt or killed. Experiences of these traumas may include the following: sexual abuse, sexual assault, physical abuse, spiritual abuse, child maltreatment or neglect, witnessing or experiencing domestic abuse or interpersonal violence, experiencing and/or fleeing war or terrorism, being kidnapped, experiencing a natural disaster, or experiencing community or school violence (such as gang violence, school shooting or bullying). This is not an exhaustive list but represents events that are classically considered traumatic events. Often people who experience these events can benefit from the effects of trauma therapy or PTSD treatment.
On the other hand, little “t” traumas can be stressful life events that cause significant distress for a child, teen, or adult. Examples can include experiencing divorce, relationship difficulties or conflicts, losing a loved one, or a major transition, such as a job change or moving to another place. These events can be so distressing for a person that trauma therapy may be important for processing and moving forward from the event.
Working with a trauma therapist in trauma therapy and PTSD treatment will help you determine if you’ve experienced a big “T” or little “t” trauma.
Trauma will affect everyone differently, but there are a few categories of symptoms that a trauma therapist often hears people say they experience.
Common PTSD and Trauma Symptoms
• Avoidance: People affected by trauma will often avoid people, places, or situations that will remind them of the traumatic event. A person may or may not be aware of his or her avoidance. A child, teen, or adult may also try to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event.
• Negative mood or thoughts: Children, teens, and adults who have experienced trauma may experience depression, guilt, shame, embarrassment, anger, irritability, fear, and a range of other negative emotions. They may also experience negative or uncomfortable thoughts about themselves, others, or God. Some examples may include thinking a person does not feel safe, distrust of others, or feeling unlovable.
• Being on-edge / risky behaviors: Anxiety, feelings of “being on edge”, being jumpy, or the urge to “look over the shoulder” may be a constant struggle. Along with these struggles, people affected by trauma may engage in risk-taking behaviors, potentially causing harm to themselves or others.
• Intrusive and/or unwanted thoughts: A common report is intrusive thoughts about the traumatic event. A student may have difficulty concentrating in class because the student is constantly having thoughts about the trauma pop into his or her mind, or an adult may be tired all day at work because he or she has sleep difficulties due to nightmares or night terrors. Others may experience flashbacks. These thoughts are distressing and make it difficult for a person to carry other the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities he or she has to do.
Hope for the Hurting
The evils and suffering of trauma were not a part of God’s good design. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” God has not left you, and there is hope for you or your child!
PTSD treatment and trauma therapy can provide the healing and renewal you desire!
Our trauma therapists have experience in bringing in biblical truth, hope, and light in the midst of the darkness of trauma. As trained trauma therapists, we’ve helped numerous children, teens, and adults find the healing they need. We’re ready to come alongside you or your child, too!
How We Approach PTSD Treatment and Trauma Therapy
At Sojourner Counseling, a trauma therapist will begin by gathering your or your child’s history and listen to understand how past trauma is affecting you or your child currently. Sometimes, we use standardized measures or assessments to help us get more information. (Think of the assessments you might receive at a doctor’s office.) Then, we work together to determine what your goals for PTSD treatment and trauma therapy are. Based on this, we’ll make a recommendation for one of the approaches we use to work through trauma.
Our Trauma Approaches:
• EMDR (or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) – can be used with any age
• TF-CBT (or Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) – for ages 3-18
• CPT (or Cognitive Processing Therapy) – for ages 16 and above
• PCIT (or Parent-Child Interaction Therapy) – for ages 2.5-7
We’ll walk together on this road to healing through counseling. We will discover and remember truths about God’s heart for you or your child. Together, we will explore your or your child’s beliefs about the trauma and apply clinically proven methods to help close the gap between your or your child’s suffering and a life of healing and renewal.
Begin PTSD Treatment and Trauma Therapy in Raleigh, NC
Ready to begin you or your child’s journey towards healing and renewal?
Our Garner, NC counseling office has specialized trauma therapists who specialize in providing PTSD treatment and trauma therapy.
To start your counseling journey, follow these simple steps:
Get StartedSchedule an appointment online today!
Meet with one of our trained trauma therapists.
Start finding healing and renewal through PTSD treatment and trauma therapy!
Other Counseling Services at Sojourner Counseling
PTSD treatment and trauma therapy are just one of the many services we offer at our counseling practice. See our other services here: anxiety treatment, Christian counseling, counseling for global workers, and child therapy.