Most people have had at least one traumatic episode in their life but not everyone needs therapy to deal with it. For some other people, those traumatic events are the cornerstone of their existence and without treatment, they cannot construct a scenario where they can hold onto the trauma and live a successful life. Most therapeutic methods for dealing with trauma are of the psychotherapy kind. This is a form of talk therapy where you recount the traumatic events that have marked you and find a way through discussion and analysis of your personal history to make peace with how you feel and work toward resolving these confusing and conflicting feelings and emotions. A trauma therapy center can help you heal from these traumas.
What to Expect from a Trauma Therapy Program in California
There are many effective trauma therapies. Some are used as standalone therapies while many are used in conjunction with others. Also known as talk therapy, in psychotherapy, the therapist builds trust with their client, as this is a collaborative effort to plumb the depths of the client’s mental health issues. By working together the client better understands what is troubling them and the therapist can more effectively work with them to identify and resolve these concerns. Both parties need to be actively involved in the once-weekly sessions. This is not a typical example of psychoanalysis where the therapist mostly listens for 50 minutes and then tells the client that their time is up. Here, the therapist is working as a problem solver.
3 Types of Trauma Therapy
- Somatic Therapy – We can add a third dimension to the “fight or flight” response. That would be “freeze”. This is a frozen state where you freeze as a defense mechanism. It is not uncommon for children to act this way but, as an adult, you must learn to calm your anxieties which will, in turn, calm your mind. Somatic therapy focuses on what you are feeling rather than what you are thinking.
- Havening Technique – This is a psychosensory therapy that involves brushing down the face, arms, and hands to generate a calming effect on the mind and body. A traumatic event is recalled and rated on a scale from one to ten. After the brushing, the therapist and client play a distraction game which could include counting or naming things, humming songs, or something else that leads the mind away from the traumatic memory. By distracting the mind from the traumatic event after having been drawn into a calming state by the brushing of the face, arms, and hands, the memory of the trauma seems less consequential.
- Brainspotting (BSP) – The idea behind the brainspotting technique is the concept that where you look affects how you feel. When you are asked a question that you must think about before answering you unconsciously look over the questioner’s head to ponder your answer. Brainspots are visual spots related to thoughts and memories. BSP interacts with the subcortex to handle traumas in the more undeveloped sections of the brain. This is where traumas are located in the brain.
Reach Out to Virtues Behavioral Health Today
Most people are uncomfortable discussing their trauma and up until recently, it was a taboo subject. But more and more have faced up to the guilt and shame associated with revealing their vulnerabilities. With a licensed therapist in a comfortable setting, you can finally make progress toward resolving these conflicting feelings. At Virtues Behavioral Health in Los Angeles, California we provide comfortable private therapy spaces, lounge areas with games, modern group session rooms, and coffee, tea, and refreshments. We are located in West Los Angeles and provide a warm and welcoming space to attend to your recovery and rejuvenation. We can be reached online or at 855.579.8599 for you to take the first step on your journey to wellness and recovery.
