Trauma Therapy
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Trauma is an unfortunately common experience – and untreated psychological trauma can have a profound negative effect on virtually all parts of a person’s life. It is a risk factor for many disorders, including anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and addiction. But when a person receives appropriate care at a reputable trauma therapy program, they can achieve significant improvements in quality of life.
What is Trauma-Informed Care?
Multiple studies indicate that 60%-70% of people will have at least one traumatic experience over the course of their lifetime.
Trauma-informed care is an overarching approach that acknowledges the likelihood that patients will have a history of trauma, and that their traumatic experiences can impact many areas of their lives, including how they respond to treatment. Trauma-informed care also places great emphasis on taking appropriate steps to avoid re-traumatizing patients.
The principles of trauma-informed care can be applied to a variety of treatment environments, including hospitals and doctors’ offices, mental health treatment programs, and addiction rehab facilities. These principles can be beneficial for people who are receiving treatment at all levels of care, including residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and traditional outpatient programs.
What Are the 5 Principles of Trauma-Informed Care?
The five guiding principles of trauma-informed care are safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment. Here are some additional details about how each of these principles may be reflected in treatment for substance use disorders (addiction):
- Safety: It is important to ensure that patients feel physically and emotionally safe while they are receiving care. Addiction treatment facilities, trauma therapy programs, and other care centers that adopt a trauma-informed approach will have policies in place to protect patient safety as well as reporting protocols to address safety threats if and when they occur.
- Trustworthiness: Treatment providers must demonstrate to patients that they are worthy of being trusted. Clearly communicating treatment goals, explaining all procedures, and maintaining healthy boundaries can be vital components of this effort. Establishing trustworthiness may be particularly important in a trauma therapy program or an addiction treatment center, where patients may need to discuss painful personal topics and otherwise place themselves in vulnerable positions in order to achieve true and lasting healing.
- Choice: Many people who have struggled with substance use disorders and untreated trauma feel as though they have lost (or been denied) control of their lives. A trauma-informed approach will incorporate ways for patients to play active roles in their treatment, including being involved in treatment-related decisions when appropriate.
- Collaboration: Collaboration and control are closely related. Instead of simply telling patients what they will be doing, trauma-informed therapists, counselors, and other caregivers will explain why they have selected certain therapies or activities and solicit feedback from their patients. This promotes a sense of active collaboration between the patients and the members of their treatment team.
- Empowerment: Safety, trustworthiness, choice, and collaboration all contribute to patient empowerment. When patients feel valued and included, they may be more likely to have a positive treatment experience and an improved outlook on their future.
Acknowledgement of and sensitivity toward factors such as race, gender, and culture can also be essential components of trauma-informed care. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have created a modified list of principles that includes these issues:
- Safety
- Trustworthiness & transparency
- Peer support
- Collaboration & mutuality
- Empowerment & choice
- Cultural, historical & gender issues
About Our Trauma Therapy Programs
We understand that everyone who struggles with trauma is impacted in a unique way, and we are committed to providing a truly personalized experience to each patient who chooses to heal at one of our facilities.
We conduct thorough intake assessments so that our treatment professionals understand the full scope of each patient’s needs. We then use the information from these assessments to determine the optimal level of care for the individual and to develop their personalized treatment plan.
In addition to quality clinical services, our trauma therapy programs are also characterized by our unwavering commitment to comprehensive support within a safe and welcoming environment.
We realize that untreated trauma can undermine a person’s self-confidence and self-esteem, and we work closely with each patient to remind them that they are valuable individuals who are worthy of being treated with compassion and respect.
Facilities We Provide Trauma Therapy At
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Types of Trauma
In the context of mental and behavioral health, trauma refers to the psychological response that occurs in the aftermath of one or more life-threatening events. The following are examples of the many experiences that can lead to trauma:
- Military combat
- Physical attacks
- Sexual assault
- Being neglected as a child
- Verbal or online harassment
- Car accidents
- Serious illnesses
- Tornadoes, earthquakes, and other extreme weather
- Acts of terrorism
- Kidnapping
A person can be negatively impacted by one traumatic event, multiple events, or continued exposure to trauma (such as being regularly abused or neglected during childhood).
In addition to being affected by direct involvement in a traumatic event, people may also develop psychological distress after witnessing such an event or learning the details of a loved one’s traumatic experience. People who are frequently exposed to the aftermath of traumatic occurrences, such as emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and other first responders, may also have an elevated risk for being traumatized.
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The Connection Between Trauma and Substance Abuse
There is a strong connection between trauma and substance abuse. Having a history of untreated trauma is a risk factor for several mental and behavioral health concerns, including substance abuse and addiction.
Some people who have been impacted by trauma use alcohol or other drugs in a misguided attempt to self-medicate. Unable to process their experiences in a healthy manner, they use substances to numb themselves to their emotional pain. While this may provide fleeting moments of respite, it will typically only serve to exacerbate the problem
The longer a person engages in substance abuse as a means of blocking out traumatic memories, the greater their risk becomes of incurring additional harm, including the development of an addiction.
Types of Trauma Therapy
Trauma therapy programs may incorporate a variety of services and techniques, such as the following:
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: EMDR therapy was developed by Francine Shapiro, PhD, in the late 1980s. This type of therapy uses rapid eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation to help people overcome the emotional distress that is associated with specific traumatic memories.
- Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT): TF-CBT was developed in the 1990s as a means of helping adolescents who had a history of sexual abuse. Through the years, it has proved to be an effective element of care for children, adults, and families. TF-CBT helps patients replace self-defeating thought and behavior patterns with healthier ways of thinking and acting.
- Red light therapy: This treatment technique, which is also sometimes referred to as photobiomodulation, uses exposure to near-infrared light (NIR) to help people experience relief from symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental health concerns.
How Our Trauma Therapy Program Works
Our trauma therapy program works by connecting patients with the types and levels of care that align most closely with their needs, preferences, and goals.
Depending on several personal factors, a person may receive trauma-informed care at one or more of the following levels:
- Detoxification
- Residential treatment
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Outpatient treatment
Find a Trauma Therapy Program Near You
Creekside Recovery Network offers life-affirming trauma therapy programs at facilities in several convenient locations. When you choose one of our trauma therapy treatment centers, you can expect to receive customized care and compassionate support from a team of dedicated professionals. Contact us today to learn more about trauma-informed care for substance use disorders and mental health concerns.