Trauma Therapy
In-Person in the Suwanee, Alpharetta & Cumming Area | Online in Georgia
You might be wondering, what exactly is trauma? The word "trauma" comes from the Greek word meaning "wound." While a wound typically refers to a physical injury, it can also represent an emotional or psychological injury, often caused by a distressing or painful event. Physical wounds usually heal with treatments like surgery, antibiotics, or bandages. However, psychological wounds—what we call trauma—don’t always heal with time. Instead, these traumas often persist in the emotions, memories, and even the bodies of those who have experienced them.
In recent years, there has been a growing focus on trauma and trauma treatment, which is a positive development for those who have suffered in silence or endured horrific experiences.
However, many people who haven’t experienced events like rape, sexual abuse, mass shootings, or natural disasters might question whether they, too, have "trauma" and if they need trauma treatment.
What Happens When You Experience Trauma
Whether you experience one trauma or multiple traumas, it is normal to experience stress reactions to them. When you encounter a threat, you experience a stress response controlled by your nervous system. Stress hormones are released when we encounter a threat that causes fight, flight or freeze responses. Once the threat is over, the nervous system should return to equilibrium. Many people who experience trauma do not automatically return to pre-trauma equilibrium. Traumatic events can leave you with a high level of arousal. Common reactions to trauma:
You may experience physical reactions such as:
Having an upset stomach and trouble eating
You have a hard time falling asleep
You might notice your heart pounding, breathing rapidly and feeling shaky
Sweating
You have severe headaches if you’re thinking of the event
You struggle with motivation to keep up with exercise, diet, or regular health care
You find yourself smoking more or using alcohol/drugs more
Eating too much or not eating enough
Your ongoing medical problems get worse
Feeling on guard or alert all the time
Feeling jumpy and easily startled at sudden noises
Unable to concentrate or make decisions
You may experience emotional/relational struggles such as:
Feeling nervous, helpless, fearful, sad
Feeling shocked, numb, or not able to feel love or joy
Being irritable or having angry outbursts
Getting easily upset or agitated
Blaming yourself or having negative views of oneself or the world
Being unable to trust others, getting into fights, or trying to control everything
Being withdrawn, feeling rejected, or abandoned
Feeling detached, not wanting intimacy
Having dreams or memories that upset you
Avoiding people, places and things that remind you of the event
The Impact of Untreated Trauma
Left untreated, people develop any number of problems resulting from trauma:
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Depression
Self-blame, guilt and shame
Suicidal thoughts
Anger or aggressive behavior
Alcohol or drug use
Experiencing trauma can be overwhelming and often leads to long-term emotional and physical effects. One condition that may develop is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
What Happens When You Develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
It is estimated that 70% of people in the US have experienced a trauma but most do not develop PTSD. In fact, only about 6% of people develop PTSD. Common symptoms of PTSD include:
Flashbacks, or feeling like the event is happening again
Trouble sleeping or nightmares
Feeling alone or detached from others
Losing interest in activities
Having angry outbursts or other extreme reactions
Feeling worried, guilty, or sad
Frightening thoughts
Having trouble concentrating
Having physical pain like headaches or stomach aches
Avoidance of memories, thoughts, or feelings about what closely associated with traumatic events
Problems remembering
Negative beliefs about themselves or others
Irritability
Feeling hypervigilant
Startling easily
If you’re wondering if your experience might indicate you have PTSD or another mental health condition, contact us today for an assessment.
Do I Need Trauma Treatment?
You may be questioning whether trauma treatment is the right next step for you --- and that’s okay. You do not need to have a diagnosis of PTSD to need trauma treatment. It may seem clear that experiences like sexual abuse, war, and rape are forms of trauma. So, if you haven’t gone through these, you might question whether you’ve experienced trauma at all. To help you reflect, consider the following experiences:
Neglect
Growing up with a parent struggling with substance addiction
Being a victim of emotional, verbal, or physical abuse
Death of a parent during childhood
Growing up with a parent who has a mental illness
Experiencing parental divorce as a child
Suffering from severe physical health problems or loss of mobility
Chronic pain or chronic illness
Being bullied as a child
Being a victim of infidelity
Being rejected by a friend group
Surviving a car accident
Witnessing a loved one die
Multiple relocations as a child
Death of a pet
Even if these experiences don’t seem as severe as others you’ve heard of, they can still have a profound impact on your emotional well-being. These are just some examples of events that can leave lasting psychological wounds. If any of these resonate with you, it may be helpful to explore trauma treatment.
What Does Trauma Treatment Look Like?
Starting trauma treatment can feel overwhelming and even a bit scary. We understand that having lived through trauma, it is normal to be reluctant to revisit experiences that have caused you deep pain. You might be wondering what trauma treatment actually involves, or even if it is possible to feel better. At Paraclete Counseling Center, we believe that healing is possible, and we’re committed to walking alongside you every step of the way.
When you come to us for trauma treatment, here’s what you can expect:
A Safe Space: We will create a safe space where you can feel heard, valued and supported. We know how difficult it can be to face the past, and we’re here to listen, not judge.
Moving at Your Own Pace: There’s no set timeline for healing so we will go at a pace you are comfortable with. We’ll be with you every step of the way. Our approach is paced according to your needs, ensuring that you are always in control of your healing journey.
Understanding Your Particular Experience: Your trauma story is personal, and so is your treatment. We will work together to assess the impact of your trauma and develop a plan specifically designed for you.
Learning Coping Skills: We’ll equip you with a toolkit of practical techniques to confront the challenges trauma can bring. Together, we’ll explore ways to:
Calm your body and mind with body-based interventions, manage overwhelming emotions with self-regulation techniques like grounding and mindfulness, identify and change negative thought patterns, including self-blame, to recognize and cope with trauma triggers in your daily life. Our goal is to help you feel more empowered by integrating these skills into your daily life.
Processing Your Memories: When you are ready, we will use proven techniques to help you process your traumatic experiences such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), which is a highly effective therapy for trauma. In addition to EMDR, our therapists are trained in somatic therapies, Internal Family Systems (IFS), attachment theory, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).
In EMDR treatment, clients focus briefly on traumatic memories while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation using eye movements, tones or tapping. EMDR therapy is a preferred method of treatment because it does not require the client to talk in detail about the distressing event and clients experience significant relief in fewer sessions than talk therapy.
Several therapists at Paraclete are trained to utilize EMDR: Lisa Poore | Kami Legg | Corrie Brewton
Reconnecting with Yourself and Others: Trauma can severely impact relationships. It can make you feel disconnected from yourself and others. We will help you work through attachment issues, rebuild trust, and set boundaries. If necessary, we can provide couples therapy if trauma is affecting your intimate relationship.
Looking Forward to the Future: While we work through your past experiences, our ultimate goal is to help you build the life you want. We’ll support you in becoming resilient, adaptable and mentally healthy.
For those who wish to incorporate faith into their trauma treatment, we will compassionately support you as you wrestle with questions about God in relation to your traumatic experiences. We will respect your personal journey and can assist you in examining how your beliefs intersect with your healing process.
I Am Not Sure I’m Ready, but I Want to Explore Trauma Treatment
We understand that thinking about facing painful traumatic memories can feel overwhelming, and it’s completely normal to feel unsure. At Paraclete Counseling Center, we are here to support you at your own pace and create a safe space where you can begin your healing journey. Our first priority is helping you develop coping strategies to manage difficult emotions, so you feel prepared when the time comes to address your trauma. There’s no rush—you can take things one step at a time.
I Am Ready for Trauma Treatment
If you recognize that you’re a survivor of trauma and are ready to begin treatment, we’re here to help. Our trauma-informed therapists will provide an assessment, make recommendations, and work with you to create a personalized treatment plan.
