top of page
Search
Kimberly Bayer

Trauma-Informed Counselling

"Remembering and telling truth about terrible events are prerequisites

both for the restoration of the social order and for the healing of individual victims."

"But far too often secrecy prevails, and the story of the traumatic event surfaces

not as a verbal narrative but as a symptom." ~ Judith Herman (1)

Definition of Trauma

According to Dr. Peter Levine, a well-known trauma specialist, "trauma is about loss of connection - to ourselves, our bodies, to our families, and to the world around us"(2). Yet, because this loss of connection does not happen all at once, instead it occurs subtly, slowly over time, it is often difficult to recognize. Individuals with trauma may recognize that they don't feel right and then the real difficulty emerges when issues of self-esteem, self-confidence, general well-being, and connections to others and life in general become overwhelming issues(2). In sum, trauma can occur "when our ability to respond to a perceived threat is in some way overwhelmed"(2). From non-Western perspectives, trauma is also understood, not as a disorder, but as a wound (3). Duran has referred to the depths of traumatic injury as the soul wound (4).


Commonly misunderstood, trauma does not always manifest after a major tragedy. Medical procedures, vehicular accidents, loss of loved ones, or natural disasters have also been linked to trauma. Regardless of the cause, trauma is trauma, and individuals can be traumatized by any event that they consciously or unconsciously perceive to be life threatening(2). Of course there are obvious causes of trauma (childhood abuse (including abandonment, betrayal and neglect), experiencing or witnessing violence, rape, severe illnesses or injuries, and war) and less obvious causes of trauma, which usually involve a "felt sense", such as being left alone, birth stress (mother or baby), falls, invasive medical procedures, or prolonged immobilization(2).


Symptoms of Trauma

The following are not exclusively symptoms of trauma; however, they are commonly associated with trauma: Hyper-arousal (physical symptoms, e.g., difficulty breathing, sweating, and muscular tension), constriction (e.g., feeling numb or shutdown), dissociation and denial (e.g., a defense and survival mechanism, denying that the event took place or minimizing its impact), and feelings of helplessness, immobility, or freezing (in response to an overwhelmed nervous system)(2). Other symptoms include: Addictive behaviours, avoidance behaviours, exaggerated startle responses, hyper-vigilance and being on guard, intrusive memories or flashbacks, and nightmares or sleep disturbances. As well, symptoms that develop over time include: Chronic fatigue, chronic pain, depression or feelings of doom, diminished emotional responses, and feelings of detachment. Importantly, when trauma is healed, these symptoms will disappear(2).


Responses to Trauma Symptoms

Common responses to trauma include avoidance of people, places, and situations. It follows, then, that trauma gradually restricts an individual's participation in work and leisure activities, and impairs the ability to connect with others(2).


Trauma-Informed Counselling

Medications may be used to treat the symptoms of trauma, but in and of themselves, are ineffective as they cannot reach the root of the problem (2). This is why counselling and psychotherapy are key components of the healing process. Trauma-informed counselling practice is a framework of understanding, and an approach to therapeutic interventions that takes into account the neurological, biological, psychological, and social effects trauma has on an individual(5). More information and resources are available on the Mental Health and Substance Use Support website(6).

Solomon & Siegel (2003)

References


1. Herman, J. (1997). Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence - from domestic abuse to political terror. New York, NY: Basic Books/Perseus Books.


2. Levine, P. (2005). Healing trauma: A pioneering program for restoring the wisdom of your body. Boulder, CO: Sounds True Inc.


3. Burstow, B. (2005). A critique of post-traumatic stress disorder and the DSM. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 44(2), 144-154.


4. Duran, E. (2006). Healing the soul wound: Counseling with American Indian and other Native peoples. New York, NY: Teachers College, Columbia University.


5. Crisis Prevention Institute. (2019). Trauma-informed care resources. Retrieved from https://www.crisisprevention.com/Blog/November-2018/Trauma-Informed-Care


6. Mental Health and Substance Use Support. (2019). Trauma and abuse. Retrieved from https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/mental-health-support-in-bc/trauma-and-abuse


Resources


Barbershop films. (2019). Skids (Documentary). A true story of mistaken identity, and a film that follows a unique school and a group of students on their journey to overcome the effects of trauma, judgement, and the labels cast upon them. Retrieved from https://skidsdoc.com/


Underwood, E. (2019). Hormone secreted by bones may help us escape danger. Retrieved from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).


Image: Solomon, M. & Siegel, D. (2003). Healing Trauma: Attachment, Mind, Body, and Brain. New York, NY: W. W. Norton.

37 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

留言


bottom of page