Trauma counselling is a very specialized area of practice and requires specific trauma training with a reputable educational institution. Treating children and adults for trauma requires years of experience in order perform this type of counselling.
Trauma counselling targets negative feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that follow a sudden distressing event, or a prolonged negative experience like abuse. Sometimes these incidences lead to signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Events such as a physical attack, a break-in/burglary, or an accident can bring on symptoms such as:
- intrusive recollections of the distressing event
- changes in sleep
- recurrent vivid dreams of the distressing event
- short tempered
- flashbacks
- self-esteem changes (i.e self-doubt, decrease in self-worth)
- feeling numb or empty
- poor concentration
- feeling detached
- needing to be ultra-alert
- avoidance of activities and/or places that arouse distressing memories
- guilty feelings
- anxiousness
- depression
Similar to talk therapy methods such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and The Flash Technique are effective approaches to treating trauma.
For a non-verbal approach, Sandtray Therapy, is an option for clients to work through thoughts, feelings, and trauma.
Call or contact me if you have any questions about trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, EMDR, and/or trauma counselling and we can talk about a treatment plan that best suits you or your child.