Trauma is yucky.  Whether therapy is for your chaotic childhood or trauma(s) occurring in your adulthood and are causing you problems in your life, working through it allows it to be a chapter in your life story but not define you.  With help you have the ability to move past your trauma and write new chapters for your life ahead.

 

There are some great therapies for trauma.  Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based trauma treatment historically researched for youth but quite frankly very effective for adults as well due to the safe structure (backed by promising research with use for adults).  According to www.tfcbt.org, "Research shows that TF-CBT successfully resolves a broad array of emotional and behavioral difficulties associated with single, multiple and complex trauma experiences."  TF-CBT helps reduce the impact of PTSD or other behavioral or emotional issues.  It is designed to be a short-term treatment from between 8-25 sessions.  However, complex trauma can take longer.

 

For all ages, the American Psychological Association recommends a few different options.  Among them they recommend Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Therapy which overlaps with TF-CBT listed above.  The Center for Evidenced Based Practices also recommends Cognitive and Cognitive Behavior Therapies.

 

I am trained in TF-CBT by the state of Michigan.  I'm also trained in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) by the state of Michigan.  PCIT is a very specialized treatment for children (ages 2 to 6) with trauma and/or behavioral problems by giving parents tools to improve their relationship with their child and consistent strategies to use to manage behaviors.  I can use helpful PCIT tools in therapy but am not providing the full model at this time.  In addition to these trainings, I am well versed in attachment theory (attachment is the bond between a young child and their caregiver and this develops our core - how we regulate our feelings, understanding cause and effect, develop relationship skills, etc.) from years of providing intensive family therapy and during my training in Infant Mental Health.  My attachment perspective is helpful to facilitate bonding and repairs between parents and their child and for adults to better understand "why" they or their child do certain things and begin to establish new skills for different behaviors.  Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a helpful model of tangeable skills which I often incorporate into sessions.  DBT focuses on mindfulness skills (resolving internal confusion about oneself, being in the present moment and practicing being non-judgemental), emotion regulation skills (understanding and managing feelings by being proactive and learning to act opposite to an urge to act in unhelpful ways), interpersonal effectiveness skills (learning effective relationship skills such as boundaries, communication and move away from black and white or extreme thinking), and distress tolerance skills (learning to manage distress/crises effectively without making problems worse).

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I understand that trauma treatment is sensitive and difficult.  I am patient, supportive, will help guide you and have resources and skills to help.

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