The Techniques Used by a Trauma Counselling Therapist to Facilitate Healing

Suffering from trauma is no joke; people who have it have negative thinking behaviors and always assume the worst, which is why they tend to have avoidant behaviors. However, with the help of trauma counselling, they can get a semblance of control over their life and start living comfortably in due time. This is made possible by techniques used by a trauma counselling therapist to facilitate healing, which is what we’ll be elaborating on in today’s article.

What is a trauma counselling therapist, and what do they do?

A trauma counselling specialist refers to an individual who is a medical professional trained to help people suffering from the likes of trauma, anxiety, or PTSD to learn how to understand and manage their symptoms. They do this by creating a safe space where the patients can explore more about their feelings by understanding the root of their trauma and develop essential life skills, working slowly toward healing.

What are the common techniques used in trauma counselling?

To help people address their trauma, trauma counselling therapists use different techniques, and here are some of the most commonly used ones:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is one of the most well-used techniques used by therapists, wherein they help individuals to identify and change their negative thought patterns and behavior. It’s an effective technique that helps the individual reframe their mindset so they can learn how to manage the symptoms of their trauma better.

Psychoeducation. Another well-used technique in trauma counselling is psychoeducation, wherein the therapist will supply information about the trauma and its effects, helping their patients understand their symptoms better. It also helps normalize their experience so they feel more comfortable and learn how to accept what happened to them.

Somatic experiencing. People who suffer from trauma often have it stored inside their bodies, usually in the form of tension. One good way of releasing that is through somatic experience, wherein therapists help them relieve the symptoms of trauma from their body, like fatigue or chronic pain.

Exposure therapy. As the name suggests, this type of therapy exposes the patients to their triggers and trauma-related stimuli little by little in a controlled environment. By doing so, the patients slowly learn to desensitize from the traumatic experience.

Mindfulness-based therapy. Undergoing therapy can be pretty intense and overstimulating for some patients, which is why mindfulness-based therapy is one of the techniques used that’s more focused on the present. They can achieve this through popular practices like yoga, meditation, and breathing techniques that help regulate their intense emotions.

Grounding techniques. This one is the most used technique and can be applied daily, regardless of whether the patient is experiencing trauma symptoms. Grounding techniques involve using sensory experiences so their patients can focus on the current moment whenever they start to get overwhelmed.

These are just a few of the most commonly used techniques during trauma counselling. As important as it is to apply these techniques, it’s equally crucial first to create a safe space for the patients where they can share their experiences without the fear of being judged.

Key aspects of trauma counselling to remember.

On top of creating a safe space, here are a few other things to remember about trauma counselling.

Pace and respect the client’s boundaries. Patients deal with their trauma differently; while some can be pretty casual about it, others have a hard time processing, let alone accepting, what happened to them. It’s best to take things slow and gradually work toward what the client is comfortable enough to share with in their trauma.

Collaborate with other professionals. Although the counsellor and the patient are the two main parties involved during sessions, it helps if they can coordinate with other medical providers and even work with support groups.