Navigating Trauma: Understanding the Role of Trauma-Informed Therapy

Trauma can take many forms. It can include the loss of a loved one, your partner, or a family member. It can include experiencing a serious debilitating accident or injury, the loss of a limb, the end of a long marriage or relationship, or even the loss of your employment. Ultimately, trauma is not just associated with death. It can include any loss serious enough to impact your mental health, relationships, outlook on life, and ability to go about your daily life. If you are suffering from trauma, it often seems as if there’s no way out. However, there is, and it comes from trauma-informed therapy.

So, what is trauma-informed therapy? Simply put, it involves a licensed therapist working with you to help you navigate trauma. At the Truth Center for Health & Healing, our licensed therapists are compassionate, caring, and empathetic therapists with a wealth of experience helping people like yourself navigate the often painful and confusing world of loss.

Our therapists focus on creating a connection with you to ensure you have the support, assurance, and insight you need to navigate this difficult period of your life. This connection includes our therapy professionals being mindful and aware of how your trauma is impacting your life, your mental health, your relationships, and your overall well-being. Our anxiety counselors in Philadelphia are here to help. 

Now, the question becomes how you can prepare yourself for a trauma-informed therapy session. Here are some helpful tips.

Be Patient With Yourself

Understand that overcoming trauma may take longer than you anticipate. This is not a race, and there is no timeline for overcoming loss. What is most important is that you work with our therapist and make gradual improvements. Focus on taking small, incremental steps. With each step, you’ll be that much closer to coming to terms with the loss you’ve experienced.

Forgive Yourself

It’s not uncommon for people to blame themselves for loss or trauma. For many, there is always this idea that they could have done something differently to change a given outcome. Unfortunately, this guilt is just a revolving door and does not lead to any improvement. If you find yourself feeling guilty over a loss or trauma, then our therapist can help you not only come to terms with the trauma but also become more forgiving of yourself.

You Can’t Erase Memories

The idea that you can erase whatever memories you have about a loss is simply not possible. The memories will always be there, but overcoming loss through therapy is about coming to terms with that loss and moving forward. The goal is for you to accept the loss, understand that it is but one chapter in a long life, and slowly but surely rebuild your relationships and mental health.

There is no Shame in Therapy

Even to this day, for some people, there is a stigma to seeing a therapist. For these individuals, it’s often viewed as a sign of weakness. However, there is nothing weak about wanting help to move past a traumatic experience in your life. If anything, it’s bold and takes confidence to decide to tackle trauma.

If you are someone who needs trauma therapy but feels somewhat ashamed, stop. Navigating a life-changing experience or loss alone is largely why you may have withdrawn from relationships and why you may be suffering from depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues.

If you’ve thought about seeing a therapist, then that’s the all-important first step. It’s you recognizing that you deserve better. It’s your understanding that the current situation you are experiencing is untenable. We offer therapy for men in Philadelphia so you can open up in a safe environment and work through that trauma. 

The Truth Center For Health & Healing: Your Wellness Partner

To ensure the connection between yourself and your therapist is built on trust, our therapists take the necessary steps to avoid triggering emotions and memories that may cause unnecessary anguish or pain. With a constant focus on recovery, each therapy session will help bring you one step closer to moving past this period in your life.

If you are currently dealing with loss or trauma and need help, contact us now.