Trauma Therapy
Has A Traumatic Experience Shaped The Way You Live?
Are you worried that a painful experience from your past is negatively influencing the way you live or how you connect with others? Do you have trouble relaxing, sitting still, or feeling safe—even in ordinary situations?
Perhaps you were exposed to neglect, emotional or verbal abuse, bullying, or an environment that felt tense and uncomfortable as a child, which now impacts your ability to trust, open up, or rely on other people. Or maybe you fear rejection and abandonment so much that you jump from one relationship to another, looking for validation that never lasts.
Trauma can affect people in many different, and often unique, ways. You may be experiencing an unexplained sense of anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem even though on the outside it looks like life is good. Or you may be very withdrawn and closed off, unable to be assertive or voice your opinions without constantly second-guessing yourself.
Conversely, maybe you’re lashing out in rage or secretly sabotaging yourself in ways you can’t understand. At work, you’re either obsessed with making money or worried that others will somehow see you as an imposter, so you throw everything you have into the job. And in your personal life, your future probably feels obscured, as if the dreams you once had will never be realized.
Sometimes in life, things happen that are simply too big for any one human to handle. But with our help and caring support, you can get back to a place where you feel better—like yourself—again. In the process, you can develop self-compassion, find greater peace, and enjoy healthier, more fulfilling relationships.
Trauma Is More Common—And Often More Complex—Than You May Think
Usually, when we think about trauma, we talk about sexual assault, natural disasters, combat experience, traumatic accidents, and the like. However, trauma occurs on a spectrum, involving any experience that harms or threatens our well-being. That can include seemingly minor events, such as bullying and teasing, being ignored, losing a pet, or being left alone a lot as a child. Moreover, at the moment, Covid-19, racial injustice, and social unrest are but a handful of the powerful stressors that can bring old trauma to the surface.
Just the mere act of witnessing something traumatic can affect you years down the road. That’s because traumatic memories, by their nature, become stuck in your body and brain. If past trauma is never processed, repaired, or resolved, it can easily get triggered in the present. Instead of being filed away, relegated to the past, the memory sits in the background, unconsciously influencing everything you feel and think and do.
Over time, you may have developed ways to deal with past fear and uncertainty—patterns of behavior that ultimately do more harm than good now. And if you are a successful professional or high-achiever, it can be doubly frustrating because you are good at fixing everything else, so why not just fix yourself? Right?
Unfortunately, it’s not that easy, and many people often feel ashamed and embarrassed, thinking that they are alone in their suffering. However, it’s estimated that over 70 million* US adults will experience some kind of traumatic event within their lifetime.
So you are most certainly not alone. Please, if you would like to free yourself from the past, the talented team of trauma and PTSD counselors at Insideout Living can help you start that journey.
Trauma Treatment Offers A New Perspective On Your Experience
When we are in pain, the lens we view the world through becomes obscured. However, working with a trauma specialist offers you clarity—a chance to connect the dots between behaviors and thoughts and separate your painful experience from who you are as a person. Together, we can create new solutions for helping you live a fuller life with a greater love for yourself and stronger connections in your relationships. In time, you can decrease stress, heal the wounds of the past, and find sustainable relief from the symptoms of trauma.
At Insideout Living, we have a compassionate, defined structure that naturally creates a sense of safety and confidence in the program. After our introductory phone consultation to determine which of our trauma/PTSD therapists would best suit your needs, we’ll set you up with a 90-minute intake session. At that point, we’ll conduct an assessment designed to identify any underlying issues that may be causing or contributing to your suffering. From there, we’ll develop a targeted treatment strategy.
When treating trauma, we approach the healing process from an iceberg model. That is, what we cannot see below the surface is so much greater than the tip of the iceberg in front of us. Whether it’s fluctuating moods, a fear of loss or judgment, relationship problems, or compulsive behaviors, we need to know what lies beneath those obvious patterns that are holding you back. In time, you’ll be able to change unhealthy life patterns that you may have developed in the past and understand why they show up and exist in the first place. In the process, you’ll gain a clearer perspective of your values, your identity, and your capabilities.
The most effective approach to trauma/PTSD treatment uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and Somatic Therapy. We know that behaviors born out of trauma are learned, which means they can be unlearned. EMDR capitalizes on that fact by using a range of multi-sensory techniques to help clients reprocess painful experiences and essentially rewire how they respond to distress.
And because trauma isn’t just stored in the brain, we want to use every opportunity to engage the body for deeper healing and greater connection. Somatic Therapy helps us do that by bringing the physical body into the conversation through artistic expression, role-playing, writing, or music and movement.
We provide cutting-edge trauma and PTSD treatment services for individuals and couples as well as group therapy sessions online. And if you are trying to kickstart the healing process or want to transition out of a treatment center, we also provide trauma therapy intensives.
Additionally, our co-founder and chief engagement officer and other clinical staff are uniquely qualified to act as a clinical coach, helping clients take on specific challenges, such as changing careers or setting boundaries. In that way, our approach to healing is completely tailored to the individual.
No one can change the past. However, you can rewrite the narrative of your life.
In doing so, you’ll have the opportunity to rediscover the strength and resilience that forced you to be in survival mode. You can learn to believe in your own worth and make mindful decisions with confidence. And by working with a trauma counselor now, you help to ensure that your experience isn’t passed on generationally, perhaps changing the legacy of your family forever.
Perhaps you are considering trauma treatment but still have some concerns…
I feel like there is just something broken inside of me.
Trauma works in mysterious ways; it can make you think, feel, and believe things that are simply not true. That’s why part of the healing process involves psychoeducation—to help you understand that you are not your thoughts, your past, or your pain. You are not broken. You are just stuck in a pattern that once protected you. Once you have that awareness, you can begin replacing faulty ideas and behaviors with new, healthier ways of thinking and being.
What will people think if they see me go to therapy?
If you’re worried about seeing someone else in the waiting room, just remember, they are there for a reason too. And if you are reluctant to share your feelings with others in group therapy sessions, you should know that having that communal support can be an incredibly empowering experience.
Even so, we understand that the more comfortable you feel, the greater the chance for healing. So whether you are looking for group, couples, or individual sessions, we offer online counseling services that can be less intimidating, more convenient, and just as effective as in-person trauma therapy.
How long is the treatment process for overcoming trauma or PTSD?
The timeline for recovering from trauma varies for everyone. However, for groups, we start with 6 to 12 sessions at which point you can continue with the program, begin individual counseling, or transition out of therapy. We also offer 24-hour intensive programs that can be typically completed in no more than five weeks as well as a 40-hour intensive lasting around seven weeks. For individuals and couples, we provide 90-minute sessions to address all your needs.
Let Us Help You Find Peace With Your Past
If you are ready to take your life and your relationships back from fear and self-doubt, please call 847 328 7588 ext 501 for your free, 10 to 15-minute front-end consultation. Our intake coordinator will take down some preliminary information that will help guide our selection of your therapist.
*https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Trauma-infographic.pdf?daf=375ateT bd56
