You may not consider you life to have included trauma. Trauma is a highly misunderstood word. Many people think this refers to what I call “Big T” traumas, things like car accidents or abuse. But what about the small hurts that happen so often they build up and become a big hurt? These are the hurts that go unrecognized like being ignored or rejected by a parent or someone important to you so often it becomes normal, being told your not smart so often you believe it, feeling you do not matter to those you love the most, or that others do not like you. These too are traumas, but they are the unrecognized pain we live with daily that impacts how we feel, think, and interact with others. It can also be harder to heal from as it is often connected to so many memories and our relationships.

Trauma, to put it simply, describes anyone that has ever been hurt when that hurt lingers and continues to impact ours responses and relationships, which is most of us at one time or another in our lives. It’s not just for those with obvious injuries.

Trauma Informed Care means that the therapist is aware of the complex nature of pain, hurt, trauma, and relationships and how it can add to a person’s suffering and effect their efforts to cope with that pain. A counselor with a trauma informed approach incorporates this information into how they help. It means anyone saying their approach is trauma informed puts your emotional and mental safety as a priority while helping you heal.

Unfortunately, Trauma Informed Care is also a buzzword and people use this phrase too casually without really knowing what it means.

I want you to know what Trauma Informed Care is so you know what to look for in order to get good quality care with a therapist that is a good fit for you.

Here are some tips on how to find a trauma informed counselor that is a good fit for you. A trauma informed therapist will be aware:

1. That trauma changes how a person regulates thoughts and feelings and how we care for ourselves emotionally.

2. That the mind and body of a person with unhealed trauma is functioning in a different way. They may be easily triggered or have difficulty managing their emotions which can lead to either feeling too much or shutting down.

3. That it is important to not just focus on behavior, but on the underlying reasons for each reaction.

4. That people are often unaware of the traumas they have experienced and the therapist will need to help them recognize this so they can heal and rediscover the strengths they have.

5. That safety is important, both emotional and physical safety, and they will set the conditions or create a safe environment where healing can happen.

6. That self care, boundaries, and strategies that help you cope are important. They will talk often to you about how to use these skills.

7. That your behavior isn’t who you are as a person and how you respond makes sense given what you have been through. They will also teach you the new skills you need to manage your thoughts and feelings.

8. That they need to move at a pace you are comfortable with and will set up ways for you to let them know what pace feels best to you.

I hope this helps you find the right online or in person trauma informed therapist for you in Eureka. If you are still feeling stuck feel free to call me at (707) 954- 7060 for a free 15 minute consultation. I’d be happy to hear about what is happening and help direct you to the right person. If you are looking for help with anxiety counseling, depression counseling, or trauma counseling, you can read more about how I can help here.