It’s no wonder therapy and trauma are so often linked; statistics show that one in every two American adults will face a traumatic event at some point in their life (NIMH, 2022).
With trauma affecting half of all U.S. adults, the critical role of therapy in healing has never been more relevant (NIMH, 2022).
What is Trauma?
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA) at this time defines trauma as an event or circumstance resulting in physical harm, emotional harm, and/or life-threatening harm (SAMHSA, 2022).
The traumatic event has significant, and sometimes long-lasting effects on the individual’s:
- mental health
- physical health
- emotional health
- social well-being
- and/or spiritual well-being
What is Trauma-Informed Care (TIC)?
Trauma informed care is a therapeutic framework for treatment guided by principles set forth by SAMHSA. These principles are: safety, trustworthiness & transparency, peer support, collaboration & mutuality, empowerment & choice, and cultural, historical & also gender issues. With trauma-informed care, these principles should guide how an organization and/or clinician approach therapy. However, this care does not mean that therapy will be centered around a client’s experiences with trauma.
What is Trauma-Focused Therapy (TF)?
Trauma-focused therapy centers treatment around the impacts of trauma or a traumatic event. This type of therapy emphasizes the role of trauma in a client’s life. The goal of TF therapy is to assist a client in understanding, coping with, and then processing emotions and behaviors related to specific traumatic events they’ve experienced.
If you’re looking for a skilled and understanding therapist, we encourage you to reach out. Let one of our therapists help you start your journey toward a brighter, more balanced tomorrow. Schedule your session today.
Sources:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Mental health information. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health
National Institute of Mental Health. (2022). Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
