Extensive research confirms there is a strong connection between trauma and addiction disorders.
Addiction therapy programs typically provide treatment to address trauma because dealing with the source of addiction is necessary for a successful, long-term recovery. To find out about our trauma therapy program in Malibu, contact Seasons in Malibu at
424.235.2009.
What Is a Trauma?
The National Center for PTSD reports that more than 50% of people will experience trauma at some point in their lives. Trauma is an emotional reaction to a life-threatening or severely distressing event. Some examples of a traumatic event include:
- Childhood abuse or neglect
- Assault
- Natural and man-made disasters
- Chronic illness or medical trauma
- Sudden loss of a loved one
- Combat and other war-related experiences
- Sexual abuse and sexual assault
- Bullying
- Extreme poverty
- Community violence
- Accidents
- Injury
- Domestic violence or witnessing domestic violence
- Mass shooting
Trauma is not the event itself but the emotional reaction to it. Your coping skills, support system, and genetic makeup can influence how you react to an extreme situation. This explains why two people can go through the same experience, and only one of them has lingering emotional issues related to the event.
Symptoms of Trauma
Every individual has their own reactions to trauma. Some people may experience only one or two symptoms, while others experience a host of issues. The most common emotional and psychological signs of trauma include:
- Denial
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Irritability and mood swings
- Fear
- Difficulty concentrating
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
Physical trauma symptoms, such as fatigue, pain, and digestive distress, are also common.
How a Trauma Treatment Program Can Help
Trauma therapy is a type of therapy that specifically focuses on helping clients deal with emotional distress that was caused by a traumatic event. Our trauma therapy program in Malibu combines various therapeutic techniques to assist clients.Each individual receives a treatment program that is carefully customized to their unique needs, but clients seeking trauma therapy may participate in the following modalities:
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
- Cognitive processing therapy
- Prolonged exposure therapy
Individual and group therapy can also be effective for healing trauma.
3 Goals of a Trauma Treatment Program
Whichever techniques are used, a trauma therapy program has three main goals.
1. Improve Coping Skills
One of the main issues related to trauma is the idea that the person is incapable of coping with distress. Therapies that help clients build confidence in their coping skills are needed to assist with daily function.
2. Feel Safe
After experiencing a traumatic event, you may feel the world is an unsafe place. Rebuilding trust in people and systems is an important part of healing trauma.
3. Validation
The symptoms of trauma are too often dismissed by people who haven’t experienced them. People affected by trauma may be criticized, blamed, or seen as emotionally weak. Receiving validation in a professional mental health setting can lead to the self-acceptance needed to move forward.
Benefits of a Trauma Treatment Program
Trauma can negatively impact almost every aspect of your life, including relationships, career goals, and physical and mental health. Facing the pain of difficult events is challenging, but the right therapies can help you improve your quality of life.Some of the benefits of trauma treatment include:
- Identify negative thought patterns
- Learn new coping skills
- Improve connections with the people in your life
- Balance mood
- Reduce stress
Trauma therapy is effective. It can be especially helpful for
people struggling with PTSD and other trauma-related mental health concerns.
Seasons in Malibu: A Trauma Therapy Program in Malibu
Living with unresolved trauma can lead to several problems, including an increased risk of developing a substance use disorder. If you or someone you know is experiencing trauma symptoms and needs support to move forward, we can help. Contact Seasons in Malibu today at
424.235.2009 or contact us
online to learn more about our trauma therapy program.
