Trauma-Focused Therapy
What is trauma?
As a trauma-focused therapist, I have two answers to this question. Trauma includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, interpersonal violence, community violence, medical trauma, and natural disasters - these are the classic, major traumas. Trauma, though, can also include traumatic stressors that people don't always consider. Examples include grief, bullying, moving to a new city or neighborhood, poor school performance, adoption or foster care, divorce, and so on.
I also find that children and adolescents respond to different traumatic stressors in very different ways. One child may experience a one time traumatic event, and after a few brief sessions they are operating back to normal. Other children experience one or two traumatic stressors, and they need more consistent traumatic therapy for a longer period of time. Every individual has their own distress tolerance, and everyone responds to their stressors in very different ways.
The great news is, no matter the trauma or stress, therapy is helpful. I typically utilize a CBT framework, teaching clients about common reactions to stress and trauma; normalizing their feelings of guilt, anger, or sadness; building relaxation skills, including homework for them to practice at home; and learning about common thoughts that people have following a trauma. After this strong foundation is built over multiple sessions, clients then work on their trauma narrative - their version of what they experienced. We gradually include more and more details, making the memories feel less traumatic and upsetting over time.
This whole process requires a collaborative, compassionate approach - and it is, consistently, my favorite area to work with as a therapist.
Curious to hear more, or are you a little reluctant about counseling? Compassionate Counseling St. Louis provides specialized anxiety and anger management therapy for kids, teens, and college students. We work in Clayton, MO and serve kids, teens, and college students throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ladue, University City, Town and Country, Webster Groves, Creve Coeur, Kirkwood, Richmond Heights, and Brentwood. You can set up your free phone screening to see if we’re a good fit for your needs right on our website.