Trauma Informed Therapy

At Affirmative Counseling Center we treat both Acute Trauma (PTSD) and Complex Trauma (CPTSD) with evidence-based therapies providing positive outcomes. Acute trauma results from a single incident such as: combat, terrorist attacks, sudden grief (death of a loved one), physical or sexual assault, motor accidents, natural disasters (floods, earthquakes, fires) or being diagnosed with a life-threatening condition. Complex trauma is repeated, prolonged or multiple traumatic events. Often of an invasive, interpersonal nature such as: such as domestic violence, childhood abuse (physical, emotional or neglect) or bullying.

EMDR therapy is an extensively researched and effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a highly structured therapy were the client briefly focuses on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements). This is protocol significantly reduces the vividness of emotion associated with the trauma memories (your trauma response.)

Somatic Experiencing is a naturalistic approach to decrease severe emotional reactions due to trauma. We guide clients through the focused awareness of bodily sensations which unfreezes distressing and debilitating emotional and physiological reactions to trauma. This allows our client to recede the trauma and ability to return to calm and peace.
The Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM) teaches clients skills help reduce traumatic stress reactions. TRM focuses on the biological basis of trauma and the automatic survival responses that the human body uses when faced with perceived threat. Clients often report a renewed sense of hope as the activities of daily living become easier to manage as skills are incorporated into life as a wellness practice.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy is used when the trauma has come from less life-threatening situations that are still traumatic and more fear based. We teach our clients to gradually approach trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations. Most people want to avoid anything that reminds them of trauma but doing so reinforces their fears. Prolonged Exposure Therapy reverses this and allows clients to move forward without debilitating fears.