Trauma Therapy

Trauma therapy is a treatment modality that considers the biological, emotional, psychological, neurological, and social effects patients have experienced while seeking addiction treatment. Our therapists have a deep understanding of the ways trauma impacts people’s lives and the behaviors it can manifest. The cognitive behavior approach is effective in helping people overcome the residual effects of trauma experienced throughout their lives when using substances and alcohol, all the way back through childhood.

Recognizing Trauma

One of the biggest challenges in helping people overcome addiction and the mental health issues that often accompany it is recognizing the trauma that led to it and processing it successfully. Trauma-informed therapy provides the tools to do that effectively. It also helps therapists and their patients navigate the psychological, physical, and social impacts trauma can have and move towards healing, wholeness, sanity, and freedom from addiction.

Trauma Affects

To effectively treat inappropriate or dangerous behaviors, therapists recognize, understand, and help the patient properly process the trauma they have experienced. This process helps bring true healing and a profound change in their behavior.

The effects of trauma become internalized and impact the person’s mental, emotional, and physical health and relationships if left untreated. Many patients also develop incorrect beliefs as a result of experiencing trauma. Highly trained therapists assist patients in identifying the incorrect beliefs they have formed. Therapists help patients safely process traumatic events by identifying how they impacted their lives, changing misguided thoughts and beliefs, putting the event behind them, and living a healthier, more balanced life.

Dual-Diagnosis and Trauma Therapy

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMSHA) defines trauma as events or experiences that create long-lasting adverse effects on people. Research shows that substance abuse treatment programs that use trauma-informed therapy have higher success rates than other programs.

Identifying and addressing the root cause of the trauma is often the first goal of treatment. Many traumatized individuals have mental health and substance abuse issues. Dual diagnoses can complicate recovery and frustrate both patients and therapists. The therapist’s awareness of the particular patient’s mental health and substance abuse history provides the therapist with the best treatment modalities for the individual to successfully release past trauma.

Trauma-Informed Care in Addiction Treatment

A trauma-informed approach to addiction treatment recognizes and addresses trauma’s role in substance use. This approach involves:

1. Assessment: Evaluating the presence of trauma and its effects on the individual.
2. Safety: Ensuring that the therapeutic environment is safe and that the individual feels secure, which is fundamental to trauma recovery.
3. Empowerment: Helping the individual recognize their strengths and regain control over their life.
4. Evidence-based Therapies: Incorporating therapies such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to directly address and process traumatic memories.
5. Integration: Integrating trauma therapy and addiction treatment ensures that both issues are addressed simultaneously, maximizing the chances of successful recovery.

Why Do People Resist Trauma Treatment?

People may try to avoid treatment for many reasons. Some people are subconsciously avoiding the embarrassment, stigma, inconvenience, and discomfort of seeking treatment. Others rationalize those painful and dangerous events as unrelated to their addictive behavior. Lacking life tools, patients often seek solace in drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, work, or other addictions. But ignoring or hiding from the pain enables it to continue to victimize them through anxiety, depression, addiction, and destructive behaviors.

Real healing can only take place when an individual seeking treatment becomes honest and straightforward with the therapist. Trust and honesty are built up over time between the patient and therapist, enabling both parties to face the problem and identify the most effective solution.

Effective Addiction Therapy

People seeking addiction therapy will experience an unending cycle of addictive behavior and treatment unless their triggers are identified and counteracted with new beliefs. Addiction therapy will be most effective when the patient addresses the underlying factors that drove them to adopt addictive behaviors.

Trauma Treatment in Atlanta

No matter how long ago your trauma was, Emerge Healing Center provides a range of treatment options to best meet your needs. Don’t let your trauma continue to impact your health and happiness. Contact us today to learn more about our trauma therapy treatment in Atlanta and how to regain a sense of peace and normalcy on your path to mental wellness.