How Do I Get Through A Trauma

Before I begin, please be aware that people who have experienced a hate crime, sexual assault/rape, molestation, assault, domestic violence, and/or battery may qualify to receive free therapy. If you call me, I can assess your situation to tell you if you qualify for victims of crime funding which would give you free therapy for 40 sessions (and possibly more).

I have worked with victims of trauma and abuse for over 15 years. I have been trained on many different methods to helping a client through their trauma so that they can begin living without PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) symptoms. Many people come to therapy because of the nightmares, trouble sleeping, having flashbacks, and having intimacy issues because they cannot let their guard down. For 10 years I worked using strictly a “person centered” approach to therapy. That means that I would let the survivor tell their story in their own way and not really guide them much. My main job was to make sure they felt safe and figured out ways to be safe. This process took a very long time, but it was what some people really needed. Since then, I have been trained in TF-CBT, which stands for Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This type of therapy is much more directive and is based on research. It entails actually retelling the story of what happened so the person creates new associations with the trauma with relaxation (which is learned in therapy) instead of fear. Research has shown that this type of therapy is effective in reducing symptoms (some of which are listed above), but is not always the preferred choice for survivors.
The beauty of one therapist knowing both approaches is that the client can choose what they feel most comfortable with and the therapist can assess for the appropriateness of each method for the particular client.

If you would like to know more about options you have for therapy to help with the trauma that you have experienced, please call me or email me and I can talk to you about each approach and how each may benefit you in your particular situation. Then you can decide which you think would be most comfortable for you.

If you are looking for an therapy in Long Beach for PTSD or trauma, please give me a call to ask me a question or to set up an appointment.