What’s Different About Trauma Therapy?

Many people come into the office and say they weren’t traumatized. “Other people had it worse.” “What happened to me was nothing compared to [blank].” We hear these statements over and over because there is always a story that is worse than yours.

The reality, though, is that even relatively small painful experiences can still be painful. And if we don’t have the time, resources, or support to fully process that pain, it can get stuck and cause trauma.

Many people have been in therapy for years and love it because they feel like they can tell their counselor anything. There is certainly a place for this. But, when you have PTSD (or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), this type of therapy can actually do more harm than good. Help for PTSD is best when it is concrete help with a definite start and finish. At all times, someone working on trauma should know how close they are to the finish line.

For this reason, good PTSD help involves more directive counseling. It is normal for a trauma counselor to be very active. They might interrupt and slow you down if they notice you are becoming flooded with emotion (or disconnected and possibly dissociative). They will know how to connect the COW “Crisis of the Week” with the underlying trauma that is driving the bus. They will help keep you on course and feeling grounded throughout the work.

Find out more in a recent interview of our owner, Traci W. Pirri, LCSW-S by Alex Parnell, LMFT, host of the podcast “Designed For Healing”. You can access the interview here: https://alexparnell.com/podcast/2021/2/4/episode-4-traci-pirri-on-trauma-therapy

Did you also know you can get great, high-quality PTSD Help online? Addressing a traumatic memory is hard work. Shouldn’t you be able to do so from the comfort of your own home and at a time that is most convenient to you? We think so. Find out more here and let us know your questions and comments about PTSD Counseling below.