Psychotherapy: Trauma Informed Treatment
People who have experienced emotionally overwhelming events may turn to psychotherapy for help with the symptoms that often arise. These might include flashbacks, nightmares, sleep disturbance, irritability, anxiety, and avoidance of things that are reminders of the traumatic event. Trauma-informed treatment is an approach that differs from the medical model, and the traditional model of psychotherapy. In traditional models, the therapist is considered the expert, and the client the recipient of the expert's help. Even in some psychotherapy models, the therapist's task is to identify faulty beliefs, persuade the client to accept another perspective, and instruct the client to complete various tasks. The therapist may define the direction of the treatment. Nothing is wrong with those approaches - but they are not best for people who have experienced traumatic events.
In contrast to traditional models, trauma-informed treatment assumes that the client is the expert on the client's strengths, problems, needs, and goals. The therapist is an expert on the effects of trauma, information about symptoms and coping skills. Trauma-informed care is care that respects the client's expertise, assists the client to be in charge of the direction of treatment, and supports the client in making changes. It is essential that the treatment be collaborative, and that the client retains the power for making decisions in the therapy.
Why the emphasis on power for the client? Because loss of power is one of the hallmarks of a traumatic event. The person who is a victim of a crime, accident, or abuse has experienced powerlessness; it's part of what makes the event traumatic. Traditional approaches to treatment that assume the expert has all the answers, and that the client is the passive recipient of care, can be less than helpful, or even triggering or re-traumatizing. How can we expect a person who has been robbed of their power and left helpless in the face of overwhelming circumstances to respond well to a treatment in which the therapist holds the power?
Trauma-informed care seeks to create an atmosphere of safety. Many survivors of trauma cannot feel safe if someone else is in charge of their treatment. Especially important in people who were abused as children, the empowerment of the client is key to building a therapeutic alliance, a strong, collaborative relationship. Within such a relationship, the therapist educates the individual about symptoms that are often frightening, explains how they come about, and normalizes responses to trauma. For example, individuals might be afraid of returning to the place where the event happened, even though there is no present danger. Or might be having terrifying nightmares or flashbacks, reliving the traumatic event. They might feel they are going crazy. The therapist can explain the origins of these symptoms, and make recommendations to reduce the symptoms and help clients to reclaim a sense of control over their thoughts and emotions.
Dr. Anne Pratt has specialized in treatment of trauma since 1992, and has worked with countless survivors of trauma in this respectful, caring model of treatment. She practices in Springfield, Massachusetts.
copyright Anne Pratt 2010
In contrast to traditional models, trauma-informed treatment assumes that the client is the expert on the client's strengths, problems, needs, and goals. The therapist is an expert on the effects of trauma, information about symptoms and coping skills. Trauma-informed care is care that respects the client's expertise, assists the client to be in charge of the direction of treatment, and supports the client in making changes. It is essential that the treatment be collaborative, and that the client retains the power for making decisions in the therapy.
Why the emphasis on power for the client? Because loss of power is one of the hallmarks of a traumatic event. The person who is a victim of a crime, accident, or abuse has experienced powerlessness; it's part of what makes the event traumatic. Traditional approaches to treatment that assume the expert has all the answers, and that the client is the passive recipient of care, can be less than helpful, or even triggering or re-traumatizing. How can we expect a person who has been robbed of their power and left helpless in the face of overwhelming circumstances to respond well to a treatment in which the therapist holds the power?
Trauma-informed care seeks to create an atmosphere of safety. Many survivors of trauma cannot feel safe if someone else is in charge of their treatment. Especially important in people who were abused as children, the empowerment of the client is key to building a therapeutic alliance, a strong, collaborative relationship. Within such a relationship, the therapist educates the individual about symptoms that are often frightening, explains how they come about, and normalizes responses to trauma. For example, individuals might be afraid of returning to the place where the event happened, even though there is no present danger. Or might be having terrifying nightmares or flashbacks, reliving the traumatic event. They might feel they are going crazy. The therapist can explain the origins of these symptoms, and make recommendations to reduce the symptoms and help clients to reclaim a sense of control over their thoughts and emotions.
Dr. Anne Pratt has specialized in treatment of trauma since 1992, and has worked with countless survivors of trauma in this respectful, caring model of treatment. She practices in Springfield, Massachusetts.
copyright Anne Pratt 2010
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