Trauma Therapist – PTSD Therapy

trauma therapist chicago
Trauma: A Closer look

Trauma Counseling and Therapist, Chicago, IL

Looking for a trauma therapist in Chicago? Are you struggling with PTSD?  Do you need a counselor for a traumatic experience? If so, you aren’t alone. One of the major reasons people seek a therapist for psychological trauma in Chicago is because of overwhelming fear and anxiety.

Trauma Treatment

You may be wondering how we treat trauma? The answer largely depends on your unique situation and what you are comfortable with. At the Calm Anxiety CBT Therapy Clinic, we use evidence-based approaches and holistic modalities to help create meaningful change.

All of our counselors are trauma-informed therapists, meaning we take care to make sure you feel physically and emotionally safe during your session.

Examples include:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy [CBT] with mindfulness
  • Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing [EMDR] with meditations
  • Exposure Response Therapy [ERP] and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
  • CBT combined with hypnotic interventions
  • Spiritual counseling combined with meditation and CBT
  • Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) with Dialectical Behavior Therapy [DBT]

Benefits of Trauma Therapy

Trauma therapy offers several benefits to individuals who have experienced traumatic events. Here are some of the key benefits:

  • Healing and Recovery: Trauma therapy provides a structured and supportive environment for individuals to heal and recover from the effects of trauma. It allows individuals to process their traumatic experiences, address unresolved emotions, and work towards resolving the psychological and emotional impact of the trauma.
  • Symptom Reduction: Traumatic experiences often lead to a range of distressing symptoms, such as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, depression, and hypervigilance. Trauma therapy utilizes evidence-based techniques and interventions to help individuals manage and reduce these symptoms, leading to improved overall well-being.
  • Increased Emotional Regulation: Trauma can disrupt an individual’s ability to regulate emotions effectively. Therapy provides tools and strategies to help individuals develop healthy coping mechanisms, emotional regulation skills, and resilience. This can result in greater emotional stability, improved self-regulation, and a sense of empowerment.
  • Enhanced Coping Skills: Trauma therapy equips individuals with effective coping skills to manage triggers, anxiety, and other challenges related to their traumatic experiences. These skills can include relaxation techniques, mindfulness practices, grounding exercises, and cognitive restructuring. By learning and practicing these skills, individuals can better navigate daily life and cope with stressors.
  • Resolving Unprocessed Trauma: Trauma can sometimes lead to unprocessed memories and emotions that continue to impact a person’s life. Trauma therapy provides a safe and supportive space to process and integrate these unresolved aspects of the trauma. Through various therapeutic techniques, individuals can gradually work through the trauma, reducing its hold on their lives.
  • Restored Sense of Safety and Trust: Traumatic experiences often erode an individual’s sense of safety and trust in themselves, others, and the world. Trauma therapy helps rebuild this sense of safety and trust by fostering a therapeutic alliance characterized by empathy, understanding, and non-judgment. Developing a secure and trusting therapeutic relationship can extend to other areas of an individual’s life and contribute to their overall well-being.
  • Increased Self-Empowerment: Trauma therapy focuses on empowering individuals to regain a sense of control and agency over their lives. Through therapy, individuals learn to challenge negative beliefs and self-perceptions, develop self-compassion, and set healthy boundaries. This process supports individuals in reclaiming their personal power and autonomy.

It’s important to note that the benefits of trauma therapy can vary depending on individual circumstances and the specific therapeutic approach used. A qualified mental health professional can assess the unique needs of an individual and tailor the therapy accordingly.

Therapy for trauma chicago
Do I have a traumatic life event?

Do I Have Trauma?

One of the questions you may be wondering is if you have experienced trauma in the first place? While it is never a good idea to self-diagnosis, particularly over the Internet, there are some basic characteristics that are generally present (Duggan, 2018):

These include:

  • Anxiety and fear
  • Feeling hopeless and sad
  • Easily startled
  • Shock, denial, and disbelief
  • Recurring thoughts or memories of the event
  • Feeling disconnected and numb
  • Intrusive thoughts of the event
  • Avoidance behaviors
  • Confusion and loss of focus
  • Mood swings
  • Problems with sleep
  • Ruminating thoughts

Examples 

There is no way we can list all of the different situations that can lead to trauma. Instead, we will simply list several examples that our therapists have helped clients with. Keep in mind that trauma can happen by either directly experiencing these things or directly observing them.

  • Physical abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Bullying
  • Domestic violence
  • Complex grief (someone died from suicide)
  • Medical trauma
  • Military trauma
  • Forced Separation
  • Adoption issues
  • Racism and/or other forms of discrimination
  • Natural disasters
  • Terrorism

Therapy for Trauma Chicago

If you are interested experiencing trauma (PTSD) therapy, we encourage you to click on our secure contact form. Let us know about your situation and how we may be of service.

Thanks for stopping by the Calm Anxiety Therapy CBT Clinic.

Reference:

Duggan, P. (2018). Trauma-tragedy. Manchester, England: Manchester University Press. Retrieved Jun 30, 2022.