Psychological Trauma is from a stressful threatening event that is beyond our usual range of experiences and that we don’t have the psychological resources to adequately manage at the time. Trauma can be from a single event or a series of events over time. How we cope and recover from trauma will depend on how our brain responds at the time. For example, some parts may shut down while some may wind up their sensitivity. Recovery may be quick or it may have long-term effects.
Long-term trauma effects may mean that a different approach to counselling is required. This may especially be so when there has been betrayal trauma or emotional abuse that has resulted in reduced ability to form a trusting therapeutic relationship or work with other more confronting therapeutic techniques.
It is important, therefore, for counsellors to be aware that post-traumatic stress may be a factor when working with clients and to modify their therapy accordingly
For this, I have completed the course “2 Day Intensive Trauma Treatment Certification Workshop: EMDR, CBT and Somatic Based Interventions to Move Clients from Surviving to Thriving” run by Megan Boardman through the Professional Development People.
I have also experienced trauma personally from intimate partner emotional abuse and am aware of how debilitating and long-term the effects can be.