Trauma Therapy
“By facing our challenges and overcoming them, we grow stronger, wiser, and more compassionate.” – John Templeton
While it is natural to try and protect our well-being, certain situations are out of our control. Trauma can affect anyone, no matter your age, ethnicity, or gender. When left untreated, your mental health can take a serious decline, and even result in a crisis situation.
In Arizona, over 1 million residents are living with a mental health condition. For many, this stems from past trauma that was never addressed. MIND 24-7 understands the need for urgent mental health care in our communities, which is why we offer prompt and compassionate care. Our trauma therapy program addresses and helps you heal from past traumas in a safe environment.
What We Treat: Trauma and Associated Mental Health Conditions
Experiencing trauma comes with negative effects that, when left untreated, can be detrimental to your mental health. Anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder can develop due to trauma, causing fear and worry that interfere with your daily life. These are often accompanied by physical symptoms, including insomnia, unexplained pains, and nausea. When confronted with a trigger, panic quickly arises and can result in a mental health crisis, which is an emergency.
At MIND 24-7, we are able to assess and stabilize those experiencing a crisis quickly and effectively, no matter their age or mental health background. Unlike going to the emergency room, you will receive urgent treatment and crisis stabilization care from our dedicated and compassionate team. Your care team will then discuss past trauma and any mental health conditions you may be affected by, creating a treatment plan to begin healing.
How We Treat: MIND 24-7’s Approach to Trauma Care
When you come into MIND 24-7, our first step is providing an assessment. It does not matter if you are in a crisis now or if you have experienced one in the past – our team ensures you receive prompt care upfront. The assessment process will give our team insight into your mental health and the basis of a treatment plan.
After you are stabilized and a treatment plan is created, you will have a schedule of when trauma therapy will take place. This is through our Progressions program, where you will come to the facility for therapy sessions and medication management. Each session is conducted in a group or individual setting, providing peer support and a safe space to talk one-on-one.
What Is Trauma? Defining Causes and Symptoms
Trauma is a response to a situation or event that was extremely distressing. When left untreated, the thoughts and emotions of the event can become overwhelming, leading to further psychological decline.
Examples of a traumatic experience include:
- Living through a natural disaster
- Losing a loved one suddenly
- Experiencing a form of abuse (physical, mental, sexual, emotional, etc.)
- Witnessing a violent crime
- Fighting for the military
- Being involved in an accident, such as a vehicle collision
When one or more of these are experienced, the person will have symptoms related to the trauma. They may have flashbacks of the event, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and persistent feelings of fear. Physical symptoms include headaches, nausea, and muscle tension.
When Trauma Becomes PTSD
Trauma is used to describe a distressing event, while post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that stems from a traumatic experience, typically beginning around 3 months after. Experiencing a traumatic event does not guarantee the development of PTSD. Factors such as the severity of the trauma, the person’s vulnerabilities, and the presence of risk factors influence whether PTSD will occur.
What Trauma Therapy Entails
Healing from trauma takes time and specialized care. Enrolling in a trauma therapy program will give you the skills needed to heal from the event and move forward with your life. Therapy at MIND 24-7 will consist of individual and group sessions that focus on acknowledging the trauma, learning your triggers, and implementing coping strategies for the future.
Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma has a prolonged effect on mental health and requires a care team that is well-versed in the subject. At MIND 24-7, our dedicated team of professionals are experts in trauma-informed care, providing a safe and supportive environment for healing. The basis of trauma-informed care is to build trust and have transparency in communication, ensuring a nurturing and empowering atmosphere.
Exploring the Types of Trauma Therapy
There are different types of therapy that work to address and heal trauma. Below are common ones we offer at MIND 24-7:
Prolonged Exposure (PE)
Prolonged exposure (PE) therapy works by recalling the traumatic event to process the negative emotions attached to it. This often begins with discussing the details of the event in therapy sessions to improve comfort. Eventually, the person is able to be exposed to triggers in real life, such as certain places or situations. The end goal is to reduce overall feelings of anxiety and fear, allowing the person more freedom in their life.
Our team at MIND 24-7 practices PE in a safe setting, ensuring your comfort as you confront your trauma.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is specific in addressing past traumas. The person will focus on a specific traumatic memory while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation, most commonly eye movements. The goal is to reduce distressing emotions associated with the memories in order to alleviate anxiety and fear. MIND 24-7 has professionals who specialize in EMDR and provide effective treatment options.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy used to change negative thought patterns, behaviors, and emotions into positive ones. CBT is one of the most commonly utilized methods for treating anxiety and trauma. Your therapist at MIND 24-7 will work with you to develop healthy coping skills for managing anxiety in the future.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is designed to help heal trauma by challenging unhelpful or untrue thoughts within the memory. An example would be someone who has experienced abuse, believing they deserved it or that it was their fault. CPT addresses these feelings and works to change them into productive and true thoughts.
At MIND-24-7, we provide CPT in a compassionate setting where you will feel comfortable expressing your thoughts and learning to heal.
Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)
When a trauma is experienced, pieces of the memory can become lost or fragmented, creating an unclear picture of what truly happened. Narrative exposure therapy (NET) helps bridge the gaps between, creating a collective and coherent narrative of the event. Once this is established, the person will focus on recalling their life story, including more positive memories. Trauma can become a person’s identity and what they use to define their life. NET teaches how to incorporate other memories and points in life to add depth to identity, so the person is not always thinking about their trauma.
Your therapist at MIND 24-7 will work with you through NET and help you learn that your trauma is not the only part of your story.
What Can Trauma Therapy Help With? The Benefits Explained
Trauma therapy is designed to help with processing and healing from distressing experiences that have had a lasting impact on mental and emotional well-being. It provides a structured and supportive environment to work through negative symptoms associated with the event.
One of the primary benefits of trauma therapy is reducing the symptoms of PTSD, including flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety. It also helps with managing depression, mood swings, and self-destructive behaviors that can stem from unresolved trauma. By learning coping strategies and processing difficult emotions, the person is able to regain a sense of control over their life.
Another benefit of trauma therapy is improved relationships. By addressing trust issues, emotional detachment, and communication adversities, the person learns how to express their emotions to family and loved ones. This encourages resilience, self-awareness, and emotional regulation, empowering the person to move forward with greater confidence.
No matter the source of trauma, therapy through MIND 24-7 offers a pathway to healing, focusing on a renewed sense of purpose and well-being.
Get Trauma Therapy in Arizona at MIND 24-7 Today!
Healing from trauma does not happen overnight, but through proven therapy methods, you will have the skills needed to begin the process to a better life. MIND 24-7 provides a welcoming and empowering environment that promotes mental health and wellness. Don’t keep letting trauma hold you back from accomplishing your goals – contact us today to get started.
MIND 24-7 is proud to serve the Mesa and Phoenix, AZ areas for all your mental health needs. We specialize in crisis care as well as continued programming involving therapy and medication management. Call us today at 1-844-646-3247 to learn more.
Walk in. Get help. Feel better today.