Category Archives: Trauma-Informed Care

Today I’m going to talk about one of the most important concepts on the road to healing for a trauma survivor: consistency.

To Heal Trauma, Free Your Most Compassionate Self

October 27, 2017

The experience of trauma makes a profound mark on a person. It doesn’t matter whether the injury is grave and evident, like the bruising of a battered person, or hard to see, like the emotional neglect of someone detached and withdrawn. Whatever the cause, when a person feels threatened, helpless, and unable to escape, that person knows trauma.

3 Concepts to Help Trauma Survivors Move Forward Into Healthier Relationships

September 15, 2017

It’s good, healthy and human to want love and seek it out. We live longer, healthier lives when we feel close to someone safe. Some people feel painfully disconnected, and long to open up to others. But then they stop themselves from reaching out.

As therapists, we want to empower people to build more meaningful connections. For all of us, healthy relationships matter. In fact, deep relationships are essential to life as a healthy human being. For trauma survivors, the act of deepening relationships in a healthy way can be particularly difficult.

Why I Take a Mind-Body Approach to Trauma Recovery

August 24, 2017

Trauma recovery takes hard work, which survivors often wish could go faster. A new client recently asked me, “Should I be exercising? Doing yoga? Meditating? What can I be doing physically to help me heal or recover more quickly? What else can I do to get through all of this?” It was a great question, so today, I’m going to address it in case you’ve been wondering too.

Trauma’s Impact on Relationships: Finding New Skills to Talk Through Relationship Pain

July 20, 2017

What’s your relationship coping skill? Find out why it’s so important to say something!

Say something, I’m giving up on you
I’ll be the one, if you want me to
Anywhere, I would’ve followed you
Say something, I’m giving up on you

Lyrics from “Say Something” by A Great Big World

The Role of the Authentic Self in Trauma-Informed Care

April 21, 2017

As awareness of trauma-informed care has grown in recent years, we’ve stressed the importance offering an authentic healing relationship in our role as therapists. But another core concept deserves more attention: helping clients become aware of, and nurture their authentic self.

Do you use drugs and alcohol to manage your emotions?

December 12, 2016

Addiction Treatment and Recovery Trauma-Informed Care No Comments

I really dislike the word addict to describe someone. I believe that people are more than just their addiction! Yes, many of my clients are trauma survivors who use (or have used) drugs and alcohol (or food or self-harming behavior) to feel less badly and they are/have been addicted to their drug of choice, but they are people in pain. More than just the word addict is needed to describe them. Continue reading →

8 Ways to Feel Safe Right Now

November 22, 2016

Self-care Trauma-Informed Care No Comments

This is painful. It’s something I never wanted to, or thought, we’d have to talk about. With the upheaval in our country on all sides caused by the election results, everything feels a bit tougher these past few weeks. It’s like many of us are trying to walk through mud with every step… wondering how to move forward in these uncertain times.

Is it Really ADHD — Or Is it Trauma?

October 27, 2016

ADHD Trauma-Informed Care No Comments

If a child in elementary or middle school is acting impulsively, not paying attention and doing poorly in class… the reason seems to be a given these days: ADHD! The child may then be promptly diagnosed and prescribed Ritalin, Adderall or some other stimulant medication.