Trauma therapy is a specialized treatment that focuses on helping people cope with the negative effects of a distressing event.
Sometimes, the most painful experiences are the ones we remember most vividly, causing seemingly endless negative emotions and heightened sensitivities. Experiencing a traumatic event can make you feel alone and disconnected from loved ones. You might feel afraid of things you once enjoyed. It can be debilitating. These intense emotions are very real — they are your mind and body’s natural way of protecting you from danger.
It can be easy to lose hope, but you can overcome these feelings and heal through therapy.
Kelly O’Donnell is a licensed trauma therapist in St. Louis who provides a holistic psychotherapy approach to combating the effects of trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Using trauma-informed treatments proven to work, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Kelly focuses on healing the whole person through a mind-body connection.
What is Trauma?
Trauma is a physical or emotional response to a distressing or disturbing event. A traumatic event can be anything that makes you feel overwhelmed, isolated or extremely unsafe. The impact of trauma is different for everyone. There is no right or wrong way to respond. But, you do not have to live this way. There is hope. There are scientifically proven therapy modalities to help you heal.
Common symptoms of trauma and PTSD may include:
- Trouble concentrating at work or home
- Severe anxiety, mood swings or depression
- Difficulty with relationships
- Experiencing nightmares or flashbacks
- Trouble sleeping
- Engaging in harmful behaviors such as excessive drinking or drug use
- Feeling guilt or shame for the event
Trauma therapy helps you manage severe emotions and symptoms which often arise after experiencing a traumatic event.
How does Trauma Therapy Work?
Trauma physically changes our brains. In order to heal, you need to re-train your mind and body to react to triggers in a different way. This re-training can be done naturally through the therapeutic process.
The goal of trauma therapy is to resolve any painful memories, negative beliefs and severe emotions caused by a traumatic event. Through the process, your brain will “store” the memory in a more adaptive way and your symptoms will decrease. You will work to acknowledge the event, understand how the event impacted you, reduce triggers and avoidance, and learn skills to regain control of your thoughts and actions.
It is important to work with a therapist who is trained in the following trauma focused treatments:
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): a form of trauma psychotherapy that uses rhythmic body movements to direct your attention while processing a traumatic event. While practicing EMDR, you will revisit an unresolved memory that often triggers painful emotions. Calming rhythmic stimulation and imagery help release unwanted feelings and symptoms from your mind and body. EMDR has been shown to be effective by nearly 90% of single-trauma victims after their first three sessions.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): a short-term form of talk therapy which helps challenge irrational or negative thoughts that keep you from long-term healing. CBT will teach simple methods to reframe your thought patterns, such as journaling, muscle relaxation and cognitive restructuring. The more often you challenge negative thoughts, the more improvement you will see in your mental health.
Once you begin to process your trauma and acknowledge what makes you feel anxious, depressed or fearful, you can begin to enjoy life at its fullest once again.
Benefits of Trauma Therapy
A trauma-informed therapist or counselor can help you heal from distressing memories by meeting your specific needs. During therapy sessions, you will:
- Develop healthy coping skills through a holistic treatment approach with long-term impact.
- Empower yourself to control the severe emotions and behaviors resulting from trauma.
- Experience individualized therapy that meets you where you are for a more effective and valuable treatment.
- Reduce trauma-related symptoms, such as shame, guilt, nightmares or flashbacks, and other mental health conditions, like anxiety or depression.
- Heal your mind-body connection to bring joy back into your life.
Talk to a Trauma Therapist
No matter how long ago the traumatic event occurred or how severe your trauma feels, you can heal yourself. Trauma counseling sessions will be personalized to meet your unique needs and to find the most effective form of psychotherapy for you. My holistic approach to trauma-informed therapy gives you the tools to release past trauma, reconnect your mind and body and return to a fulfilling life.
To learn more about trauma therapy in St. Louis call Kelly O’Donnell at (314) 643-8224. Ask me any questions you have about my approach to trauma counseling or request an appointment today.
If you are experiencing a crisis and need immediate help, please contact the 24-hour Behavioral Health Response hotline at (800) 811-4760.