People in recovery from substance issues have wide-ranging needs. Effective rehab providers meet these needs with a variety of addiction therapy programs. In many cases, an essential component of effective rehab is a trauma therapy program. This kind of program helps you process past traumatic experiences that continue to affect you today. In this way, it can increase your chances of getting sober and staying that way. Trauma therapy can also help you recover from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
At Evoke Waltham, we specialize in trauma therapy for the greater Boston area. With our help, you can identify the lingering effects of traumatic experiences. You can also take the steps needed to process those experiences and work toward your recovery goals. To learn more about us and our therapy programs, contact us at 866.276.1920.
Understanding the Effects of Trauma
Trauma is an emotional and physical reaction to severely stressful events. These events typically:
- Make a person fear for their life or welfare
- Cause a person to fear for someone else’s life or welfare
They include such things as assaults and significant accidents. They also include natural disasters and serious illnesses. In addition, they include neglect and abuse in all their forms.
Most of the time, you can recover on your own after being exposed to a traumatic situation. But thousands of people across Massachusetts will not recover following a trauma. Instead, they will continue to be affected by what happened to them in seriously negative ways. This is especially likely for people exposed to trauma as children.
Some people affected by lingering trauma develop post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD. But even if you remain PTSD-free, you may develop other mental health issues. In many cases, these issues include diagnosable drugs or alcohol conditions.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in a Trauma Therapy Program
A trauma therapy program is designed to help you recover from the effects of prolonged trauma. It often plays a significant role in successful PTSD treatment. And it can be just as crucial for successfully treating substance addiction.
Today, the primary option for trauma treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT can help you in several ways. First, it shows you how to identify lingering trauma’s telltale, negative effects. These effects have a damaging impact on the following:
- Your everyday thoughts and general outlook
- The way you respond emotionally to everyday situations
- Your pattern of behavior toward yourself and others
The therapy also shows you how to restore healthier thinking, responding, and behaving patterns.
Exposure Therapy
One form of CBT often used for trauma recovery is exposure therapy. This therapy recreates the sources of your trauma in a closely controlled environment. It then exposes you to that trauma for a limited amount of time. When repeated, this exposure can gradually deactivate your trauma reactions.
EMDR as a Trauma Treatment
EMDR is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. This therapy helps you identify specific traumatic memories. It then uses a series of preset eye movements or sounds to help you process those memories. The goal is to make trauma reminders less distressing and disturbing. When this happens, you can manage your emotions more effectively.
If you're ready to start your journey to recovery, we're here to help.
Turn to Evoke Waltham for a Trauma Therapy Program in Waltham, MA
Are you or your loved one dealing with lingering trauma? Contact the professionals at Evoke Waltham. We can provide you with an assessment that helps clarify the source of your trauma reactions. We can also determine an appropriate course of treatment.
Evoke Waltham features a comprehensive trauma therapy program in Waltham, MA. With our support, you can begin your recovery from PTSD, addiction, or any combination of both issues. For more information on our therapy services, contact us today at 866.276.1920. We’re also available through our online message form.