Learn About Trauma Therapy Online in This Guide
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First, Let’s Define Trauma:
Trauma is the psychological and emotional response to an event or series of events that are distressing, harmful, or threatening to an individual’s well-being. These events can range from experiencing a natural disaster, physical assault, accidents, war, abuse, or losing a loved one. Trauma can impact a person’s thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and overall health.
There are four types of trauma:
Acute trauma: This type of trauma occurs due to a single distressing event, such as a car accident or an assault. It can lead to immediate emotional and psychological reactions.
Chronic trauma: Chronic trauma refers to prolonged and repeated exposure to distressing situations or events, often over an extended period. Examples include living in a war zone or an abusive household. This type of trauma can have cumulative effects on an individual’s mental health.
Complex trauma: Complex trauma involves multiple interrelated traumatic events, often occurring during childhood or within close relationships. It can lead to various emotional, cognitive, and relational difficulties for the traumatized person.
Developmental trauma occurs during a person’s developmental stages, particularly childhood. It can result from neglect, abuse, or other adverse experiences that affect a child’s healthy emotional and psychological growth.
If you have trauma affecting your ability to live a happy, healthy life, contact us for trauma-based therapy near you or online today.
Now, Let’s Talk About PTSD
What is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the body’s response to trauma —a mental health condition that can emerge in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event or series of traumatic events.
PTSD often develops in response to natural disasters, accidents, physical or sexual assault, combat, terrorism, or the sudden death of a loved one.
What are some symptoms of PTSD?
Intrusive thoughts and memories: Individuals with PTSD often experience distressing and intrusive thoughts, memories, or nightmares related to the traumatic event. These recollections can be so vivid and realistic that the person feels like the traumatic event is being re-lived.
Avoidance and numbing: People with PTSD often take extraordinary measures to avoid situations, places, or people that remind them of the traumatic event. This avoidance can lead to emotional numbness, detachment from loved ones, and a general loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed.
Hyperarousal and reactivity: Individuals with PTSD may become easily startled, irritable, or have difficulty sleeping. They may constantly feel on edge, as if danger lurks around every corner. This heightened state of arousal can significantly impact their daily functioning.
Negative changes in mood and cognition: PTSD often leads to adverse changes in a person’s beliefs and feelings about themselves, others, and the world. They may develop a sense of hopelessness, guilt, shame, or distorted perceptions of blame.
How Do I Know if I Have PTSD? How Do I Deal With it?
Only a mental health professional can formally diagnose cases of trauma, but trauma does reveal itself through several symptoms. For official diagnosis and treatment, please contact one of our counselors.
If you think you have PTSD, asking for help is one of the wisest things you can do. We know it takes courage to open up about what you’ve been through, but working with a trauma therapist in your area or online can help you live a happier, healthier, and more free life. At Light, we’ve been helping people find light through the darkness of trauma for decades.
Talking with a person who isn’t a therapist can be beneficial, but when someone who isn’t professionally trained in trauma treatment tries to coach you through PTSD, that person can accidentally re-traumatize you—even if they’re genuinely trying to help.
Meeting with a counselor at Light Counseling is a safe and effective way to confront the trauma that may be haunting you. Whether you’d like to meet with one of our trauma counselors in Central Virginia, New York, or online, you can begin breaking free from painful memories today.
What Sets Us Apart for Christian Trauma Help?
At Light Counseling, our core mission is meeting you where you are and providing personalized trauma care tailored to your needs. Learn more about how our unique approach, which is marked by clinical excellence and an unwavering commitment to the Christian faith, can help you.
A Commitment to Clinical Excellence
Our trauma therapists conduct comprehensive assessments to gain insights into your challenges and create tailor-made treatment plans unique to you. Whether you’re looking for a therapist specializing in childhood trauma or a therapist whose area of expertise is PTSD in veterans, Light Counseling has you covered.
At Light, we use a blend of well-researched therapies—such as trauma-focused cognitive-processing therapy (CPT), trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness techniques, and trauma-informed care. In addition, collaboration is critical to the success of our clients. By forging close partnerships with healthcare providers, such as psychiatrists and medical experts, our trauma counseling services adopt a comprehensive approach to your well-being.
There is hope for you, and we’d be honored to help you find it. Schedule your appointment today to experience the commitment, care, and support that set Light Counseling apart. Whether you’re seeking trauma therapy in-person or online, we’re here—we care.
Christian Faith
At Light Counseling we proudly employ a faith-based approach to counseling. With scriptural insights, prayer, and steadfast devotion, our team is committed to walking alongside you for as long as you need us to.
At Light, we create treatment plans tailored to your unique challenges. No matter how heavy your trauma feels, our team can help you find relief from your burdens and teach you about the richness of God’s care for you.
There is hope for you, and we’re here to help facilitate that journey. Schedule your appointment today to experience the Christian commitment, care, and support that set Light Counseling apart.
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Common Questions About Christian Counseling for Trauma
How does counseling help with trauma?
Counseling helps with trauma in multiple ways.
First, counseling helps with trauma by providing a safe environment where you can share freely without fear of judgement. At Light, you can safely discuss your experiences with total confidentiality.
Counseling can also help dismantle negative thought patterns. Trauma can cause you to believe negative things about yourself that aren’t true. Our counselors can help you challenge and reframe these beliefs while fostering more adaptive and positive ways of thinking.
Lastly, counseling can help you overcome triggers and avoidance. Trauma might lead to avoiding triggers, which can limit your general quality of life. Our team will support you as you seek to regain control by facing these triggers in a controlled and manageable way.
How long does trauma counseling last?
Trauma counseling lasts as long as you’d like it to. You can meet with your counselor for as long and as often as you need, but you can also end the counseling relationship at any time. Some of our clients meet with their counselors for a few weeks. Others meet with their counselor for years.
The length of time that you’re in counseling depends on a wide variety of factors, such as how severe your trauma is, what your response to therapy is, the therapeutic approach employed by your trauma therapist, how often you meet with your counselor, what stage of healing you’re in, whether you suffer from co-occurring conditions (like depression and anxiety) or not, and how much external support you have from friends, family, and community.
Is counseling confidential?
Yes. Whether you meet with a trauma therapist online or in person, your sessions are completely confidential. Nothing you share with your counselor will be shared with anyone else.
How do I choose the right counselor for my needs?
A few practical tips can help you find the right counselor.
First, identify your needs and define why you’re seeking counseling. Counselors usually specialize in one or two areas. In this case, you’re probably looking for a therapist who specializes in trauma.
From there, choose a therapist who is culturally and spiritually compatible with you. If you’re a Christian, you’ll want a biblical principles in your sessions.
From there, you may consider academic credentials. Some clients prefer to meet with our interns, while others prefer therapists with a doctoral degree. There are also different types of licensure that our therapists hold, including Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Psychologist (Ph.D. or Psy.D.), and Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). If you’re a Christian, you may even consider a counselor who holds a Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
Practical factors like location, availability, session fees, and insurance coverage may also weigh into your decision – as may your gut feeling. If you’d like to interview a therapist before you begin therapy, contact us for a free, 15-minute consultation with a counselor.
Can counseling help with other mental health issues apart from trauma?
Yes! You can use therapy services for various other reasons—to overcome depression and anxiety, conquer addiction, work through the emotions of grief, find a steady presence through life transitions, and much more.
How can I support a loved one struggling with trauma?
Having a loved one with trauma can be tricky—not because you don’t love them, but because you might not know how to love them. When one of your family members or close friends experiences trauma, you experience it too.
Getting your loved one to schedule an appointment with a trauma counselor is one of the best ways to support their healing journey. Still, we recognize that change from counseling doesn’t happen overnight – and neither does convincing your loved one that they should seek professional guidance. Here are a few simple things you can do to support someone wrestling with trauma:
- Let them know that you love them and will stick with them. People dealing with trauma can sometimes feel unlovable and burdensome. Communicate to your loved one that you love them and won’t abandon them.
- Be patient. Recovering from trauma takes time, and your patience throughout the process makes healing easier for your loved one. Listen to them when they need to talk, be empathetic and encouraging, but don’t attempt to be their therapist.
- Affirm their worth to God, and share God’s great love with them. God loves your loved one like they’re the only person in the world, and He loves everyone that way. The overwhelming love of God can and should be a great comfort to anyone wrestling with any duress—be it trauma or something else.
How long does it take to see improvements in my trauma through counseling?
The time it takes to see improvement in trauma through counseling can vary and depends on various factors, including the degree of the client’s commitment and how many challenges there are to work through.
Most of our clients see the improvement they want after just a few sessions. Some clients meet with us for years before they feel comfortable ending treatment—it simply depends. At Light Counseling, your therapist will work to help you find lasting peace in the most efficient and effective way possible.
What types of treatment do trauma talk therapy sessions include?
Trauma-focused dialectical behavior therapy can help people overcome trauma. Our therapists also may use Eye Movement Desensitisation Therapy (EMDT) to help you process trauma in healthy, digestible ways.
Depending on the client, our counselors may use additional therapies to treat trauma. Feel free to ask your counselor what therapies they use and how they’ve helped people overcome the effects of trauma.