Trauma

What is Trauma?

A Common Occurrence: “That moment changed everything in my life. When I realized what happened I knew nothing would ever be the same again. Something shattered inside me and it left me empty. The void inside me started filling up with questions, fears,and distrust. I dream of feeling safe again but that life-changing moment controls my mind and I have no power to change it.”

Does this sound familiar? In the US half of all women and 60% of men go through a traumatic experience at some stage in life. It can take on many forms and if you’re reading this you’re probably part of this statistic after your own traumatic experience. Now you need assistance in dealing with the emotional or psychological trauma.

We can help.

What is emotional trauma?

This takes place when a high-stress situation causes a threat to you in terms of your safety and well-being. There are many causes and people’s perceptions of what they view as threats differ. Therefore, defining trauma relates more to your response to a situation than the situation at hand. If extreme fear or a feeling of helplessness surfaces during an event it’s traumatic for the individual. This can happen in a number of situations such as (but not limited to):

• Being abused
• A physical attack
• Death of a loved one
• Divorcing a partner
• Getting injured
• Fighting or being a victim of war
• Caught in a natural disaster
• Vicarious traumatization

The Effects of Trauma

In most cases you’ll see two types of symptoms surface:

• Emotional effects:
  • Going into shock
  • Denial it ever happened
  • Feeling angry, irritable or moody
  • Carrying shame and feeling guilty
  • Feeling sad and hopeless
  • Being confused
  • Lack of concentration
  • Fear/Anxiety
  • The desire to isolate yourself from others
  • Emotional numbness
  • Disconnected from people and situations around you
• Physical effects:
  • You can’t sleep
  • Heart racing
  • Aches or body pains you didn’t have before
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Tense muscles

How Long Do the Effects of Trauma Last?

No two people are the same so symptoms are dependent on the individual’s experience and his or her decisions & abilities during the journey of processing what happened. This can take days, weeks or months. For some, it takes years to regain full control.

This journey is often interspersed with random emotional responses to triggers, even after you experienced progress. This can feel like, but shouldn’t be viewed as, a breakdown of the progress you’ve made.

How Can We Help?

The Los Angeles Christian Counseling team understands this roller coaster ride of emotions and physical occurrences. Our goal is to help you discover you can regain control. You don’t have to allow the experience, the memories,and the emotions to rule every aspect of your life. It’s possible to live without the consuming pain and we’re here to help you on the journey until you reach that goal.

Emotional trauma can be divided into two types.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

This is the most well-known type and 10% of people in the US who go through traumatizing situations end up being diagnosed with it. You have a high risk of developing PTSD if you faced serious injury, death or if you were sexually violated. This condition can occur after a single traumatizing situation.

Complex Trauma

This condition gets worse over time as it occurs cumulatively. If your trauma is on-going you’re at risk of developing Complex Trauma. Examples of possible triggers include physical or sexual abuse or a chronic illness requiring treatment that’s painful. These situations can even lead to DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) which was previously called MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder)

What We Do

LA Christian Counseling helps you manage PTSD or Complex Trauma. The counseling we offer alleviates the strain of feeling restless. We help you process the events so you can regain hope and experience healing.

Does this seem familiar?

“I’ve done my best to move forward but nothing works. The thoughts, emotions,and memories pull me back to an event I wish I can forget. I can’t escape from what happened.”

Do you wonder if counseling will help after experiencing trauma? After such an event Christian trauma counseling can be beneficial. It provides support during the period of grieving – which is normal – and then helps you process emotions to experience healing.

If you face one or some of the following you may find Christian trauma counseling beneficial:

• Do you find it difficult to work whether at the office or at home?
• Do you find you’re unable to build a long-term relationship?
• Do flashbacks, memories,and nightmares often plague you?
• Do you do your best to prevent seeing or hearing anything that reminds you of the trauma?
• Do you feel numb or disconnected on an emotional level?
• Do you try and treat the symptoms of your condition with drugs and/or alcohol?

Why LA Christian Counseling is Your Best Option

Trustworthy professionals are vital parts of someone’s healing process. Inadequate trauma counseling can aggravate the situation rather than help because trauma is such a sensitive subject for someone to deal with.

Why can you trust LA Christian Counseling when you face such a situation?

• Experienced professionals: We employ trained counselors that are skilled in their areas of expertise. The trauma-focused professionals are adept at handling sensitive aspects with wisdom and compassion.
• We believe in safety and confidentiality: All engagements with our team will remain strictly confidential. We create a safe environment to explore memories and emotions.
• Christian counseling driven by results: We combine counseling methods backed by science and God’s healing Word. The value of this has been proven and the process aims to help you work through trauma-related issues.
• Session 1 is risk-free: You can visit any of our professional counselors for an initial risk-free Christian trauma counseling session.

Here’s the truth: you can recover from trauma. In today’s society counseling professionals have in-depth knowledge about how your mind and body get affected when you go through trauma. Christian trauma counseling can help you find tools to counter these effects. You’ll also have the support to endure the journey and make a full recovery.

I sought the LORD, and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears – Psalms 34:4

When you go through traumatic events what you knew and trusted gets destroyed. When what you used to trust doesn’t provide security anymore you become fearful and hopeless & you feel alone. With a recovery process guided by Christian trauma counseling, you’re assisted in working through brokenness. The goal is to fix what is broken thanks to a healing process and faith in Jesus Christ.

This is not an easy process but professionals help you find the best way to handle it. You need to face memories and resolve the emotions that often seem oppressive and overwhelming. It’s the only way you can stop being ruled by the trauma and take back control of your life.

What are the Goals of Christian counseling?

• Memories and emotions that relate to the traumatic events need to be processed
• Your strong emotions need to be understood and then you must learn to manage them
• It’s vital you once again build deep relationships where you connect with people and learn to trust them
• Ultimately it’s possible to have a life made new in Christ where you’re once again fulfilled

Trauma in Adults—How Does Christian Counseling Work?

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise – in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? – Psalms 56:3-4

Recovery takes time but getting complete healing is always a possibility.

After an emotionally traumatic event, you’re caught in a ‘fight or flight mode’ in both your body & mind. This disrupts your normal functioning in life as you’re always fearful and hyperaroused.

With the help of successful Christian counseling, you can restore the balance. How does this happen? You re-establish your old – or new – sense of physical and psychological well being where you feel safe once again.

What are the Methods we Use?

One or more of these techniques can be used:

• Pscycho-dynamic Therapy: When you place emotions and experiences related to the trauma into words. The therapeutic relationship becomes a resource towards healing and understanding.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy: You obtain awareness of the traumatic events as well as an understanding of them. You regain control of thoughts and your behavior.
• Lifespan Integration: This body-based therapeutic method gently helps you heal without re-traumatizing you.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR therapy): Aspects of cognitive-behavioral therapy are combined with rhythmic eye movements. Studies show this unblocks traumatic memories which leads to processing them without your brain going through the same trauma again.
• Somatic experiencing: You utilize your natural ability for healing. You focus on your body’s reactions to the emotional and physical effects of trauma. We teach you to release the built-up tension by using built-in stress release techniques we all have such as crying.

No matter your challenges related to trauma, a Christian counseling approach can help you create a new future that includes hope and fulfillment. This is a possibility even for extreme PTSD cases thanks to the quality trauma-based counseling available at LA Christian Counseling.

Childhood Trauma—How Can Christian Counseling Work?

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid – John 14:27

It’s vital to help children deal with the effects of childhood trauma if you don’t want it to have a lasting and even devastating impact. The problem is aggravated by the fact that children struggle to understand the event. Their inability to clearly communicate what happened and how it makes them feel makes it even worse.

With Christian trauma counseling we assist a child through processing and expressing emotions in a healthy manner. Because we’re aware of how stressful and painful this can be – for parents and their children – we provide expert support throughout the counseling period.

What is the Goal?

With a child appropriate approach, effective treatment for children is possible so they can:

• Find peace: We show children that they can control the emotional and physical symptoms of trauma better than before. We use stress management and relaxation skills.
• Gain understanding: We facilitate discussions of the traumatic event. We manage this so it doesn’t lead to distress.
• Manage guilt: We aim to remove self-blame as well as other exaggerated ideas your child harbors about the traumatic event. We work at a pace which doesn’t lead to more trauma or distress.

No matter the reason for your child’s trauma – abuse, disasters, vicarious traumatization or other – we’re focused on giving your child a compassionate environment where he or she is treated by counseling professionals. LA Christian Counseling includes both parents and children in the healing process as necessary.

What’s different about the Christian approach to trauma counseling?

Conventional counseling methods are dynamic and we include this in our treatment process. However, we acknowledge that trauma also affects your faith. You may experience a faith crisis or it can be your sole source of strength. No matter the situation, you can share about your faith with people who understand the role your Christian beliefs and values play. We know they’re sources of healing, power,and guidance for the future.

How do I find the perfect Christian counselor for me?

It’s vital you manage to avoid retraumatization during the healing and counseling process so you don’t worsen the situation. Therefore you should partner with a trauma counseling specialist with the right experience. You can view in-depth Christian counselor profiles to help you find the right counselor.

How long does trauma counseling last?

This is a very individualized process where each one handles trauma and the healing process in a unique way, in his or her own time. You can receive treatment for the entire period you need assistance. We will constantly work towards the goal you set for yourself.

My child needs Christian trauma counseling. What can I expect?

We provide expert help for children, teens,and adults. LA Christian Counseling employs expert children and adolescent counselors. Our service pages contain clear information about Christian counseling for children and Christian counseling for teens.

Contact Us Today

Are you tired of the symptoms you face every day? Then try our Christian trauma counseling approach. Is it possible to rebuild your life after trauma? Yes. And LA Christian Counseling wants to help. We’re waiting for your call.

You can view our schedule and learn about our risk-free initial session online. Alternatively, contact us at (949) 386-7182.