Trauma-Focused Therapy in Nashville, IN

Trauma-focused therapy is a subset of cognitive behavioral therapy that helps patients recover from traumatic experiences. Misty Sanchez, LMHC-A treats patients in and around Nashville, IN who have experienced traumatic events in their lives and may be suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or other challenges related to the trauma. Many patients don't realize they have experienced trauma until they've had the opportunity to consult with a licensed counselor who can help them identify traumatic events and develop ways of coping with and healing from those experiences. Some sources for trauma can include domestic violence, abusive treatment as a child or in adult relationships, severe environmental stressors such as toxicity in the workplace or other communities, and sexual abuse. If you've experienced any of these situations or feel that you may be reacting to any other powerful stressors in your current or previous environments, please reach out to Misty at Blue Elk Family Clinic. We'll connect with you right away and get you the support you need.

Candidates for trauma-focused therapy are individuals who have experienced a traumatic event and are struggling with their mental health as a result. This may manifest in the form of PTSD, depression, anxiety, or other related symptoms. If you feel like you cannot cope with your current stressors and they are impacting your quality of life, please reach out for help. Trauma-focused therapy has been found to be an extremely effective treatment at Blue Elk Family Clinic.

Misty's approach to helping patients heal from trauma typically involves a few distinct phases. First, it's important for a therapist to validate the client's trauma and help establish that strong reactions to major events are normal. Misty helps clients develop the ability to recognize and communicate how they feel, encouraging them that their emotions are real and reasonable, and she provides a safe place for clients to vocalize them without judgment. Next, the therapist will help the client construct a narrative of what happened to them in order to better understand how it is affecting them. This can be a difficult part of the process for many, and Misty works to ensure that clients feel the freedom to share as much or as little, as it's helpful to their healing journeys. Finally, the therapist works with the client to face fears and develop appropriate coping strategies for confronting them and overcoming the most acute effects of the traumatic experience. Sometimes, especially with children, this involves communicating with members of the patient's family and community to build a safe environment, unless doing so could aggravate traumatic triggers, which a patient is free to disclose.

Because any trauma we have endured is part of our memory and lived experience, it never simply “goes away”. However, after trauma-focused therapy at Blue Elk Family Clinic, patients can expect to have a greater understanding of their past trauma in addition to gaining effective coping skills to help them when memories are triggered or during triggering moments and events. With this understanding and these skills, patients can achieve the grounding to help them move forward in their lives with more confidence and optimism.

Traumatic experiences can have a serious impact on your mental health and ability to heal. Researchers have found that those who experience trauma may be at greater risk of developing issues with substance abuse, depression, or anxiety disorders. Blue Elk Family Clinic has found that trauma-focused therapy can help patients identify with their feelings and work towards developing healthy coping strategies. Our goal is to help patients learn how to resolve negative emotions and memories so that they can move forward with their lives.

Does trauma-focused therapy really work?

While everyone's situation is unique, many people who have experienced traumatic events or are suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) often can benefit greatly from trauma-focused therapy through focused conversation, counseling, exposure therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Recent studies published in Biological Psychiatry have suggested that trauma-focused therapy can help to improve patients' overall wellbeing by making changes in the brain areas responsible for generating emotional responses to threats.

What are the types of trauma-focused therapy?

• Cognitive behavioral therapy — helps patients identify unhealthy behaviors and patterns and reframes thinking to create healthier behaviors
• Eye movement desensitization reprogramming — targets the traumatic memories to diminish their intensity and frequency
• Exposure-based psychotherapy — works to help patients reduce the tendency to avoid thoughts, memories, feelings, and places

How do I know if I've been through trauma?

Trauma affects everyone differently, but there are some common indicators of having experienced trauma, including:

• Unconscious reactions to stimuli or events
• Uncontrolled moods or emotions
• Unwanted or uncontrolled behaviors

Trauma recovery requires empathy, support, and a safe friend and mentor to process with. Misty hopes to be that companion by offering professional guidance, researched expertise, and a compassionate environment here at Blue Elk Family Clinic. As a joint therapeutic and primary medical care facility, we can provide holistic options for healing, and we want to partner with you throughout your entire journey toward wellness. If you live in southern Indiana, including Indianapolis, Bloomington, or Columbus, visit Misty Sanchez, LMHC-A at our Nashville, IN location or reach out to inquire about a consultation. We look forward to seeing you!