Can Counselling Help Me With The Experience Of Trauma?
The experience of the Covid-19 pandemic has been a prolonged and sustained period of stress and uncertainty. It has forced us to change the way we live and work. It has brought about the experience of complicated grief for those of us who have lost loved ones and didn’t have the chance to say our good-byes. It has been a collective experience of trauma for all of us, our families, our communities, and the world.
Can counselling help us process this unrelenting experience of trauma? Yes, absolutely.
What is Trauma Counselling?
Trauma counselling is a calming and gentle process that can help us deal with trauma, specifically by helping us to:
– understand what happened and more importantly, how we were impacted by it
– process distressing thoughts and painful emotions
– discover new insights about what happened
– find new strategies for coping that are healthy, effective, and productive
– finally, perceive of what happened differently, in a way that is healthy and forward-moving.
Goals of Trauma Counselling
The primary goal of Trauma Counselling or Therapy is to enable us to live in the present without being overwhelmed by thoughts and feelings of past events. This includes a restoration of personal power and confidence, getting us started on the path to a life that we desire. However, it is important to note that this can be a long process. The time that it takes to heal would be different for everyone.
We would encourage you to discuss your goals for trauma counselling with your counsellor. Together, with your counsellor’s guidance, you will come up with a plan that would help you live your best life, in spite of what had occurred.
Types of Trauma Therapy
Trauma counsellors or therapists are trained to help you with your experience of trauma. Some therapists may use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (or EMDR) therapy (read Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (or EMDR) therapy) or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or CBT (read about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy here) in their work. Other therapists may also include mindfulness approaches, relaxation techniques, and more.
ICBC helps claimants with funding for counselling
If you have been in a motor vehicle accident (MVA), it is most likely that you have a claim file opened with ICBC. Since April 1, 2019, ICBC has made 12 counselling sessions available to you within the first 12 weeks after your MVA. These sessions will help you as you struggle to regain your mental and emotional health after a stressful and traumatic incident like an MVA. Click here to learn more about ICBC funded counselling.
If your MVA occurred prior to April 1, 2019, speak with your ICBC adjuster or lawyer about counselling sessions to treat your trauma.
Find the Right Trauma Counsellor for You
It is important that you find a trauma counsellor or therapist who is right for you for the trauma that you have experienced. Your trauma counsellor or therapist should be trained in the therapies that they use. Most importantly, they must be someone who is empathetic, genuine, and compassionate.
Together, you create a safe space where you can give voice to what has been hiding inside of you. Ultimately, what is hidden must be released for you to live the life you desire.
Feel better today. Call us for an appointment today at 604-484-2737.