Trauma-Informed Therapy

What it is and Why its Important
(even if you don't think you have experienced trauma)

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What is Trauma-Informed Therapy

Trauma-informed therapy is not a set of techniques, but a way of approaching and understanding the variety of emotional and psychological struggles people face.  It helps us remember that people act, think, and feel in certain ways often because of the difficult things they have gone through in their lives. It guides us in creating a safe space that both promotes greater self-understanding and facilitates the healing process in a non-judgmental and empowering way.  It is also designed to decrease the chances therapy will be destabilizing or "re-traumatizing" to our clients.

Even if you think your issues have nothing to do with trauma, you can still benefit greatly from working with a trauma-informed therapist.  This is because your therapist will be knowledgeable about the variety of impacts that all kinds of psychological, emotional, and physical stresses can have on the mind, body, and spirit.  We recognize that emotionally stressful and overwhelming life experiences are at the root of many psychological, emotional, or behavioral difficulties people face and want to heal. 

Why we specialize in Trauma-Informed Therapy

 Two facts drive our dedication and passion to providing the upmost quality of  trauma-informed care: 

• Millions of people have experienced at least 1 traumatic event in their lives
• Most people who come to see us do not realize they have experienced any kind of trauma ​

We are also aware that it is difficult for most people to recognize, understand, and make the connections between adverse or overwhelming life events and current emotional or behavioral struggles. Therefore, we see it as our responsibility to be knowledgeable and competent to help our clients explore their experiences and to achieve a greater understanding for themselves.  

What makes us "Specialists" and why this matters

Many therapists say they work with trauma or treat trauma or provide trauma-informed care. Many report having an interest in working with trauma, may have treated a few trauma-related cases, have listened to trauma-related stories, or completed a few hours of continuing education in a trauma-related area. These qualities, in and of themselves, do not qualify someone as an "expert" or "specialist." Its important to be able to distinguish between providers that simply make these claims or are "generalists" and those that are truly trained and experienced in treating trauma. 
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Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are very specialized areas of clinical practice. Just like you would need to see a Cardiologist for heart disease, its important you receive therapy from someone who understands and has the expertise and skills that can actually help you.​

​At Turning Leaf Therapy, each therapist is passionate and dedicated to providing quality, trauma-informed therapy services. We are all licensed mental health professionals with an explicit history of specialized education, training, supervision, and experience working directly with trauma. The main focus of our clinical practice is working with trauma of a variety of kinds. We understand that treating trauma is not just about listening to someone share their story. Its about being able to recognize and understand the nuances of how trauma presents or "shows up," how it impacts someone, how to treat it, and how to address specific aspects of the treatment process unique to trauma-survivors.  

What is Trauma

Trauma can result from a variety of adverse life experiences. Some of these types of experiences may seem obvious, such as going to war, being physically or sexually assaulted, or surviving a natural disaster. Other types of experiences that can result in a traumatic reaction, however, are less obvious.  Many times (but not always), these "hidden" forms of trauma have roots in childhood. These can include situations such as growing up under circumstances of extreme stress related to abuse, neglect, poverty, being bullied, experiencing racism, witnessing interpersonal violence, or even growing up feeling chronically misunderstood, unsafe, or lacking in attunement and connection with others.  What these types of potentially traumatic experiences have in common is that they can leave a person emotionally, physically, and mentally overwhelmed and feeling shocked, horrified, helpless, depressed, anxious, damaged, or fractured in some deeply profound ways.

How can Trauma-Informed Therapy help

Trauma-informed therapy is about finding strength, safety, and hope. Its not about finding out what is "wrong" with someone, but understanding what has happened to them and how this has affected them. This basic foundation for therapy helps to inform the diagnostic and assessment aspect of therapy. For example, taking a trauma-informed perspective can help ensure you receive an accurate diagnosis (and thus, treatment approach) by understanding how trauma is either mimicking, causing, or contributing to symptoms related to a variety of diagnoses, such as:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Mood disorders, including depressive disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• ADHD
• Eating disorders
• Somatic disorders
• Personality disorders
• Dissociative disorders
• Adjustment disorders related to relationship stressors, workplace or academic stressors, or physical health concerns

​Throughout the therapeutic process, symptoms can begin to make more sense when they are understood in the context of someone's history and what has happened to them. From this, comes increased self-understanding, empowerment, hope, a sense of wholeness and self-acceptance, and a belief that healing can take place. ​

​A trauma-informed approach can also help increase or facilitate:

• Emotion regulation and other important coping skills
• Personal understanding and a sense of connection to oneself
• Identity development
• Building of healthier relationships, including ways of increasing support and setting boundaries
• Capacity to feel deeper levels of emotions or a sense of intimacy with others
• Ability to take better care of oneself
• Improved quality of life and sense of well-being