Trauma Therapy In West Palm Beach, FL
Since its inception, trauma therapy has served as a valuable treatment modality. Due to the nature of trauma and the elasticity of both the brain and the psyche, trauma can lay dormant for weeks, months, or even years.
With troublesome memories embedded deep inside one’s own mind, it can become difficult to function properly without first confronting underlying trauma. By knowing when to seek help, and undergoing trauma therapy in West Palm Beach, Florida, individuals are able to confront their past head-on. Thus, setting them up for a successful, long-lasting recovery.
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) goes hand in hand with trauma. This is because oftentimes a traumatic event will lead to a person developing PTSD later on down the line. The purpose of trauma therapy is to help people to face their trauma head on, rather than burying it deep inside.
Signs and Symptoms of Trauma
Signs and symptoms of trauma and PTSD may include but are not limited to:
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Loss of interest in once enjoyed activities
- Insomnia
- Panic attacks
- Severe anxiety
- Mood swings
- Isolation
- Depression
- Changes in eating habits
Types of Trauma Therapy in West Palm Beach, FL
Types of trauma therapy available in West Palm Beach include:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is perhaps the most widely known method of treatment for trauma and PTSD. Above all, CBT focuses on the identification of thought patterns and behaviors that lead to negative actions, emotions, and outcomes. Similar to DBT, CBT seeks to find the source of a person’s suffering and then heal that suffering inherently. For this reason, it is often 1 of the first methods that many people try when seeking trauma therapy.
Another core method of trauma therapy is dialectical behavior therapy or DBT. DBT is primarily focused on re-establishing elements of mindfulness and emotional regulation. Here, the ultimate outcome is helping a person to discontinue self-harming behaviors that may internationally or unintentionally be causing them even more turmoil.
Acceptance and commitment therapy or ACT is the third most common form of trauma-based therapy. ACT seeks to help a person accept and cope with certain thoughts and emotions, rather than fight against them. This is often done through practices such as practicing mindfulness, as well as behavioral changes.
Finally, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing or EMDR is a method of therapy that focuses on re-wiring the way one’s brain views trauma. This process is led by an EMDR therapist who leads a guided session of rapid bilateral eye movement, as a person recalls past traumatic events and experiences. By confronting those memories in this way, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms can be reduced greatly and even eradicated completely.
Trauma and Addiction
Trauma is a major trigger for substance abuse. Abusing drugs and alcohol can feel like an easy way to forget all the effects one is facing. The more that substances are abused in an effort to cope with unresolved feelings, the more the body becomes tolerant, and eventually dependent, on drugs or alcohol. At that point, when addiction is occurring, the symptoms of the unresolved trauma grow more intense and the effects of the addiction add a whole new layer of complexity into the mix. Reports show that over 46% of people with PTSD also have a substance use disorder.
Find a Trauma Treatment Center in Florida Today
With the support of our team at Ambrosia Behavioral Health, we can help you or your loved one overcome the most difficult aspects of residual trauma so that life can once again be enjoyed. Begin the admissions process today to get started on your recovery from trauma and addiction.