Trauma-Informed Therapy in Portland, OR: Finding a Supportive Space to Heal
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or hesitant about beginning trauma therapy, knowing the following might help that journey feel a bit more approachable:
1. Types of trauma vary
2. Wanting to minimize or deny trauma is a common experience
3. Trauma-informed therapy embodies key principles to prioritize your wellbeing
Types of Trauma
You may have heard people casually throw around the word “trauma” or “traumatic” to
describe everyday experiences, but to many of us, “trauma” can feel like a loaded word. So, what does “trauma” actually mean?
Trauma is directly experiencing, witnessing, or learning about an event or series of events that create real, threatened, or perceived harm. A wide range of events can be experienced as trauma, and it’s important to remember that people process and react to traumatic incidents in different ways.
Some different types of trauma include
Acute trauma: a single event that a person experiences as deeply distressing or disturbing.
Chronic trauma: living through or with persistent or repetitive harmful experiences; chronic trauma takes place over a prolonged period of time.
Complex trauma: exposure to multiple, sometimes varied, traumatic events; complex trauma is often tied to interpersonal experiences.
Vicarious trauma: extreme or repetitive exposure to the details of a traumatic event.
No one type of trauma is more valid than another, and what one person experiences as traumatic, another may not. It’s important not to compare traumas or judge your own experience and feelings off of those of others.
Minimizing or denying the existence/impact of one’s trauma
Denial is one immediate reaction to experiencing a trauma, but why might someone who has experienced trauma continue to deny or minimize their experiences? Some reasons people have shared include:
Comparing yourself to others.
“What I experienced is nothing compared to what some people go through.”
“Much worse things happen to other people.”
Wanting to focus on the positive.
“I’m moving forward with my life, not living in the past.”
“I should be grateful for all of the positive aspects of my life and the privileges I’ve had.”
“I don’t like to dwell on negative things.”
Not wanting to complain, be a burden, or seem weak.
“I’m just feeling sorry for myself.”
“Nobody likes a downer or a drama queen.”
“I should just get over it already.”
Having a fuzzy memory of the experience(s).
“I don’t even remember what really happened.”
“If it were truly significant, I would remember it more clearly.”
Avoiding the emotions tied to acknowledgment.
These might be subconscious thoughts recognizing how overwhelming, scary, or stressful it could be to face the past.
Alternatively, these could be conscious thoughts like, “I don’t have time to get into all of that right now.”
“I don’t want to make any major changes in my life.”
“I need to be emotionally stable for XYZ and can’t risk interfering with that.”
All of the above can lead to trepidation around seeking trauma therapy, especially since one common misconception is that trauma work means immediately facing and sharing your trauma with a person you just met. In reality, a trauma-informed therapist will prioritize the components described below.
So, what does trauma-informed care look like?
A Supportive Space
A trauma-informed therapist understands how vital a sense of support is in a healing environment, and they recognize that a person who has experienced trauma may easily begin to feel threatened or panicked. Gradually forming a connection built on trust and respect will precede any deep exploration in order to prioritize your comfort and emotional wellbeing. Expressing clear expectations, upholding boundaries, and being open and transparent are all ways a trauma-informed therapist can foster that relationship.
Knowledge
Being trauma-informed means being aware of the ways in which trauma affects us, being able to recognize trauma responses, and knowing how to respond to said reactions. A trauma-informed therapist knows that although trauma is pervasive in the human experience, it is also nuanced, complex, and specific to each individual. Lastly, as is true with any effective, holistic therapy approach, cultural awareness and consideration is essential.
Client Empowerment
Part of feeling supported and respected is feeling heard. If you are working with a trauma-informed therapist, you should feel that you have an active and collaborative role in your healing journey. Your therapist will want to promote your voice and your ability to make informed choices regarding your treatment. Through a strengths-based lens, your sense of empowerment can develop and flourish.
Compassion
Due to their knowledge, experience, and awareness, a trauma-informed therapist recognizes the widespread role trauma can play in every area of one’s life. They also acknowledge how challenging and emotional it can be to take steps to heal or even to face the existence of trauma in one’s past. Knowing all this yields compassion, empathy, and a desire to understand you as a whole - as a person who is shaped by their trauma but is not their trauma.Trauma may have you doubting your ability to move forward or your worthiness of healing; compassion reminds us that we all deserve to ease our suffering.
Authentic trauma-informed therapy can be incredibly healing and impactful, but it’s important to work with someone who genuinely upholds the qualities above and doesn’t just claim to be trauma-informed.
Don’t be afraid to ask how a therapist approaches trauma work or what their trauma-informed care looks like.
And if you’re not sure if you have a history of trauma, that’s perfectly okay too. Trauma-informed care provides you with a supportive space to explore this at a pace you are ready for.
As a final note, some signs that your therapist is not operating from a trauma-informed lens could include:
pressuring you to recount your trauma or share details about your trauma before you feel ready
saying you must be able to identify your trauma in order for them to help you
encouraging you to move on from the past and focus on the present or future
setting their own goals for your treatment that don’t align with your own
using one treatment modality for all their clients rather than assessing which specific modality is the best fit for you
not respecting your boundaries, causing you to feel unsafe
Respect your feelings and instincts, and remember to give yourself some compassion for each step you take.