Top 5 Myths About Trauma Therapy in Denver, CO
Top 5 Myths About Trauma Therapy by a Christian counselor in Denver, CO
You’ve read some about what trauma counseling is and somehow doing it yourself is not working. Denver has a lot of trauma counselors and many work using eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) level trauma, treatment with Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness as well. What if doing a brain dump makes you relive the trauma instead of resolving it?
I am here to help dispel some of the myths you have believed about trauma counseling.
Myth 1: Trauma counseling is best done with EMDR.
This is something that is true for some people. Others prefer talking it out - literally doing a brain dump in session can release anxiety when you feel heard and able to tell your story to someone. Therapists can help you along with good questions and insights. You can even ask for advice and use it if it sounds good to you.
Myth 2: I have to remember the trauma.
Maybe you cannot remember the trauma, but you are sure that something is wrong as it plays out in your relationships being shallow and daily life being extremely difficult more than half the week. You can find relief without remembering the trauma. There is a Christian mind-body protocol with tools to offer emotional healing despite no conscious trauma memory.. It utilizes EMDR tools, EFT, and prayer.
Myth 3: Trauma counseling has to be painful.
No, you do not need to cry in counseling, but therapy has to feel like a place where it’s ok to cry. Many times if you’re a strong person and constantly pushing through life you may need to stop during the session and let yourself breathe, cry, maybe scream, and especially rest in order to recover. Some people work out the anger and grief through journaling and in their times of lament in prayer. For private people, the car, or when you are alone in your beautiful place may be what works for you. Some turn to devotionals or scripture or a sermon that helps tap into those emotions you’ve sectioned away in your soul.
Myth 4: I’m totally alone in the way I experience trauma.
There are many common human experiences, and one of them is trauma. It’s probably the reason there are so many trauma therapists.
Simply defined, trauma is a wound - it can be to you soul, mind, or body. Maybe you’ve been hurt in all three places. Frequently trauma therapists have overcome their own trauma; that’s why they can empathize with you. Maybe in the process they have done a lot of reading and research; and gained experience and skills with showing the way to a new life..
Myth 5: Being in a group will not help treat trauma.
Grief/anguish can be the biggest emotions that surface with remembering the trauma and losing the person that you were, the life that you had. Grief groups educate people about the process, sometimes phases, sometimes stages of grief. Losing your identity and regaining it are work that can be done with a supportive leader (two is ideal). The group is actually learning how to support each other at the same time. It is a great way of finding restoration and recovery. People are both wounded and healed in community.
I hope this helps you get past some of the myths around trauma therapy in Denver. If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to call me at (720) 577-5985 for a free 15 minute phone consultation. I’d be happy to hear about what is happening and maybe direct you to the right person. If you are looking for trauma therapy in Denver, CO, you can read more about how I can help here.