There are a lot of therapists who find it difficult to direct the treatment their clients are receiving. Often, this is because they do not want the clients to just automatically comply and as a result, lose the chance to experience their own inner sense of direction. But that approach does not typically work with clients who are trauma victims.
So, the question remains, what is the therapist’s role during trauma therapy? Furthermore, what is the best way for them to help their clients?
The Trauma Therapist as a Guide
When a person has experienced serious trauma, dissociative fragmentation is common. This can result in the person having multiple senses of direction and a lot of fear because of the risk of getting traumatized all over again.
The therapist’s role is to provide a roadmap that will help the clients travel along the right path in their healing process. Many trauma therapists do well to think of themselves more like family therapists. When a family comes in for counseling, the therapist often has to intervene to prevent conflict and chaos. The same is true for people who have experienced trauma and whose Parts may need that type of guidance.
When a therapist takes on this type of role, they can have the ability to help the Parts learn to understand, sympathize and get along with one another.
Trauma Therapy Should Evoke Empathy and Compassion
It is not helpful for therapists to act as though the Parts do not exist as a client is working on healing from trauma. Instead, the goal is to help the client identify what those Parts are and then become curious about them, empathize with them and feel compassion toward them.
Clients typically have a hard time separating themselves from their Parts. But once they do, that feeling of being overwhelmed by everything they are feeling and experiencing has a chance to subside. As therapy continues, clients are able to talk about what is troubling them and the therapist directs them to identify which Part is causing the issue so that it can be addressed specifically.
This type of therapy is very beneficial to someone who has lived through a traumatizing event. It causes the client to take a step back, away from the chaos, and really take inventory of what is happening inside them. It also gives them the opportunity to process traumatic memories in ways that are healthy and that help the Parts feel safer and better protected.
This method of trauma therapy can be life-changing for trauma victims. As a result, they often find that their triggers do not scare them the way they once did. Instead, they can end up feeling more connected to and protective of their Parts instead of feeling ashamed and alienated from them.
It is important to understand the role of the trauma therapist. This approach is definitely different, but it is one that has been proven to be effective. Would you like to talk with someone about this type of trauma therapy? Please contact me to make an appointment.
