Building Trust with a Trauma-Informed Therapist

Building Trust with a Trauma-Informed Therapist in San Diego can feel daunting.  

It feels like there are so many options out there, Coaches, Mentors, Talk therapy, Somatic therapy… Where to start?

Trust is the foundation of any therapeutic relationship, especially when it comes to trauma therapy.

For individuals who have experienced trauma, the journey towards healing can be fraught with challenges and uncertainties.

A trauma-informed therapist plays a crucial role in this process by creating a safe and supportive environment where trust can flourish.

Understanding Trauma-Informed Care

Trauma-informed care is an approach that acknowledges the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for recovery.

It emphasizes physical, psychological, and emotional safety for both clients and providers, helping survivors rebuild a sense of control and empowerment.

Key Principles of Trauma-Informed Care

Safety: Ensuring that clients feel physically and emotionally safe.

Trustworthiness and Transparency: Building trust through clear communication.

Peer Support: Encouraging connections with others who have experienced similar traumas.

Collaboration and Mutuality: Valuing the client’s input as essential to their healing process.

Empowerment, Voice, and Choice: Prioritizing the client’s strengths and fostering self-advocacy.

The Role of a Trauma-Informed Therapist

A trauma-informed therapist integrates these principles into their practice to help clients navigate their healing journey effectively.

hey are trained to recognize the signs of trauma, understand its effects on behavior and emotions, and respond in ways that support recovery.

Creating a Safe Environment

For many trauma survivors, feeling safe is not just about physical space but also about emotional security. A trauma-informed therapist will:

Use calming techniques to create a serene atmosphere.

Maintain consistent session schedules to provide stability.

Respect personal boundaries at all times.

Building Trust Through Communication

Transparency is critical in building trust. A skilled therapist will:

Explain therapeutic processes clearly so there are no surprises.

Be open about their own qualifications and experiences working with trauma.

Encourage questions from clients to foster an open dialogue.

Encouraging Empowerment

Empowerment involves giving clients control over their healing process:

Clients are encouraged to set their own goals for therapy.

Therapists provide options for different therapeutic approaches.

Feedback from clients shapes the course of treatment.

Techniques Used by Trauma-Informed Therapists

Different therapeutic techniques can be employed depending on individual needs:

Somatic Therapy for Trauma

Somatic therapy focuses on the connection between mind and body.

By addressing physical sensations associated with traumatic memories, therapists help clients release stored tension:

Body Awareness Exercises: These exercises help clients become more attuned to bodily sensations as they arise during therapy sessions.

Breathing Techniques: Controlled breathing helps regulate emotional responses.

Individualized Interventions

Each client’s experience with trauma is unique; therefore, interventions must be tailored specifically:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps reframe negative thought patterns associated with traumatic events.

Internal Family Systems:  Helps you get to know your parts and have a deeper understanding of why behaviors emerge and how to change them.

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR): Utilizes eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation to process traumatic memories.  

Brainspotting:  Uses your eyes to go deep into the brain and process on a somatic level the trauma that is stuck in your body.  

Neurofeedback:  Train your brain to change states.  You can play games on your phone or watch your favorite show while you also train your brain to go to a more relaxed state.

The Importance of Connection in Healing

A strong therapeutic alliance fosters deeper engagement in treatment:

Peer Support Networks

Connecting with others who have similar experiences provides validation:

Group therapy sessions offer shared understanding among participants.

Online communities serve as additional support outside traditional settings.

Family Involvement

Involving loved ones can enhance recovery outcomes:

Family therapy addresses relational dynamics impacted by trauma.

Educating family members about trauma helps them provide better support at home.

Building trust with a trauma-informed therapist is integral for effective healing from anxiety and past traumas.

By prioritizing safety, transparency, empowerment, individualized care plans, somatic therapies along peer supports & family involvement.

Therapists create an environment conducive for profound transformation & lasting peace within oneself!  

Shay works with clients who have PTSD, phobias, anxiety, attachment trauma or other experiences to help them get out of stuck and back into feeling alive.   

Shay is an experienced somatic trauma therapist who has spent years certifying in specialized modalities in order to provide you with the most effective interventions according to your needs and nervous system.  

Compassionate Inquiry, IFS, EMDR, Brainspotting, Neurofeedback, and Somatic Experiencing are some of the modalities Shay uses to help clients get out of stuck, stop making decisions out of fear, and get back into calm aliveness.  

Email shay@overcomeanxietytrauma.com to book a session or use the button above.   Shay has contributed to National Geographic read the article here.

Healing is Possible!