Why is Trauma Intervention Needed and Who is it For?
Trauma is a sensory experience and it is an experience like no other, commonly marked by a state of terror and powerlessness (Steele). What causes the trauma can be many things, some examples include:
Individuals of all ages can experience trauma, including infants and children. Even when we do not consciously recall our trauma experiences (because of our age or protective functions such as repression) our body holds memory, as does our mind. Trauma is a sensory experience and, regardless of the level of perceived intensity of effect on an individual, treatment promotes resilience later in life.
The Ontario government is beginning to recognize the urgent need for action in mental health and addictions treatment. Childhood exposure to abuse and victimization is prevalent and has been shown to contribute to significant immediate and long-term psychological distress and functional impairment. Support for trauma-informed approaches is included in the Mental Health and Addictions Strategy for Ontario (Minister’s Advisory Group, 2010).
Mental health, trauma, and addictions are often inter-related:
Risks are greater early and late in life
- experiencing abuse, neglect, exposure to domestic violence
- separation and divorce
- bereavement
- being in foster care
- terminal illness
- military involvement
- brain injury
- moving, change in schools, changes in life circumstances
- bullying
- isolation / lack of healthy attachments
- car accidents
- adoption
- exploitation
- terrorism
- house fires
- and anything else considered to be traumatic by the person experiencing the event
Individuals of all ages can experience trauma, including infants and children. Even when we do not consciously recall our trauma experiences (because of our age or protective functions such as repression) our body holds memory, as does our mind. Trauma is a sensory experience and, regardless of the level of perceived intensity of effect on an individual, treatment promotes resilience later in life.
The Ontario government is beginning to recognize the urgent need for action in mental health and addictions treatment. Childhood exposure to abuse and victimization is prevalent and has been shown to contribute to significant immediate and long-term psychological distress and functional impairment. Support for trauma-informed approaches is included in the Mental Health and Addictions Strategy for Ontario (Minister’s Advisory Group, 2010).
- 1 in 4 Canadians has experienced a traumatic event (Van Ameringen, Mancini, Patterson, & Boyle, 2008).
- 1 in 10 develops Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and problems tend to be co-occurring and co-morbid (Van Ameringen, Mancini, Patterson, & Boyle, 2008).
- 2 to 3 per cent of Ontarians have a serious or complex addiction that they will have to cope with throughout their lives (Van Ameringen, Mancini, Patterson, & Boyle, 2008).
- One third of children worldwide are estimated to experience physical abuse, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 5 boys experience sexual victimization. Children and youth who experience abuse are more likely to develop PTSD occurring in 60% of those who are sexually abused, and 42% of those physically abused (D’Andrea, Ford, Stolbach, Spinazzola, & van der Kolk, 2011; Marsenich, 2002).
Mental health, trauma, and addictions are often inter-related:
- 40% of children with any trauma history have at least one other mood, anxiety or disruptive behavior disorder diagnosis, and this relationship is exacerbated by exposure to increasing numbers of types of traumatic stressors (Copeland et al., 2007).
- Dr. Gabor Mate, addictions expert suggests that without trauma there would be no addiction (2008).
- Lori has observed a strong correlation between a history of complex trauma and clients that she sees for addictions services (90+%)
Risks are greater early and late in life
- The infant’s early environment can have a direct impact development of brain design laying the foundation for future relationships (Schore, 2001).
- One third of children worldwide are estimated to experience physical abuse, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 5 boys experience sexual victimization. Children and youth who experience abuse are more likely to develop PTSD occurring in 60% of those who are sexually abused, and 42% of those physically abused (D’Andrea, Ford, Stolbach, Spinazzola, & van der Kolk, 2011; Marsenich, 2002).
- A recent Canadian study involving six women’s treatment centres from across Canada found that 90% of the women interviewed reported childhood or adult abuse histories in relation to their problematic use of alcohol (Minister’s Advisory Group on the 10-Year Mental Health and Addictions Strategy, 2010).
What is the Difference Between Trauma and Attachment Specific Therapy and Trauma Informed Treatment?
There is a growing interest in trauma-informed care in Canada, which is quite exciting. ATTCH Niagara Founder, Lori has been awaiting this while researching this trend and specializing in trauma intervention for several years working with the National Institute for Trauma and Loss. As the government suggests the need for trauma-informed care we will see a staff member or and organization complete some level of training in trauma intervention. What this looks like may vary from one agency to another.
Trauma Therapy by a qualified and Certified Trauma and Attachment Specialist ensures that the therapist has an understanding of trauma, how it impacts the body, the mind, and behaviour. How the brain becomes hard-wired and associations are formed that cause us to respond in a rigid automatic survival driven manner, rather than how we would want to respond. A trauma therapist understands that it is not that we "don't" but rather often that we "can't." A trauma therapist is willing to tend to the "fire" the underlying issues that are driving the pain and behaviours. They work through these underlying issues in a safe and structured manner to allow for externalizing, containment, meaning making, and integration of the experience.
Trauma is co-morbid with so many other factors, having a core awareness of trauma and attachment dysregulation and its impact and differential diagnosis is crucial for therapists to determine proper diagnosis and complete efficacious treatment planning. Although there are counselling services offered focusing on broader treatment, few clinicians specialize in delivering trauma and attachment specific therapy. Herman (1997) indicates that working with complex trauma can be challenging due to its oscillating and dialectical nature and a comprehensive awareness of trauma and it's impact should be known before engaging in trauma intervention.
Trauma Therapy by a qualified and Certified Trauma and Attachment Specialist ensures that the therapist has an understanding of trauma, how it impacts the body, the mind, and behaviour. How the brain becomes hard-wired and associations are formed that cause us to respond in a rigid automatic survival driven manner, rather than how we would want to respond. A trauma therapist understands that it is not that we "don't" but rather often that we "can't." A trauma therapist is willing to tend to the "fire" the underlying issues that are driving the pain and behaviours. They work through these underlying issues in a safe and structured manner to allow for externalizing, containment, meaning making, and integration of the experience.
Trauma is co-morbid with so many other factors, having a core awareness of trauma and attachment dysregulation and its impact and differential diagnosis is crucial for therapists to determine proper diagnosis and complete efficacious treatment planning. Although there are counselling services offered focusing on broader treatment, few clinicians specialize in delivering trauma and attachment specific therapy. Herman (1997) indicates that working with complex trauma can be challenging due to its oscillating and dialectical nature and a comprehensive awareness of trauma and it's impact should be known before engaging in trauma intervention.
Key Considerations About Trauma Therapy
Trauma evokes a sense of powerlessness and terror, the associated emotional responses tend to occur rapidly and intensely. Our body and mind adapt to the ongoing and perpetual crisis state, which becomes what we know (what is normal for us). Over time it is the absence of chaos that creates a sense of uncertainty, as our body and mind are not familiar with this feeling, therefore a sense of anxiety is experienced by some. The primary goal of trauma therapy with ATTCH Niagara is establishing a sense of safety, a sense of comfort with calm.
Why is Trauma Therapy Needed and Who is it For?
Individuals of all ages can experience trauma, including infants and children. Even when we do not consciously recall our trauma experiences (because of our age or protective functions such as repression) our body holds memory, as does our mind. Trauma is a sensory experience and, regardless of the level of perceived intensity of effect on an individual, treatment promotes resilience later in life.
Treatment focuses not on avoiding unpleasant or uncomfortable emotions but rather on building awareness and tolerance to hold these emotions and reflect on them with compassion. As a result, the strategies we use focus on regulating the nervous system which is very important to ongoing resiliency and optimal development. To do so we incorporate mindfulness meditation yoga and various other holistic wellness practices to increase attention span, regulate the body and mind, and optimize the individual’s ability to regulate their emotions and behaviours. Current neurocisence research is demonstrating that mindfulness is changing the brain in the areas most effected by trauma (van der Kolk, 2014).
Trauma drastically disrupts our nervous/sensory system. All of our senses are impacted as our brain becomes stuck on high alert constantly scanning for threat or danger (Scarer, 2013; Warner, 2015). Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, (2014), considered to be one of the world’s leading trauma authorities describes a few key brain functions in his latest book The Body Keeps the Score; the amygdala (which he likens to being the ‘smoke detector’ of the brain) has a central purpose of assessing input from our nervous system and determining whether threat exists. The medial prefrontal cortex located in the frontal lobe (referred to as the ‘watch tower’ of our brain) has a goal of helping to mitigate false alarms by helping us to realize when there truly is no threat present. When we are too emotionally overwhelmed this communication to calm the smoke alarm prevents the aborting of the stress response. Several other areas of the brain are impacted by trauma; the medial prefrontal cortex is devoted to self-reflective capacities (your inner experience of yourself). The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the hippocampus are concerned with your relationship with your surroundings. The DLPFC helps us consider how our present experience relates to the past and potential future impact (and is referred to by van der Kolk as the ‘time keeper’ of the brain). Depersonalization occurs when there is a splitting off from the self and is often recognizable when people tell their stories seemingly without any emotional connection to their experience.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) creates shifts in the critical balance between the amygdala and the medial prefrontal cortex making it harder to control emotions and impulses and making it more likely that people will respond to threat more intensely than may be needed. Neuroimaging shows us that emotionally charged states such as intense fear, sadness, and anger all increase activation of subcortical (more primitive) brain regions involved in emotions and significantly reduced activity in various areas in the frontal lobe (higher order cause and effect thinking areas of the brain) particularly the medial prefrontal cortex. Essentially the inhibitory capacities of the frontal lobe break down making it so this individual is less able to respond in a socially appropriate manner as their stress system is on high alert and primed for survival (van der Kolk, 2014).
Why is Trauma Therapy Needed and Who is it For?
Individuals of all ages can experience trauma, including infants and children. Even when we do not consciously recall our trauma experiences (because of our age or protective functions such as repression) our body holds memory, as does our mind. Trauma is a sensory experience and, regardless of the level of perceived intensity of effect on an individual, treatment promotes resilience later in life.
Treatment focuses not on avoiding unpleasant or uncomfortable emotions but rather on building awareness and tolerance to hold these emotions and reflect on them with compassion. As a result, the strategies we use focus on regulating the nervous system which is very important to ongoing resiliency and optimal development. To do so we incorporate mindfulness meditation yoga and various other holistic wellness practices to increase attention span, regulate the body and mind, and optimize the individual’s ability to regulate their emotions and behaviours. Current neurocisence research is demonstrating that mindfulness is changing the brain in the areas most effected by trauma (van der Kolk, 2014).
Trauma drastically disrupts our nervous/sensory system. All of our senses are impacted as our brain becomes stuck on high alert constantly scanning for threat or danger (Scarer, 2013; Warner, 2015). Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, (2014), considered to be one of the world’s leading trauma authorities describes a few key brain functions in his latest book The Body Keeps the Score; the amygdala (which he likens to being the ‘smoke detector’ of the brain) has a central purpose of assessing input from our nervous system and determining whether threat exists. The medial prefrontal cortex located in the frontal lobe (referred to as the ‘watch tower’ of our brain) has a goal of helping to mitigate false alarms by helping us to realize when there truly is no threat present. When we are too emotionally overwhelmed this communication to calm the smoke alarm prevents the aborting of the stress response. Several other areas of the brain are impacted by trauma; the medial prefrontal cortex is devoted to self-reflective capacities (your inner experience of yourself). The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the hippocampus are concerned with your relationship with your surroundings. The DLPFC helps us consider how our present experience relates to the past and potential future impact (and is referred to by van der Kolk as the ‘time keeper’ of the brain). Depersonalization occurs when there is a splitting off from the self and is often recognizable when people tell their stories seemingly without any emotional connection to their experience.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) creates shifts in the critical balance between the amygdala and the medial prefrontal cortex making it harder to control emotions and impulses and making it more likely that people will respond to threat more intensely than may be needed. Neuroimaging shows us that emotionally charged states such as intense fear, sadness, and anger all increase activation of subcortical (more primitive) brain regions involved in emotions and significantly reduced activity in various areas in the frontal lobe (higher order cause and effect thinking areas of the brain) particularly the medial prefrontal cortex. Essentially the inhibitory capacities of the frontal lobe break down making it so this individual is less able to respond in a socially appropriate manner as their stress system is on high alert and primed for survival (van der Kolk, 2014).