Healing from the hard things you’ve been through can seem daunting, especially if you don’t know where to start. The good news is that you don’t have to figure it out alone. Seeking treatment from trauma-informed care professionals, like the ones at Sage Recovery, can ensure that your physical and emotional safety remains the highest priority as you heal from PTSD. Before we discuss the healing benefits of trauma-informed care for recovery, we first need to cover the basics. Let’s dive in!
The Basics of Trauma-Informed Care
In a publication titled “Key Ingredients for Successful Trauma-Informed Care Implementation” by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the authors explain, “Trauma-informed care acknowledges the need to understand a patient’s life experiences in order to deliver effective care and has the potential to improve patient engagement, treatment adherence, health outcomes, and provider and staff wellness.”
Additionally, “Trauma-informed approaches to care shift the focus from ‘What’s wrong with you?’ to ‘What happened to you?’” This shift is crucial in the healing process, as it inherently changes the language from self-blame to compassion. Often, this opens doors to healing because it releases you of your responsibility for things that were out of your control. As a result, clinicians can show you how to come to terms with the things that cannot be changed, how to take care of yourself, and how to achieve lasting healing from trauma.
In the book Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services, SAMHSA explains that clinicians trained in trauma-informed care implement three core ideas:
- Realizing the prevalence of trauma
- Recognizing how trauma affects all individuals involved with the program, organization, or system, including its own workforce
- Responding by putting this knowledge into practice
Trauma-informed care requires the clinician to evaluate events, emotions, and circumstances from your past that could impact your future healing and overall health. Additionally, it provides a framework for the clinician, as knowledge of past trauma may place certain treatments off-limits due to the potential for re-traumatization.
How Trauma-Informed Care Can Help You Heal From PTSD
Trauma-informed care is different because it stresses the importance of acknowledging events that have shaped you into who you are today; rather than treating you solely based on isolated incidents.
SAMHSA explains, “Although many individuals may not identify the need to connect with their histories, trauma-informed services offer clients a chance to explore the impact of trauma, their strengths and creative adaptations in managing traumatic histories, their resilience, and the relationships among trauma, substance use, and psychological symptoms.”
Not only does this allow you to connect to your own story, but it also provides the clinician with a glimpse into why you may seek out certain coping strategies. In addition, as mentioned previously, trauma-informed care ensures that you will not be traumatized as you work through challenges from your past. This is especially important with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
What Is PTSD?
SAMHSA defines PTSD as “a real disorder that develops when a person has experienced or witnessed a scary, shocking, terrifying, or dangerous event. These stressful or traumatic events usually involve a situation where someone’s life has been threatened or severe injury has occurred.”
PTSD can occur in any person at any time after a traumatic event has occurred. For some, it’s within a few weeks of the event. Others may experience symptoms months or years later.
It is important to note that PTSD symptoms are not a guaranteed side-effect of a traumatic experience. Trauma is subjective, meaning that two people could go through the same experience and only one of them may view the event as traumatic. Even if someone considers an event to be traumatic, it doesn’t mean they will experience symptoms of PTSD. Regardless, it is important to understand and recognize the symptoms of PTSD so that it is easier to identify and get help.
MedlinePlus highlights the following symptoms of PTSD:
- Flashback episodes in which the event seems to be happening again and again
- Avoiding places, people, or thoughts that remind you of the event
- Continuously scanning your surroundings for signs of danger (hypervigilance)
- Negative thoughts, moods, and/or feelings
- Emotional numbing or feeling as though you do not care about anything
While symptoms of PTSD can vary from person to person in type and intensity, the good news is that healing is possible. Treatment centers, like Sage Recovery, specialize in helping patients heal from PTSD. This is done by providing evidence-based treatment options that can help ease symptoms and teach you how to cope healthily.
How Sage Recovery’s Model Helps Patients Heal From PTSD
Here at Sage Recovery, we understand the complexities that can come along with healing from the hard things you’ve been through. As a result, we offer multiple pathways to healing. These pathways will look different for everyone, as treatment varies based on your unique needs, experiences, and overall health.
Some common treatments we offer to help you heal from PTSD include:
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Music therapy
- Art therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
Healing from trauma can feel intimidating, especially if you don’t know where to start. We can help. Here at Sage Recovery, every staff member, from our campus chefs to licensed clinicians, is trained to provide trauma-informed care. As a result, you can rest easy knowing that you’ll be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion as you heal. Regardless of what circumstances brought you here, we want you to feel welcome and safe. Additionally, we can create a customized treatment plan that works for your specific needs and goals. Whether you need a residential, outpatient, or partial hospitalization program, we’ll be able to walk alongside you as you heal. Reach out to us at (512) 306-1394 for more information.