Trauma is often linked to substance abuse disorders. In the fight against addiction, many clients will need to address the trauma of their past to move forward successfully. A Trauma therapy program is an effective way to give clients the tools they need to find a fulfilling future that is free from addiction.
Trauma is often misunderstood. There are many different types of trauma, and it impacts individuals in countless ways. To understand the benefits of trauma-informed therapy, it is essential to understand the definition of trauma.
Trauma can be both physical and psychological. Sometimes, it stems from a single traumatic event. For example, a client might have lived through a violent crime, or they might have been caught up in a natural disaster. Although these events can take just minutes or hours, they can be a defining moment in a person’s life and in their development.
In other instances, trauma can stem from repetitive actions. This might include living in a home with domestic abuse or serving in a military environment and experiencing PTSD as a result.
When a person experiences trauma, they develop ways of coping with it. While there are healthy ways to deal with trauma, those aren’t always readily available or obvious to clients. As a result, many individuals turn to substance abuse as a way to cope with the stress of trauma.
Clients who struggle with both trauma and addiction may suffer from a variety of unpleasant side effects. It is common to feel lonely, hopeless and alienated. Many clients also lack self-esteem and experience flashbacks. Nightmares, insomnia and chronic anger or fatigue are also possible.
All of these symptoms simply reinforce the need for self-medication. All too often, clients turn to drugs or alcohol to deal with the side effects of trauma. A Trauma Therapy program is the only way to resolve the root cause of the problem.
Clients in a Trauma Therapy program at Gateway will have the chance to participate in a Seeking Safety program. This element of trauma therapy gives clients the skills they need to navigate challenging situations.
Following trauma, clients may struggle to feel safe or secure. Certain environments might be incredibly stressful, and that can lead to a relapse or other harmful behaviors. Through Seeking Safety, clients learn to make better, safer choices and to interact appropriately with people from all walks of life.
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Trauma-informed therapy can be the ideal way to address both trauma and addiction at the same time. Dual Diagnosis Enhanced Treatment addresses past trauma that includes a substance addiction. If clients struggle with substance abuse and trauma, they have co-occurring disorders. A Trauma Therapy program will seek to resolve both issues.
It is critical that Trauma Therapy is offered at the same time as other Addiction Therapy Services. For addiction recovery programs to be effective, they need to take the whole person into consideration. For trauma-informed therapy to be effective, it can’t ignore the issue of addiction. Simultaneous and comprehensive treatment is always the best route forward for maximum recovery.
There is no such thing as 100 percent effective rehab treatment. Relapse is always a risk, but it can be mitigated. By resolving underlying issues through trauma-informed therapy, clients will be better able to avoid the dangers of relapse in the years to come.
A Trauma Therapy program at Gateway can help clients fight back against addiction and conquer inner turmoil. Comprehensive and varied care includes a wide range of treatment methods and a customized recovery plan. Some of the many treatments available to clients are:
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