Trauma

There are many types of trauma, these range from one off shock incidents like an assault or car accident to experiencing an abusive relationship and/or growing up in an environment where your needs were not met resulting in developmental or complex trauma.

Working therapeutically with developmental and shock trauma requires overlapping but different sets of skills. Individuals that have experienced either types of shock can present similarly. Both individuals may be anxious, depressed, disassociated, self loathing, and suffer from diverse physical symptoms.

At Naas Family and Play Therapy Service, we understand the difference ways trauma impacts people of all ages.  We use a range of evidence based approaches to address the complexities and varying distress experienced.

From a systemic perspective we explore the internal and external skills, strengths, resources, supports and coping strategies of individuals, families, communities or the larger society that help us deal more effectively with stressful events.

From a narrative therapy perspective, taking time to put together a consistent story, in the presence of a therapist that will support you and acknowledge your emotions allows you to make sense of your story and integrate it in a way that lets you move on with your life. As far as here added

The benefits of creative art and engaging in the creative process promotes emotional expression, expands our ability to cope with traumatic stress, and strengthens our sense of self and sense of safety. Activating and using the imagination to convey visual symbols and representations of safety through creative experiences can help bring some relief associated with overwhelming states of fear and alarm. (Miller)

Psychological or psycho-education can support us to understand the natural reactions that our mind’s and body’s have to traumatic experiences. This new understanding brings hope and supports us in knowing what we need to increase a sense of safety, connection and self regulation.

From an attachment framework, we explore re-connecting with others and feeling loved. We explore our attachment needs and how to express and meet these needs.

Externalising your experience or distressing symptoms provides enough space for you to gain perspective and explore ways to introduce new insights and behaviour.

Mindfulness teaches us how to calm our busy minds and stay focused in the present. This simple concept holds many challenges, the benefits of which are worth considering. The establishment of new neuropath ways allows for phyisical and mental health benefits.

When necessary returning to past experiences in a supported way while keeping duel awareness of the present, allows us to revisit rather than relive the experience adding new and alternative insights and realisations.

Understanding how our experiences and stress are held in the body allows new insights into our body language and the ways our body communicates to us. Learning new strategies can support us in acknowledging and releasing these stresses.

Movements and integration techniques help us link the sensory system and the motor system: this allows for improved processing of information in the brain.