Trauma is a deep emotional response catalyzed by a disturbing or impactful experience that threatens mental health, physical safety, or life. Some forms of trauma include medical trauma, disaster trauma, childhood trauma, abuse/neglect trauma, and racial trauma. Trauma can manifest as flashbacks, unpredictable emotions, and headaches.
Some people can move on from a traumatic event and not experience adverse reactions to it for years after the fact. Others may be more susceptible to psychological wounds. If a person can cope with a severe threat, they are not traumatized. When someone has issues coping after the danger has passed, they are suffering from trauma. Women are more likely than men to experience trauma-related psychological wounds. Up to 20% of combat veterans will struggle with the symptoms of PTSD and psychological trauma.
IFS (internal family systems) is a transformative form of therapy that allows the client to discover their core self. IFS is frequently used as an evidence-based psychotherapy, helping people heal by accessing and healing their protective and wounded inner parts. IFS creates inner and outer connectedness by helping people first access their Self and, from that core, come to understand and heal their parts.
Some common goals of trauma therapy are:
- Boosting day-to-day function
- Regaining power and self esteem
- Overcoming addictions or other debilitating habits because of trauma
- Learning manageable and useful coping skills
- Improving emotional and spiritual well being