Benefits of a trauma recovery program
Trauma recovery programs are beneficial for those who suffer from post-traumatic disorder, sexual addiction, abuse or trauma of any kind. Individuals who have been referred to the program are usually chemically dependent and may also be suffering from other psychiatric issues. Patients may be referred to a program once they have already undergone treatment for trauma and have relapsed. Relapse is common amongst patients who have unresolved sexual trauma or obsessive compulsive disorder.
An emotional trauma counselling program can actually help address the needs of patients who have suffered a relapse.
Different kind of trauma
Trauma can be of the physical kind or it can be mental trauma as well. The following are different categories in which trauma can be grouped
- An intense single event: this is a single event which has cast a lasting trauma on the patient, one from which they might find it extremely difficult to resurface. This could be an accident, a mugging gone bad, rape, abduction or a kidnapping.
- Repetitive trauma: this is an ongoing series of events which happens repetitively. Patients who have suffered years of sexual abuse often fall into this category. A prolonged illness could also be one of the causes.
- Combination: as the name suggest it could be a combination of both a single or repetitive stress which the patient has undergone.
Anyone who has undergone trauma has to face a great deal of stress. Therapy helps patients understand ways to manage and cope with their stress. The focus is on developing protective psychological measures which can help individuals cope better.
Sometimes patients who have undergone trauma do not find it easy to resurface from the trauma and therefore seek professional help.
The following are some of the symptoms of unresolved emotional trauma:
- Feelings of dissociation
- Despair and depression
- A low self esteem
- Social anxiety which may prevent a person from mingling with others. It can even lead to agoraphobia which is the fear of leaving one’s home or familiar surroundings.
- Self harm
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Suffering from insomnia or nightmares
- Obsessive disorders
No two treatment facilities have the same philosophy for treating trauma. They have a different set of treatment methods and options which are often customized according to a particular group of patients. A facility can use any of the approaches while others may use a combination of socio-psycho-spiritual and biological approach. There are also therapeutic approaches involved and also integrative therapies.
The benefits of such programs is that patients learn emotional truths about themselves. They learn to face their fears through therapeutic tools like equine assisted therapy, adventure therapy and psychodrama.
The staff who assist the patients take on a compassionate approach and patients also learn to be compassionate on the whole, towards themselves and others as well. When in a group patients learn to encourage others and in a way learn to develop a sense of worth and purpose in their life.
Group therapy can provide a myriad of benefits for people undergoing trauma.