What is Trauma?

Trauma is when we experience very stressful, frightening or distressing events that are difficult to cope with or out of our control. It could be one incident, or an ongoing event that happens over a long period of time. Traumas can include neglect or abuse, including physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Car accidents, natural disasters, war, school shootings, terrorist attacks like 9/11 (or even exposure to media coverage of traumatic events) are examples of trauma as well.

BHcare offers evidenced-based treatment in both individual and group formats to help decrease or eliminate these trauma reactions and symptoms.

• EMDR (Eye Movement, Desensitization, and Reprocessing) is a structured, 8-phase therapy used to treat survivors of trauma. Providers will use bilateral stimulation (traditionally eye movements) to desensitize the traumatic memory or memories which leads to a reduction and ultimately eradication of PTSD symptoms. Growing research in EMDR has also demonstrated its benefits in managing OCD symptoms, anxiety, depression, chronic pain and other challenging life experiences.

• Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is an evidenced-based form of psychotherapy that utilizes bilateral stimulation, traditionally eye movements, to help clients address common problems such as depression, anxiety, phobias and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  The brain, while focused on a problem and concurrently using eye movements, makes new connections with a person’s strengths and problem solving abilities.

• Seeking Safety is evidenced-based treatment model that treats co-occurring post traumatic stress disorder and substance use.  After a traumatic experience, many people choose unhealthy coping mechanisms, which may include using substances to escape the pain. Seeking Safety does not ask the client to relive the  details of the trauma. Rather, the treatment focuses on the present. It asks trauma survivors  to envision what safety would currently feel like in their lives. Then, it teaches them coping skills to achieve that vision.

• Trauma Recovery Empowerment Model (TREM) is an evidenced-based group intervention for individuals who have experienced trauma.  This model draws on cognitive-behavioral therapy, skills training and psychoeducation.  TREM consists of 3 major parts: empowerment, understanding the traumatic experience and impact of the experience and skill building.  Groups are gender specific and encourage peer support.