Trauma Focus
Trauma and Addiction Counseling
Addiction doesn’t develop in a vacuum. Our life experiences, positive or negative, shape who we are, what we think, and how we behave. When a traumatic event occurs, in childhood or adulthood, it can disrupt our pattern of functioning and will require significant support to overcome. Often, those who have undergone traumatic experiences find themselves self-medicating with drugs and alcohol, simply because dealing with their past sober feels impossible. As this dependency grows, so does the likelihood of developing a substance use disorder.
What Is Trauma?
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) defines trauma as “an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.” Unfortunately, trauma can be a part of life for everyone, regardless of age, gender, socioeconomic status, race, or sexual orientation. This means that addressing these underlying triggers for drug and alcohol use is integral to effective behavioral health care, especially in the recovery process.
Treating Trauma With EMDR
It’s highly important that when substance use disorders are treated, so are the root causes. If traumatic events and memories are left unaddressed, the likelihood of successful sobriety decreases. Concise Recovery Center has seen excellent results in trauma treatment with our proven EMDR therapy sessions.
EMDR is the abbreviation for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Developed in the late 1980s, this therapeutic method is a heavily researched, effective type of psychotherapy specifically geared for the treatment of trauma. Researchers discovered a link between eye movements and decreased reaction to disturbing thoughts – by creating a unique set of treatment protocols and alternating visual stimulation, EMDR has helped countless people overcome their traumatic experiences. This type of treatment is ideal for clients with co-occurring Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or other negative symptoms, including flashback memories or disturbing dreams.
MEDICAL DETOXIFICATION & ADDICTION RECOVERY IN CALIFORNIA
Concise Recovery Center of Los Angeles offers an affordable, comfortable setting for you or a loved one to begin recovery. We encourage you to reach out to us 24/7.
Treating Trauma With CBT
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people treat trauma by connecting and illuminating the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and how a change in one domain can impact the others. The core idea is to identify problematic, trauma-induced thinking patterns, and develop ways to reduce symptoms of trauma and improve one’s daily functioning. There are different ways to change one’s thought patterns, but one of the best is to concentrate on the present, identify negative thoughts, and work through this negativity through talk therapy. By changing your thinking, you can naturally reduce trauma-related actions, including excess drug and alcohol consumption.
Treating Trauma With CBT
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is focused on the here and now and helping you regulate your emotions. By focusing on the present, developing positive self-talk, and replacing destructive behaviors with constructive actions, you’ll have the internal tools to successfully respond to trauma. Our therapists will help you think independently outside of therapy. This will give you the ability to handle real-life situations that have traditionally triggered your addiction.