Abuse of alcohol or drugs. Developing an eating disorder. Inability to sleep. Self-isolation. These are just some of the issues you may suffer from if you are dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic event. If you or a loved one is ready for change–if you want to experience health and wholeness again–a trauma-informed approach and motivational interviewing may be the answer.
Trauma-Informed Mental Health Care
Unfortunately, according to statistics, most American adults have experienced a traumatic event in their lives. Trauma does not have to fit into neatly-defined categories. According to the American Psychological Association, trauma is defined as an emotional response to a terrible event. Terrible events can include, but are not limited to:
- Physical abuse
- Loss of a loved one
- Adverse childhood experiences, including emotional or physical neglect, substance abuse or violence in the household, or divorce
- War or societal unrest
- Effects of emotional abuse
- Natural disasters
- Sexual abuse
People who have experienced a traumatic event may be able to heal on their own or with friends or family, but many develop mental health issues that would benefit from a professional’s care. Examples of trauma-induced symptoms include:
- Loss of interest in activities
- Engaging in risky or destructive behavior
- Insomnia
- Nightmares/flashbacks to the traumatic event
- Self-isolating
- Susceptibility to colds or other illnesses
- Being easily startled
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Difficulty remembering details/difficulty concentrating
- Fatigue
- Unexplained pain or sweating
In such instances, it is important to seek out trauma informed care. In this kind of care, providers understand and consider the pervasive nature of trauma–how it can affect a person emotionally and physically–and work to create safe, trusting environments wherein real healing can take place without re-traumatizing the client. Clients are encouraged to be aware of their own triggers and are empowered to make choices in the therapeutic setting rather than feeling forced to confront a memory or emotion that risks re-traumatizing them. Trauma-informed care has been described as a paradigm shift from asking “what is wrong with you?” to asking “what happened to you?”
What Is Motivational Interviewing?
A trauma-informed approach and motivational interviewing are strong tools to help individuals recover from trauma-induced mental health issues, but what is motivational interviewing? This form of talk therapy is a specific way of talking about and effecting change. This counseling method helps clients explore and identify the thoughts or feelings that motivate them towards undesirable behaviors. It then encourages clients to identify the specific motivations they have for changing those behaviors so that real change can begin to take place.
Evidence shows that this approach can be very successful in treating everything from eating disorders to substance abuse disorders, but this is dependent on a strong, trusting client-provider relationship. Such a relationship requires a trauma-informed approach. Providers must be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in their clients, and integrate their knowledge about trauma into every aspect of the motivational interview. Using this trauma informed lens, providers are able to help clients safely achieve the lasting change they so desperately want.
What Will a Trauma-Informed Approach and Motivational Interviewing Look Like?
In motivational interviewing, instead of telling a client what to do to “get better,” the provider asks targeted questions to help them realize what they need to do. Once a client has identified their motivations for healing, they can cling to those motivations even when the recovery journey becomes difficult.
In a trauma-informed motivational interview, the provider asks questions while simultaneously being careful not to re-traumatize the client. For example, if the provider recognizes that a series of questions about a certain life event are triggering post-traumatic stress responses, instead of pressing further to “get to the root” of the client’s feelings, the provider will redirect the line of questioning so that the client regains a feeling of safety and security. The provider is careful not to use certain language that may be triggering for the client, and remains sensitive to cultural or historical issues that may influence the client’s way of communicating.
Trauma-Informed Approach and Motivational Interviewing in Nashville, TN
If you or a loved one recognize the signs of trauma in your life, consider starting your journey to recovery and healing at the Integrative Life Center in Nashville, TN. Our facility focuses on holistic care for individuals seeking to recover from substance abuse disorder, eating disorders, or other mental health issues. This includes yoga, nutrition therapy, art therapy, equine therapy, music therapy, and mindfulness therapy. We provide trauma treatment that encompasses the whole individual–spiritual, emotional, and physical. Our trauma-informed practitioners create safe, trusting environments wherein healing from trauma can take place. If you are suffering from the effects of a traumatic event, contact us today at 615-378-8806 to begin your journey to recovery.
