This is a question asked often and there a many differing opinions and beliefs about the counselling process. Counselling is a skilled process…..

Fostering wellbeing through personal growth, assisting clients to resolve crises and life problems through personal change, developing personal meaning and healing following grief and loss (2012) – Glenn Shepherd

Many clients come to counselling with an expectation that the counsellor will solve their problems/issues by telling them what to do or providing advice. Some even expect a magic wand to come out! In reality counselling is a process that enables the client to view their problems/issues from another or clearer perspective, developing new insights. Good counselling assists the client to make decision about themselves and their lives by reflecting on experience, thoughts and judgements in an open, working though feelings and emotions to develop solutions and coping strategies which support and benefit their lives.

Fostering wellbeing through personal growth, assisting clients to resolve crises and life problems through personal change, developing personal meaning and healing following grief and loss (2012)

References:

https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/NOE.What-is-Counselling-A-Search-for-a-Definition.pdfPsychotherapy-2012.pdf

Trauma Counselling

What is Trauma?

Psychological trauma is the unique individual experience of an event or enduring conditions, in which: The individual's ability to integrate his/her emotional experience is overwhelmed, or the individual experiences present (subjectively) as a threat to life, bodily integrity, or sanity. (*Pearlman & Saakvitne,1995). Each individual’s experience of trauma is unique and it depends on the individual’s vulnerability at the time of the trauma.

What is trauma counselling?

Trauma counselling involves processes focused on education of the brain & the body’s trauma responses and provides an understanding the link between the trauma experience and the emotional and behavioural responses as a result of the trauma. It involves learning strategies to help you process emotions and memories tied to the trauma, while creating a healthier meaning of the experience and an ability to move on with life and to not being controlled by the trauma affects and experience/s.

Do I have to relive my trauma memories?

Many people still think that they have to retell their trauma story/stories in trauma counselling however this is not required; in actual fact many people don’t remember their trauma story however they feel the impact of the trauma on their life.

“Trauma survivors have symptoms instead of memories” (**Harvey, M. R.,1996)

It is up to the trauma survivor to speak about their traumatic event/s when they feel they want to do so, it is only necessary to disclose the symptoms for therapy to assist the survivor. Many trauma survivors can’t remember what happened to them. Additionally, ”memory is fickle, our stories change and are constantly updated” (**Bessel Van Der Kolk,2014). Studies show us that when the body is exposed to trauma the brain detects it is under stress and our brain goes into survival mode instead of being stored as a narrative it is stored by way of emotional and body memories therefore counselling looks at treating symptoms such as feelings and emotions and impulses as a result of the trauma.

How long does it take?

There is no time limit or expectation regarding counselling, many factors can impact the outcome of sessions. The goal is to work with the individual to improve their capacity to recognise trauma symptoms to understand these and to foster healing and resilience in a safe environment addressing each individuals needs.

*Pearlman, Laurie Anne, and Karen W. Saakvitne. Trauma and the Therapist. New York: Norton, 1995.

**Harvey, M. R. (1996). An ecological view of psychological trauma and trauma recovery. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 9(1), 3–23. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.2490090103

*** Bessel Van Der Kolk (2014) The Body Keeps Score, Penguin Random House