Trauma-Informed Therapy

Anyone can suffer the long-lasting and debilitating impact of a traumatic event, and if you do, trauma-informed therapy can help you recover. Nadège Petrie, LPC, LMHC, and the experienced therapists at Hopeful Minds Counseling Services in Newberg, Oregon, specialize in trauma-informed therapy, whether you have PTSD or need help coping with the many daily traumas sustained by people in the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities. Call the office or request an appointment online to get help for overcoming the effects of trauma.

Who might need trauma-informed care?

Psychological trauma occurs when you experience a frightening or life-threatening event. Though trauma can affect anyone at every age, people in the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities have a much higher risk because they’re constantly exposed to discrimination, prejudice, and violence.

Their trauma may arise from a major event, like police brutality, shootings targeting LGBTQIA+ or BIPOC people, or another hate crime. Or they may suffer relentless microaggressions. For example, your new neighbors may avoid you, or you may be denied a job or loan because of your race or culture.

Racism, devaluing a person’s culture, and being physically or verbally abusive due to a person’s gender, race, or culture cause trauma. Trauma has a negative impact on your emotional health and social well-being, resulting in long-lasting and often severe mental health problems.

What is trauma-informed therapy?

Trauma-informed therapy means being constantly mindful of a person’s past trauma (even if you don’t know their history) and:

• Understanding the widespread impact of trauma
• Recognizing the signs of trauma
• Anticipating and avoiding re-traumatizing the patient
• Ensuring patients feel safe and respected

Accidentally, carelessly, or purposefully making statements that trigger a person’s subconscious memories of their traumatic event triggers an intense mental, emotional, and behavioral response. For example, they may become uncharacteristically angry or aggressive or need to withdraw.

What conditions may require trauma-informed therapy?

Patients with any type of mental health disorder deserve to receive trauma-informed therapy to ensure they’re not re-traumatized. However, trauma-informed therapy is especially crucial for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

PTSD can develop after experiencing the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC traumas mentioned above and any of the following:

• Gun violence
• Combat duty
• Physical assault or abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual violence
• Domestic violence
• Robberies or home invasions
• Accidents (car, plane, boat, etc.)
• Death of a loved one
• Hurricanes, tornados, and other natural disasters

These events have such an impact that you suffer symptoms like severe anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, anger, irritation, and insomnia for months or years.

Many people feel guilty or ashamed that they didn’t stop the trauma (even though that would have been impossible). PTSD also drives people to avoid every person, place, or activity that reminds them of the traumatic event.

PTSD also frequently occurs with related conditions, including memory loss, depression, and substance.

Call Hopeful Minds Counseling Services or connect online to request an appointment to learn how therapy can help you recover from trauma.