Trauma-Informed Treatment in Massachusetts
IT’S NOT “JUST THERAPY.” IT’S A STRATEGIC AND INTENTIONAL TRANSFORMATION.
Counseling and therapeutic services promote personal wellness and lifelong recovery. Through guided internal processing and practical coping skill development, clients are empowered to overcome personal challenges and create for themselves the life they truly wish to lead.
At Refresh Recovery, we’ve seen clients safely navigate mental health and substance use disorders time and time again. Professional counseling and therapy are often the catalysts you need to sustain lasting recovery and personal renewal. Start here.
COMPASSIONATE AND ENLIGHTENED TREATMENT FOR NAVIGATING PAST AND PRESENT TRAUMA.
At Refresh Recovery & Wellness in Norwell, MA, we understand that everyone deals with trauma differently. We also know that while it can be tied to large-scale and dramatic events, it can just as easily be tied to private or chronic events not as widely recognized by others.
No matter what caused your trauma, it’s crucial that you get the help needed to address it and how it may impact other mental health or substance use disorders. This is how you can find complete healing.
Our team at Refresh Recovery & Wellness in Norwell, MA, is specially trained to work with those recovering from past and present traumatic events. We use evidence-based treatment programs to improve your mental health and overall well-being. We know that your life experiences are unique, and we’re dedicated to helping you overcome the impact of trauma in a safe and compassionate environment. You’re In The Right Place.
WHAT IS TRAUMA-INFORMED THERAPY IN MASSACHUSETTS?
It is often said that the most significant shift in trauma-informed therapy is from “What is wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” This form of psychotherapy deals less with formal techniques and more with developing trust between a therapist and their client, so they feel comfortable discussing the effects of trauma that have been plaguing their mental health.
More specifically, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) describes Trauma Informed Therapy as one that follows six fundamental principles.
- Safety
- Trustworthiness and Transparency
- Peer Support
- Collaboration and Mutuality
- Empowerment, Voice, and Choice
- Cultural, Historical, and Gender Awareness
We’ll explore each principle in more detail in another section.
WHO IS TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE FOR?
Studies have shown that 1 in 7 children experience child abuse and/or neglect over the course of a year. One in five students reported being bullied in their schools. Countless others experience trauma in their places of work. When it comes to trauma, there is no one-size-fits-all. Trauma may be physical, emotional, verbal, or spiritual. It may be a singular event or one that is chronic.
Whether your trauma stems from an adverse childhood experience, sexual abuse, or from war and terrorism, the impact of trauma can be detrimental to your health and future. The National Library of Medicine puts it like this:
“Trauma can affect one’s beliefs about the future via loss of hope, limited expectations about life, fear that life will end abruptly or early, or anticipation that normal life events won’t occur (e.g., access to education, ability to have a significant and committed relationship, good opportunities for work).”
Trauma-Informed Therapy in Norwell, MA, is for you if you’ve experienced a strong, negative, and emotional response to any terrible event in your life.
HOW TRAUMA-INFORMED THERAPY IN MASSACHUSETTS WORKS
Trauma-Informed Therapy in Massachusetts operates by assuming that the client has experienced trauma rather than digging to find it and forcing answers before trust has been established. Our clinicians avoid re-traumatization by providing a safe environment where a relationship can be formed between the therapist and the client over the course of many sessions.
The first few sessions are often spent getting to know one another and developing a bond before diving into the client’s stressors. Once that bond and trust are established, the history of the trauma can be addressed so the therapist can work with their client to find their voice and feel empowered to move past the experience and into freedom.
CORE PRINCIPLES OF TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE
As mentioned before, programs offering Trauma-Informed Care should always be built around the six principles set forth by SAMSHA. These principles work together to provide a safe and compassionate environment for individuals dealing with trauma.
Safety
Emotional safety is a top priority for TI therapy, so time is given to establish trust and respect. Also, the physical environment should feel warm and inviting, making clients feel safe during their counseling sessions.
Transparency and Trustworthiness
Our clinical staff focuses on being open and honest throughout the counseling process with clear rules and boundaries that provide structure and comfort.
Peer Support
Hearing from others who have experienced trauma and found freedom can help clients feel hope and trust that the therapy will work with time.
Collaboration
Our clinical staff takes a team approach to recovery instead of authoritative. Discussion occurs during each session about which direction to take for the future so the client feels supported and in control.
Empowerment
Trauma can often make you feel powerless. TI Therapy focuses on giving that power back by helping clients take control of their recovery and future.
Cultural, Historical, and Gender Awareness
TI Therapy recognizes that a person’s background can contribute to their traumatic experiences and that every person’s story is unique.
TRAUMA-INFORMED TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR SUBSTANCE USE OR MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY
We often find that clients seeking recovery from substance use disorders are best served by starting their journey with trauma-informed specialists so they can address past trauma that has contributed to their struggles with drugs and alcohol, or other harmful behaviors. Learning proper self-care can be a significant step in recovery, and it often starts with recognizing what happened to you in the past.
Learning
Average Treatment Timeline
Trauma Informed Therapy is one of the least structured therapies offered at Refresh Recovery. The focus is on spending the time necessary to develop trust and respect between the therapist and the client. Therefore, it’s difficult to establish an average treatment timeline, and every client’s treatment path will be unique.
Generally, our sessions typically occur weekly for one hour, emphasizing back-and-forth communication. As with all of our programs, your treatment program will be customized to meet your individual needs and goals.
What’s the Difference?
Trauma Therapy Vs. CBT Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a highly effective treatment plan for those dealing with substance use disorders and many other mental health issues. However, CBT typically follows a structured plan that involves digging into past experiences and focusing on how to change our responses to triggers. Trauma Informed Therapy is less rigid and focuses on establishing trust first before diving into a person’s past.
Both CBT and TI Therapy are beneficial to clients struggling with mental health, but TI Therapy emphasizes safety and compassion. This emphasis allows for more time to be given to relationship-building between the therapist and the client. CBT is often seen as a “next step” for clients once they have worked past the initial process of establishing trust and uncovering the root of the trauma in their individual sessions.
OTHER THERAPY INTERVENTIONS AT REFRESH RECOVERY
At Refresh Recovery, we offer Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, individual or group sessions, and family sessions. Our treatment programs offer flexible options to fit your schedule and lifestyle while keeping your recovery a priority.
WHY CHOOSE REFRESH RECOVERY
INDIVIDUALIZED CARE PLANS
FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORT FOR LIFELONG RECOVERY
TREATMENT FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF DISORDERS
MORE THAN A TREATMENT CENTER: WE’RE YOUR RECOVERY PARTNER
Many of our supportive staff have been right where you are and know the strength it takes to maintain a lasting recovery, and they’re here to help in every step.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TRAUMA INFORMED THERAPY
How do I know if my therapist is trauma-informed?
At Refresh Recovery, our clinical staff has been trained to recognize and identify trauma responses. Ask these questions of your treatment team to become more comfortable with a trauma-informed approach.
- How do you make your clients feel safe during sessions?
- What kind of training did you go through for trauma?
- How do you specifically treat trauma during your sessions?
- When and how will we discuss my trauma?
- What kind of traumatic events do you have experience treating?
What are the 4 R's of trauma-informed care?
Another way that SAMSHA defines trauma-focused therapy is one that follows the “4 R’s” which are:
- Realizes the impact of trauma and the paths of recovery from it.
- Recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma.
- Responds by integrating trauma-informed policies, procedures, and practices.
- Re-traumatization is avoided actively.
What is a MAT therapist?
How does being trauma-informed help in treatment?
Experience Comprehensive Healing with Our Evidence-Based Therapies at Refresh Recovery
At Refresh Recovery, we offer evidence-based therapies that can help you heal from substance use and mental health issues.
COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (CBT)
DIALECTICAL BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (DBT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is a talk therapy similar to CBT. However, DBT goes a layer deeper and focuses more on client safety and self-acceptance. This process helps establish greater emotional control and equips you to regulate the internal harmful or unhealthy patterns that lead to undesirable behaviors.
MEDICATION-ASSISTED THERAPY (MAT)
MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING (MI)
TRAUMA-INFORMED TREATMENT
GROUP THERAPY
Working closely with a group of like-minded and goal-oriented individuals is a critical recovery component. It allows each client to share safely, learn from their peers, and practice their coping skills. Each session is guided by a qualified and experienced moderator.
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
At Refresh Recovery, we’re committed to seeing each client as a unique individual. This requires a customized approach to therapeutic interventions for each client.
Through psychotherapy or talk therapy, our goal is to help individuals better understand themselves and how they process experiences and to increase their ability to cope with their internal processes.