Unresolved trauma is a pervasive struggle for those who are going through substance misuse or mental health problems. Trauma can affect how people cope, how they relate to others, and how they respond to treatment. Without addressing this major underlying issue, managing recovery will likely be challenging and will feel like an uphill battle. This is one of the many reasons that trauma-informed care is considered so critical for effective treatment of substance misuse and mental health disorders.
Trauma-informed care doesn’t just treat the symptoms of addiction or mental health struggles. Rather, it treats the whole person and gets to the root cause of the problem in a way that is sensitive to a client’s past experiences. At Profound Treatment in Los Angeles, California, we believe that healing begins with compassion, safety, and understanding. We use a trauma-informed approach to create an environment where our clients feel comfortable, seen, heard, and empowered.
Trauma-informed care is integrated into each aspect of treatment, from peer support to holistic practices. We believe that this approach helps clients to rebuild trust in themselves and in others.
The Link Between Trauma, Substance Use, and Mental Health Disorders
There is a powerful link between trauma, substance use, and mental health disorders. Trauma can come in many different forms and can have a lasting impact on an individual. It can come from childhood neglect, abuse, violence, or a sudden life-changing experience like the loss of a loved one. All of these things, when they are unresolved, can lead to deep emotional and mental problems.
Some other examples of ways trauma may be experienced could include:
- Being a victim of bullying
- Having a loved one who struggled with addiction
- Surviving an accident, such as a car crash
- Experiencing a natural disaster
- Growing up in a home where basic needs were not met
- Having an emotionally unavailable parent or caregiver
- Growing up in an unstable environment
- Being in a relationship that involved emotional, mental, physical, or sexual abuse
When people experience trauma, especially at a young age, they may not yet have the coping skills to process what they went through. As a result, they may try to bury it deep down or pretend it didn’t happen as a way of trying to deal with it. This can continue for many years, even into adulthood. However, as much as the individual may try to act like the trauma isn’t there, it can still have a negative impact on their mental health and overall well-being.
Many people with unresolved trauma will turn to alcohol or drug misuse as a way to self-medicate or cope with their pain. This is particularly common for those with anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of their past trauma. While it may seem as if substance use brings temporary relief, it can end up making mental and emotional struggles even worse.
When people struggle with substance use disorder and a mental health disorder simultaneously, it is what is known as a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorder. For example, someone may struggle with PTSD and alcohol misuse simultaneously. Using a trauma-informed approach for individuals with this kind of co-occurring disorder is very important because a clinician must get to the root cause of the issue. They must also be sure to treat both disorders simultaneously, to ensure neither gets worse as a result of the other.
In addition to the development of mental health disorders and substance misuse, some other consequences of unresolved trauma may include:
- Low confidence
- Trouble trusting others
- Difficulty being vulnerable or opening up to others
- Strained relationships
- Feelings of guilt ot shame
- Sudden mood swings
- Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks
- Night terrors or sleep issues
- Trouble focusing or making decisions
- A negative outlook on life
- Chronic muscle pain or tension
- Frequent headaches
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Fatigue or low energy
Understanding What Trauma-Informed Care Is
Trauma-informed care is not one specific therapy or treatment method. Rather, it is an approach to treatment that acknowledges the many complex ways that trauma can impact treatment, a person’s mental health, and their recovery. Through trauma-informed care, a clinician works to create an environment where a client feels comfortable being vulnerable. Instead of just looking at their outward symptoms, this approach considers how a person’s past experiences may be influencing their thoughts, behaviors, and responses today.
At Profound Treatment, we recognize that many of our clients have endured life-changing trauma, possibly even before they ever sought treatment for a mental health or substance use disorder. That’s why we incorporate trauma-informed principles into each step of our treatment process. Some of these key principles include trust, choice, collaboration, and respect. All of these things help to set the foundation for lasting healing in recovery.
Recognizing the Signs of Trauma in Clinical Settings
Trauma can present itself in different ways from person to person. It’s not always something that’s outwardly obvious. Instead, it can be very subtle and can manifest itself during treatment in ways that may be misunderstood. For example, a person may seem hesitant to open up, disengaged during group sessions, or particularly sensitive to criticism.
In other cases, a person may struggle with symptoms of anxiety, irritability, or unexplained problems. Despite all these things, it doesn’t mean that the individual isn’t open to treatment or that they don’t want to get better. Rather, this may just be the way that they are trying to protect themselves or cope with the pain they’ve experienced in the past.
Part of a trauma-informed approach is being able to recognize these things for what they are and to continue to treat the individual with compassion and respect. The key is to also get to the root cause of these struggles or behaviors, which could be connected to fear, shame, or broken trust. Through trauma-informed care, a clinician can help their client to begin to work through these things without retraumatizing them. This process is often referred to as meeting the individual where they’re at and helping them to feel supported and validated along the way.
The Key Principles of Trauma-Informed Care: Safety, Trust, and Empowerment
There are three key principles or values that are often associated with trauma-informed care. They include safety, trust, and empowerment. All of these principles should be woven into each aspect of the treatment and healing process. In order for someone who has experienced trauma to feel open to healing, they must first feel comfortable and safe.
This goes beyond just feeling physically safe. It means feeling as if they are in an environment where they are respected and heard, and don’t have to worry about being shamed or judged for their past. The safer a person feels, the more likely they are to be vulnerable, which is a key aspect to healing.
Trust is also a very important part of trauma-informed care and in making sure an individual feels safe. In a clinical setting, trust can be earned by the clinician through things like transparency and consistency. Collaboration within treatment can also be a great way to establish trust with a client and to ensure that they have a say in their own treatment.
At Profound Treatment, we aim to help promote an environment of safety, trust, and empowerment by building genuine relationships with our clients. We also prioritize honoring personal boundaries and including our clients in decisions about their care. This can help provide those in recovery with a sense of control, something that they may feel as though they lost due to their past trauma. Throughout all of these things, our goal is to help our clients find their voice and build greater resiliency as they work towards positive change in their lives.
Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment in Recovery
Another part of trauma-informed care is recognizing the fact that treatment itself could be triggering to someone who has gone through treatment. Bringing up painful past experiences can lead to stress, anxiety, and other complex emotions that could make the individual want to shut down entirely. In many cases, these are things that the individual may have kept buried deep for many years or has never talked about openly before. This is why a safe and supportive space is so important to help reassure clients that they are no longer in danger and that their feelings are validated.
By treating clients with dignity and compassion, clinicians can help their clients feel safe mentally, emotionally, and physically. This can help relax their nervous system and make them more receptive towards therapy, forming connections with others, and addressing emotional issues in recovery.
Another key aspect of creating a safe space in recovery is fostering an environment of non-judgment and respect. Everyone should feel comfortable sharing their emotions and past experiences without the fear of being judged. At Profound Treatment, we ensure that this mutual respect is always present during group sessions and individual sessions. This helps to promote an environment where everyone feels comfortable letting their guard down and being open.
Empowering Clients Through Collaboration and Choice
Going through trauma can often make people feel powerless, silenced, and not in control of their own lives. This is why empowering clients by allowing them to have a say in their own treatment is so important. Trauma-informed care prioritizes collaboration and choice as essential parts of the healing process. This often involves making sure that individuals have the option to make decisions when it comes to their treatment planning and setting personal goals.
When collaboration and choice are key aspects of treatment, it can help promote better self-trust and self-confidence. It can also help the individual feel that they are back in control of their own circumstances again.
At Profound Treatment, we incorporate collaboration with our clients by ensuring they have a choice when it comes to the type of treatment methods used and by giving them the option to decide what kind of holistic experiential therapies they would like to participate in. They are also encouraged to set personal boundaries when participating in group sessions. Not only can this help the individual to feel more in control, but it can keep them actively engaged in their own treatment.
The Role of Trauma-Informed Therapy Techniques Like CBT and DBT
At our treatment facility, trauma-informed care is supported through evidence-based techniques that are specifically designed to help people work through past trauma. Some examples of these kinds of techniques that we use at Profound Treatment include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
CBT helps people identify negative thought and behavior patterns that may be holding them back. These things, which the individual may or may not be fully conscious of, could stem from past traumatic experiences. Through this kind of therapy, the clinician can help the individual work through and challenge these distorted beliefs. From there, they can begin to reframe their thoughts and work on building healthier patterns.
When it comes to past trauma, some common distorted beliefs that the individual may need help working through could be “I’m not safe,” or “I’m not worthy.” Once an individual is able to recognize that these narratives aren’t true, they can begin to feel empowered and will likely be better able to handle emotional distress.
DBT is another powerful tool that can be used to help people who are struggling with intense emotions or self-destructive behaviors as a result of past trauma they may have experienced. This is also particularly useful in treating those who struggle with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Some of the key skills that are taught through DBT include distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. All of these things can help an individual develop healthier coping mechanisms for dealing with their emotions that don’t involve turning to drug or alcohol use.
How Trauma-Informed Approaches Lead to Better Mental Health and Recovery Outcomes
Overall, we know that trauma-informed approaches lead to better mental health and recovery. Because of this, trauma-informed care should be the standard when providing this kind of treatment. Trauma-informed treatment recognizes the underlying trauma that may be driving mental health struggles or substance use. As a result, it can drastically improve a person’s chances of enjoying long-term recovery.
Traditional forms of treatment that don’t utilize trauma-informed care may end up unintentionally re-triggering clients or traumatizing them further. It may also only focus on surface-level symptoms, failing to get to the root of what is really causing the individual’s mental health or substance use struggles.
Trauma-informed care, on the other hand, helps to build a strong foundation for deep emotional healing, empowerment, and long-term behavioral change. We know that the recovery process already involves effort, vulnerability, and deep commitment. There is no reason that the process should be made any more difficult for an individual by not being respectful towards their unique needs and past experiences. Trauma-informed care helps to promote a safe, comfortable environment where everyone can feel respected and understood.
What Trauma-Informed Care Looks Like at Profound Treatment
So you may be wondering, what exactly does trauma-informed care look like at Profound Treatment in Los Angeles, California? At our treatment facility, we utilize a trauma-informed approach from the very beginning with your first phone call through aftercare planning. Our experienced team is highly trained in how trauma shapes behavior. They also know how to respond with the compassion, respect, and understanding that you deserve.
When it comes to treating addiction and mental health disorders, we utilize a whole-person approach that doesn’t just address your outward symptoms, but your mental, emotional, and physical needs. At our facility, recovery is not just about abstaining from alcohol or drug use, but living a healthy, productive, and meaningful life. If you’re ready to get started on your own journey, reach out to our team today.
Trauma, mental health disorders, and addiction often go hand in hand, and their relationship can be quite complex. When a person experiences trauma, they may not know how to cope with all the emotions that come with it in an effective way. As a result, they may turn to alcohol or drug misuse as a way to self-medicate. However, this can end up making their mental and emotional problems even worse. If you’re currently struggling with the effects of trauma, you know it can feel debilitating. However, our team at Profound Treatment can help you to begin to heal. If you’re ready to get started, give us a call at (310) 340-2609, and we can answer any questions you have.
(310) 929-9546
