Traumatized person in therapy session with head in arms

Trauma Therapy in Ireland

If your mental well-being hasn’t yet improved as much as you hoped after trauma, you are not alone!

Our caring counsellors are standing by.

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Trauma isn’t just about war and car crashes.

More than two thirds of adults report experiencing at least one traumatic event prior to the age of 16. Additionally, nearly all mental health and substance abuse disorders include trauma as a risk factor.

After surviving peril or extreme distress, many trauma survivors continue to struggle with disturbing thoughts and feelings of isolation, fear, anger, and sadness for months or years after the traumatic event is over.

If you discover you may need trauma counselling, sessions with an online trauma therapist are effective, accessible, and affordable.  

 

Childhood Trauma

Experiencing childhood trauma is one of the leading causes of behavioral health and substance use disorders in adults. Neglect, witnessing domestic violence, national disasters, loss of a parent, and all types of abuse — psychological, emotional, sexual, and physical — are examples of childhood trauma. The after-effects of trauma that you experience later in life may depend on your age when the trauma occurred.

Trauma in Adulthood

Some of the causes of trauma in adulthood are similar to those in childhood trauma, meaning that treatment options are similar. For adults, The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies also includes financial stressors, serious vehicle accidents, medical complications, and witnessing or experiencing any type of violence as sources of trauma. The physical signs of adulthood trauma can include anxiety, emotional outbursts, depression, panic attacks, and anger management difficulties.

Trauma Informed Therapy

What is trauma informed therapy, and how does it differ from standard therapy approaches? Therapy informed by trauma centers on the philosophical approach which assumes every person has experienced trauma in their life-time. Trauma-informed therapy carries six principles designed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to specifically respond to public health emergencies such as a global pandemic — trauma safety awareness, enhanced trustworthiness and transparency, specialized peer support, increased collaboration and mutuality, and building empowerment, voice, and choice to create safe spaces. Trauma informed care can be applied to all levels and types of medical care.

 
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Common Signs of Unresolved Trauma in Adulthood

Many people enter treatment with only a rudimentary understanding of their trauma history. Some of the following symptoms will be present when people start therapy, although they may not recognise they are common signs of unresolved trauma issues.

 

Addictive behaviours

Excessive use of drugs, alcohol, sex, shopping, and gambling as a strategy to push painful feelings and disturbing trauma content further away are all examples of addictive behaviours.

Inability to tolerate conflicts

Fear of conflict, running away from confrontation, avoiding conflict, and preserving skewed perceptions of conflict are all examples of incapacity to accept disputes with others.

Inability to tolerate intense feelings

An inability to withstand strong emotions, preferring to escape them in various ways.

Innate belief that they are bad

They have an intrinsic belief that they are bad, useless, and unimportant.

Black and white thinking

Even if this method causes them harm, black and white thinking, all or nothing thinking.

Disorganised attachment patterns

Having a range of short but intense relationships, refusing to have any connections, destructive relationships, and repeated love/hate relationships are all examples of disorganised attachment patterns.

Dissociation

Dissociation, spacing out, losing track of time, missing time, and the sensation of being two separate persons are all symptoms of dissociation (or more than two).

Eating Disorders

Anorexia, bulimia, obesity, and other eating disorders.

Excessive Sense of Self-Blame

Taking on excessive responsibility as though everything is their fault and apologising excessively.

 

If you're experiencing several of the symptoms listed above, consider whether you're ready to confront your trauma issues with the help of a caring therapist.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • A trauma bond is a co-dependant relationship between an abuser and their victim. The victim may become attached and develop sympathy or affection for the abuser and even rationalize the actions of their abuser. Another form is vicarious trauma. This type of trauma bonding happens to people working in allied health professions due to continuous exposure to violence through responding to the scene of traumatic events and counselling trauma victims.

  • The physical signs of repressed childhood trauma in adults can include relationship and interpersonal issues (also known in psychology as “attachment issues”), consistent exhaustion, mood swings, and unexplained adverse reactions to certain people or places.

  • Gone untreated, childhood trauma and adulthood trauma can lead to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, substance misuse, and suicide.

  • Yes! In fact, in some cases, PTSD is preventable by seeking trauma therapy immediately after a traumatic event. But, if PTSD is left untreated, the long-term effects of PTSD can be extremely damaging.

    Common PTSD treatment options are:

    Fettle’s qualified trauma counsellors are ready to help you figure out the best ways to manage your trauma responses and start feeling better.

  • Trauma therapy, also known as trauma-focused therapy or trauma treatment, is a specialized form of therapy designed to help individuals recover from the psychological and emotional effects of traumatic experiences. It focuses on addressing the impact of trauma on thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and overall well-being.

  • Trauma therapy utilizes evidence-based techniques and approaches, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Somatic Experiencing. These approaches help individuals process traumatic memories, regulate emotions, and develop coping strategies.

  • The duration of trauma therapy can vary depending on several factors, including the nature and severity of the trauma, individual progress, and treatment goals. Some individuals may experience significant improvement within a few months, while others may require longer-term therapy to address complex trauma and its effects.

  • In a trauma therapy session, you can expect a safe and supportive environment where you can explore your experiences and emotions related to trauma. The therapist will work collaboratively with you to address trauma-related symptoms, such as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and avoidance behaviours. They may use various therapeutic techniques tailored to your needs.

The Effects of Unresolved Trauma

Unresolved trauma can significantly negatively influence one's health, but just because someone has experienced a terrible incident in the past does not mean they will require treatment.

Unresolved trauma puts people at risk for mental health illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Physical indications include cardiovascular issues such as high blood pressure, strokes, and heart attacks. According to a study, unresolved trauma has been linked to fibromyalgia and general inflammation in the body, which can lead to autoimmune illnesses and organ fibrosis. Unresolved trauma has also been linked to obesity and cancer. Finally, unresolved trauma increases the likelihood of developing a substance use disorder because substance use is frequently begun or exacerbated following trauma.

Survivors who are already in therapy can have the same symptoms. Regular therapy attendance does not imply that clients have overcome their trauma issues or are going in that direction. Even though they are aware of their everyday challenges, many treatment clients will continue to reject, detach, and refuse to look at their trauma.

How Online therapy can Help with Trauma

Online therapy in Ireland is a fantastic, simple, accessible, and flexible option to get trauma treatment on your own time and in the comfort of your own home. You might not want to leave your house some days. It's also inconvenient to commute to a therapy appointment and wait in a waiting area. As a result, you put off going to therapy, and your PTSD symptoms worsen.

 Other Types of Therapy in Ireland

 

Therapy for Bereavement

Being in a state of bereavement means experiencing the loss of a loved one. This season is often referred to as grief.  Though often a crippling season for everyone it can be combated with therapy for bereavement. 

Therapy for bereavement is the intervention or psychological technique used to go through the stages of grief and develop coping skills throughout the period. 

Therapy approaches for bereavement include:

  • Cognitive behavioural treatment 

  • Attachment theory

  • Interpersonal therapy 

Therapy for CBT

Cognitive behavioural therapy or therapy for CBT is one of the most effective psychotherapy types for a variety of mental health issues faced.

Therapy for CBT incorporates a variety of techniques including: 

  • Positive cognitive conditioning 

  • Journaling

  • Exposure therapy

  • Deep breathing and meditation 

 Meet Fettle’s Trusted Online Counsellors!

Our qualified psychotherapists are ready to help you work through your trauma.

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