Trauma Counseling
Overview
This brief book serves as an instructor for a self-help course that will be offered to persons who have been through a terrible experience. Once you find yourself in the position of supporting a person who has experienced trauma, the book walks you through the various steps that are needed of you.
Introduction
The vast majority of people all around the world have suffered in traumatic. People in less developed countries pay much less attention to their mental and emotional health, which contributes to the fact that this problem is significantly more widespread in these countries. People are damaged on the inside and suffer from a variety of emotional disorders. Even if emotional intelligence is being discussed as a potential cure to traumatic experiences, "no doctor is an expert on his own ailment," and as a result, trauma counseling is always required following any experience of being exposed to an incident. The phases or steps of trauma counseling are going to be covered in depth throughout this hour-long online course that you will take with us.
Course Objectives
By the end of this Course learners should be able to:
- Describe the rules before trauma counselling
- List the elements of emotional trauma
- Describe the nature of traumatic event
- Explain the phases of trauma counseling
- Identify symptoms of trauma
- State pillars of coping mechanism
PHASE 1 – INTRODUCTION
Set Rules:
1. Always maintain strict confidentiality.
2. Show unwavering respect for oneself and others at all times.
3. Take part in as many activities as you can.
4. I will only speak for myself and not for anyone else.
5. Maintain open and honest communication with the other members of the group.
6. Remain silent if it seems appropriate.
7. If a rule is broken, the debate must immediately end.
Common Elements of Emotional Trauma
Regardless of their origin, emotional traumas share four characteristics:
a) It was unanticipated;
b) the individual was unprepared;
c) there was nothing the individual could have done to prevent it; and
d) everyone reacts differently.
Nature of Traumatic Event
It is not the incident that defines whether or not something is traumatic, but rather the individual:
1) Exposure to the occurrence
2) The severity of the occurrence
3) Personal individual history
4) The wider significance of the incident
5) Coping skills, values and beliefs of individual
6) Family, friends, and/or professionals' responses and support
What are you expected to do?
i. Introduce yourself and describe your purpose to the clients.
ii. Find a place with peace and quiet, either indoors or outside
iii. Ask if anyone is physically injured.
iv. Inquire about conditions such as pregnancy, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
v. Request that everyone provide their name and contact information for future follow-up.
PHASE 2 – FACTS
What are you expected to do?
i) Request that the group provide specific explanations of what transpired.
ii) Allow everyone to provide their interpretation
iii) Do not compel them to speak; it is their choice to discuss topics with which they are comfortable or not.
iv. Inquire about the occurrence in order to obtain information about it and gain a better picture of what transpired.
v. Inquire of the clients what senses they can recall, including smell, taste, touch, and so on.
vi) Inquire if this is the client's first traumatic event.
PHASE 3 – THOUGHTS
What are you expected to do?
i) Ask the clients what their initial thoughts were, and
ii) inquire about their current emotions.
iii. Inquire about their perspectives on coping with the trauma.
PHASE 4 – REACTIONS/EMOTIONS
What are you expected to do?
I Inquire what emotions they are currently experiencing.
ii) Inquire what sentiments this traumatic incident has evoked from the past.
iv. Inquire about their reactions when the event occurred.
iv. Request that they explain and identify emotions such as anger, frustration, grief, confusion, loss, shock, and so on.
PHASE 5 – SYMPTOMS
The following table has examples of symptoms that can be caused by trauma:
SYMPTOM TYPE | SYMPTOM EXAMPLES |
Cognitive Symptom (how you think) | Blame, confusion, poor focus, memory issues, hyperawareness, poor problem-solving skills, poor abstract reasoning, nightmares, and lack of orientation towards time, location, and people are all symptoms of schizophrenia. |
Emotional symptoms (how you feel) | Anxiety, profound sadness, denial, fear, depression, emotional shock, lack of emotional control, emotional outbursts, inappropriate emotional responses, excessive anger, irritability/sensitivity, confusion, and flashbacks are symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. |
Physical symptoms (what happens to my body) | Fatigue, nausea, muscle discomfort, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and shock symptoms (rapid heartbeat, thirst) for uncommon issues, vomiting, heavy perspiration, fevers, and colds (see doctors) |
Behavioural systems (how you act) | Change in activities (lack of energy), change in speaking pattern, isolation, suspicion, in normal communication, increase in alcohol consumption, inability to rest, anti-special behavior, an increase in interns' fear responses, unsteady movements, changes in sexual functioning, loss or increase in appetite. |
What are you expected to do?
I Describe to clients the cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral symptoms that might result from traumatic experiences.
ii. Inquire about some of the existing systems they are encountering.
iv) Assure them that their symptoms are normal.
iii. Explain that every individual is unique and may react differently to the same incident.
v) They were a bunch of individuals who would each experience the trauma in a unique way.
vi) Using these symptoms as a guide, inform the clients that they may have anxiety and insomnia in the future.
PHASE 6 – TEACHING
What are you expected to do?
I Ask clients what coping strategies they employ in their daily life;
ii) ask clients what physical activity they engage in;
iii) ask clients what they do for fun (hobbies)
iv. Explain to clients the four fundamental pillars of coping skills
v) The four pillars of coping skills aid in expressing emotions.
vi) Trauma produces emotions, and emotions must be expressed externally.
vii) Ask clients to place themselves inside these four pillars and use them to develop coping strategies.
FOUR PILLARS OF COPING MECHANISMS
People are born with different types of coping strategies for traumatic events; some have more coping mechanisms, while others have fewer. Here are four basic coping mechanism pillars:
Pillar 1 – People
- People have a crucial part in overcoming trauma.
- After a traumatic event, trauma clients must be surrounded by individuals to help them express their emotions. Find one or two trustworthy individuals to whom you can express your deepest emotions on a difficult day.
- Being surrounded by people provides stability and security.
- Ensure that clients, family, and friends have support after an occurrence.
Pillar 2 – Fun
- Fun is an excellent technique to externalize and release negative emotions.
- People engage in fun to unwind and cope with stress and tragedy.
- We must incorporate fun into our daily life.
- Victims of trauma should engage in enjoyable activities to help them cope with the trauma.
- Trauma victims must consider enjoyable hobbies they have forgotten about or have yet to explore.
- Fun is a fantastic method of coping with trauma.
Pillar 3 – Exercise
- Physical activity is scientifically proven to lessen anxiety and stress levels.
- Physical activity aids in the externalization and healthy release of negative emotions.
- Trauma clients must engage in daily physical activity to help them cope with the trauma.
- Exercise can be performed in a variety of settings, from the gym to malls and parks.
- Determine an appropriate exercise routine for the trauma victim.
Pillar 4 – Religion
- Religion is an excellent means of expressing emotions and coping with pain.
- Each client has the right to his or her own religious convictions.
- Counselors are not permitted to force their faith on clients.
- Aid clients in developing coping skills through religion.
PHASE 7 – RE-ENTRY
What are you expected to do?
i) Inquire if the group has any queries.
ii. Ask the group how they would employ four pillars to adopt coping techniques.
iii. Ask the group if they identify with the four pillars.
iv. Inquire if the group feels equipped.
iii. Inform the customers that anyone with additional personal inquiries may approach the counselor afterwards.
PHASE 8 – FOLLOW-UP
What are you expected to do?
i) Follow up with clients by telephone one week after the event.
ii) If a follow-up session is required, the counselor will make arrangements for one.
iii) If the client is truly unable to cope and need long-term assistance, the counselor will refer them to another service for long-term therapy.
CONCLUSION
Every traumatic incident in life requires counseling; a survivor of a car accident, a snake bite, a fire, or gender-based assault, loss of money, or robberies among others, after that you need someone to talk to and receive assistance and direction in coping techniques. Everyone in the community has a responsibility to help others cope with trauma.
Congratulations! You have successfully completed a course on trauma counseling; I hope you learnt a great deal.