Trauma Informed Therapy
Licensed Therapists Helping You Heal From PTSD, Trauma and More
We understand the profound impact that trauma can have on an individual's life. Trauma isn't just something that happened in the past; it can linger in the present, affecting your emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. That's why we're dedicated to providing trauma-informed counseling – a compassionate, research-based approach that empowers you to heal, grow, and thrive.
Trauma-informed counseling is more than just therapy; it's a holistic approach that acknowledges the prevalence of trauma in our society and the potential for it to affect anyone. It recognizes that trauma can manifest in various forms and degrees, from childhood adversity to recent crises, and it prioritizes creating a safe, supportive environment for individuals to heal and recover.
Why Choose Trauma-Informed Counseling?
Safety and Trust: In our counseling sessions, your safety and trust are our top priorities. We create a nurturing and non-judgmental space where you can share your experiences and emotions without fear.
Understanding and Compassion: Our counselors are trained to recognize the signs of trauma and understand the impact it can have on your life. They approach each client with empathy and compassion.
Empowerment: Trauma-informed counseling doesn't just focus on the past; it also helps you build resilience and coping skills to navigate life's challenges.
Evidence-Based Approaches: Our counseling is rooted in evidence-based practices that have been proven effective in helping individuals recover from trauma.
If you or a loved one are seeking trauma-informed counseling, don't hesitate to reach out. Your healing journey can begin now. Contact us to schedule an appointment or learn more about our services.
Why People Start Trauma Informed Therapy
Childhood Trauma
Childhood trauma, such as abuse, neglect, or witnessing violence, can leave lasting emotional scars. Symptoms may include flashbacks, trust issues, difficulty forming healthy relationships, unhealthy habits, feelings of unworthiness, and a loud "inner critic".
Survivors of Domestic Violence & Abuse
Survivors of domestic violence may seek counseling to recover from the physical and emotional trauma they endured, which often includes manipulation, threats, and abuse. They may experience chronic anxiety, low self-esteem, and difficulty trusting others.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Traumatic events like combat experiences, accidents, or sexual assault can lead to PTSD, a condition characterized by intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and heightened anxiety. Individuals with PTSD may suffer from emotional numbness, irritability, and hypervigilance, affecting their daily functioning and relationships.
Grief & Loss
The loss of a loved one can be a profound trauma. Grief counseling helps individuals navigate the complex emotions and challenges that accompany bereavement. Grief often leads to feelings of sadness, guilt, anger, and a sense of emptiness, making it difficult to cope with daily life.
Relationship Difficulties
Trauma can impact a person's ability to form and maintain healthy relationships. Counseling helps individuals identify patterns, improve communication, and build trust. Relationship problems often manifest as frequent conflicts, avoidance of intimacy, and fear of vulnerability.
Anxiety & Depression
Trauma can contribute to the development of anxiety and depression. Counseling provides tools to manage these mental health challenges and improve overall well-being. Symptoms include persistent feelings of sadness, excessive worry, insomnia, and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities.
How Trauma Informed Therapy Helps
Coping Strategies & Emotional Awareness
Trauma-informed counseling equips clients with effective coping strategies to manage symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and emotional distress. Therapists teach techniques like mindfulness, deep breathing, and stress reduction to help individuals regulate their emotions.
Personal Empowerment & Self Awareness
Trauma-informed counseling empowers individuals by helping them gain a deeper understanding of impact of trauma on their lives. It provides tools and techniques to enhance self-awareness, enabling clients to recognize triggers, emotions, and behaviors associated with their trauma. They learn to regain a sense of control over their lives and build resilience, making it easier to manage symptoms and make positive changes.
Healing Relationships & Trust
Trauma-informed counseling focuses on addressing issues related to trust and relationships. Therapists guide individuals in understanding how their trauma has affected their ability to form and maintain healthy connections. They work on rebuilding trust in themselves and others.
Our Approach to Trauma Informed Therapy
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CBT is a widely recognized and evidence-based therapeutic approach that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors. In the context of trauma, it assists clients in recognizing and reframing unhelpful beliefs related to their traumatic experiences.
CBT helps individuals gain control over their thoughts and reactions, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and develop healthier coping strategies. -
Somatic therapies, including techniques like Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Resonance, address the mind-body connection in trauma recovery. They help individuals process and release stored trauma energy and distress by paying attention to physical sensations and the nervous system's responses.By targeting the neuro-biological aspects of trauma, somatic therapies facilitate the release of physical tension, reduce hyper-arousal, and improve overall emotional regulation.
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Depth work involves a deep exploration of an individual's inner landscape, which includes examining subconscious beliefs, emotions, and memories related to the trauma. This approach may incorporate techniques such as guided imagery, dream analysis, and inner child work.Depth work allows clients to unearth and process deeply buried aspects of their trauma and inner conflicts. It can lead to profound insights, emotional release, and a deeper understanding of their experiences, contributing to holistic healing.
Starting Counseling is Simple
Fill out the New Client Form
It only takes a minute & starts the new client on-boarding process. We make it easy!
Schedule Your 1st Session
Our team will reach out ASAP to schedule the first session with your counselor.
Celebrate Your Growth
Enjoy lasting change! The Sweetgrass Way is all about your enduring health and happiness.
Blogs for Trauma Recovery
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Breaking Free: A Guide to Healing Childhood Trauma
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Healing Together: How Trauma-Informed Couples Therapy Transforms Relationships
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What is Internal Family Systems (IFS) How Does it Help Anxiety, Depression, Trauma?
What’s holding you back from getting help for your personal goals?
▲ Time Constraints - “I don’t really have the time”
The responsibilities of modern life are often demanding and time consuming. And it's true that therapy also takes some investment of time. However, committing to a weekly counseling session might not be as burdensome as you think. In fact, most clients experience the time as passing quickly and covering a lot of ground in regard to goals and coping skills.
Additionally, you can also attend therapy via our secure Telehealth platform. It might be more convenient to attend weekly sessions during your lunch break, or comfort of home.
▲ Cost of Services - “I’m not sure my insurance even covers this”
Thankfully, most insurance plans include mental healthcare as a covered service. Depending on your plan, counseling may only cost as much as a regular copay for an office visit. Our office will research your insurance coverage once you onboard as a new client. So, you'll have an accurate estimate for what therapy will cost per visit. If you have questions about insurance, you can visit out Fees & Insurance page here.
▲ Stigma - “Going to counseling means I can’t handle my problems”
Seeking professional help doesn't mean that you are weak or a failure. It's actually a sign of resilience and courage to start therapy. Especially in the years immediately after the pandemic, adults are experiencing increased anxiety, depression and other issues. The acute stress and consequences of this global event is something that every person has been dealing with. It's only natural that you may find yourself needing more support.
▲ Fear of Opening Up - “It’s hard for me to trust...Being vulnerable is difficult”
Being hesitant to share about sensitive emotions, difficult thoughts, and negative experiences is a completely normal response to starting counseling. It takes a bit of time to build trust with a brand-new therapist, and we encourage you to be open about any hesitation, fears, or worries about being open with them. Our counselors are trained to be non-judgmental and will take your lead. They will not prod or cross your boundaries. Additionally, you can do effective work in counseling without sharing what you may consider your "deepest secrets". Take it one step at a time.
FAQs
❋ Can counseling sessions be online?
Yes. You may meet with your counselor via an online video call, instead of coming into the office. The Telehealth service we use is a secure online platform that is easily accessible. You can meet exclusively with your therapist online, or have a mix of in-person and Telehealth sessions. This is totally up to you and your unique needs.
❋ How long do I need to be in therapy?
The length of therapy can vary based on individual needs and goals. Some people may find that a few months of therapy is enough, while others may benefit from ongoing sessions over a longer period of time. Everyone is different, and each person's life has a variety of factors that will influence the course of treatment. We encourage clients to talk to their counselor about the frequency of meetings, how best to use time between sessions, and set time to measure progress. This can all help you get a better sense of how therapy is working for you over time. And it might help you understand when you want to reduce the frequency of sessions, terminate completely, or continue.
❋ Will insurance cover the cost of counseling?
Yes. Health insurance coverage includes mental health services such as outpatient counseling from Sweetgrass Therapy. In some cases, your therapy visits may only be cost of a copay. Our office will research your insurance coverage and get a "quote of benefits" for counseling for you before the first session. In this way, you can understand how to use your health insurance for counseling.
Finally, we're in-network with 3 major insurance companies - Aetna and BlueCross BlueShield.
❋ Will my therapist keep my information private & confidential?
Yes, mental health professionals are bound by confidentiality laws and are ethically obligated to keep your information private. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as if you pose a danger to yourself or others.
❋ What are my counselors qualifications and background?
Every therapist in our group has a Master's degree in Marriage & Family Therapy. This degree means that we are all trained in general mental health treatment (anxiety, depression, etc) and relationships (couples, families, groups). In addition to learning theory, our therapists have professional experience (client work) that was obtained during the education progress.
And more importantly, we’ve helped hundreds of clients work through mental health and relationship issues.
Our therapists are all licensed to practice mental health care in the state of Illinois. MFT licenses require continued education on a 2 year renewal cycle.
You may also ask your therapist about other parts of their background and qualifications. You may be interested to learn more about their professional experience in other fields or roles!
