Many times, the person being treated for addiction is confused about the root causes of their disorder. Some surveys suggest that trauma could be responsible for most substance abuse. For this reason, trauma-focused care is now at the forefront of treatment programs and is of vital importance in any treatment plan for substance abuse or addiction. But, what is trauma-focused care, and what role does it play in the recovery process? For someone who is considering seeking treatment from a trauma therapy program, it can be reassuring to learn about the ways in which the root causes of addiction can be explored and healed.
At TruHealing Centers, our team proudly provides a trauma therapy program for those who want to heal from the mental effects of trauma. If you or a loved one is interested in our trauma treatment program, reach out to our friendly TruHealing Centers team today by calling [Direct] or filling out our online contact form.
What Is Trauma-Focused Care for Addiction?
Often, when clients come to treatment for the first time, they carry an invisible burden. For some, it is a traumatic childhood. For others, it could be the after-effects of experiencing a violent event or even difficult memories related to military service. These traumas leave painful scars, even if those wounds can’t be seen from the outside. Addressing the circumstances and events that each client brings to treatment is the first step in healing the pain that could be at the heart of that client’s unhealthy relationship with substances.
For the clinicians and care staff that care for clients starting their recovery journey, understanding the clients’ background is critical to helping them develop treatment plans that will be appropriate and effective. Often, clients have never addressed these traumas in a counseling context, so it is imperative to make sure that these events are not hiding, unresolved, in the client’s life as they go forward.
What Are the Benefits of Trauma-Focused Care?
There are many benefits to addressing the after-effects of trauma, especially for someone ready to start recovering from substance abuse or addiction.
Some of the benefits from participating in trauma therapy include:
- Gaining a deeper understanding of the reasons and motivations for one’s behavior
- Learning healthier ways to cope with negative memories and emotions
- Processing traumatic events to heal from them
- Building a healthy framework for managing emotions and stress
- Identifying and treating any mental health conditions that may be present
- Transitioning away from self-medication to healthy coping skills
What Is the Connection Between Trauma and Addiction?
When a person has experienced a traumatic event or a series of traumatic events, they can become stuck in a “fight-or-flight” framework. Without attending to the painful feelings around those events, the person may find themselves trying to relieve the negative emotions and silence intrusive memories by any means necessary. Often, drugs or alcohol can provide a temporary respite from those circumstances, but they tend to create new problems that the person must deal with. Once a person has become dependent on a substance, they are obliged to relieve the addiction as well as the negative feelings, creating a complicated and destructive cycle.
Begin to Heal with Trauma-Focused Care at TruHealing Centers
If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction, the best time to seek treatment is now. There may be a Truhealing Center near you. Trauma-focused care is at the center of our approach to treatment. We are committed to helping our clients gain the tools and resources they need to achieve lasting recovery. As our clients navigate their recovery journeys, we ensure that they receive the treatment they need to be healthy in body and mind. Reach out to our knowledgeable and compassionate staff online or at [Direct].
