If you have experienced a childhood trauma, you may wonder whether or not therapy sessions could be right for you. Up to 4 in 10 Americans have reported some sort of childhood trauma ranging from abuse, neglect, family violence, poverty, death, or living with someone who had a mental or physical health problem. Men are equally affected as women, but are less likely to reach out for help.
Childhood adversity is a common motif; however, it can affect one’s psyche well into the future – even for life. The negative impact from adversity can include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Emotionally triggered
- Fear of speaking
- Poor boundaries with other people
- Poor self esteem
- Shame or guilt
- Lack of communication
- Inability to negotiate in a conflict
- Overeating
- Substance abuse
- + more
These things might have a significant impact on your overall well being; however, it is possible to work through them with a therapist. Ultimately this can help you to achieve success and happiness.
How Therapy Can Help You
A rough childhood can make things like self confidence, relationships, and success more difficult. A therapist can sit down with you in private sessions to help you to:
- Identify the deeply rooted issues that are affecting your wellbeing
- Describe and understand the life journey you have been on
- Set healthy goals, objectives, and even boundaries
- Develop a practical plan to help you to reach these goals
A therapist might also uncover and appreciate survival skills that you may have adapted over time. These skills could include:
- A strong sense of empathy for others
- Independence and/or resilience
- Intuitiveness
- Patience
- The ability to lead a value driven life
Although you might not realize what your survival skills are, through therapy you can learn to transform these things into strengths that can assist in excelling you to areas where non-survivors might only achieve in average strength.
A Therapist Can Help You to Face Your Problems
It is not possible for you to change the past. What you experienced has assisted into who you are. However there is a point in which you can realize that a childhood trauma and the associated struggles can lead to a strong, well balanced mind.
You are not helpless to the way you feel, how you behave, or the circumstances you are in. Therapy can help you to realize this and develop a commitment to your own personal growth.
A good therapist will guide you in the right direction and encourage you to identify and release painful emotions from your childhood. You will discover patterns that may enable negative behaviors and learn how to change them in such a way that you feel better. Over time, therapy sessions can help you to let go of the past, heal your pain, improve self compassion and self worth, and create a healthy life.
Are You Ready to Let Go of Your Past and Feel Better About Life?
A trauma therapist Palatine, IL offers can understand the struggles you may be going through and wants to help you overcome them in the healthiest manner possible. Their confidential sessions will be rich in empathy, compassion, and support. There is no judgement and you will be treated with the respect you deserve. Change is possible and all you have to do is take the first small step.
Thank you to our friends and contributors at Lotus Wellness Center for their insight into childhood trauma and counseling.