Trauma Counselling
Trauma Counselling involves processing the negative effects of trauma. These negative effects can include the experience of fear, helplessness or feeling like life is spiraling out of control, difficulty sleeping and feeling like your emotions are overwhelming. These are only some possible effects of trauma and not everyone who has been through trauma will have these experiences. Nonetheless, if you or your loved one is distressed or displaying unusual behaviour after a traumatic event, trauma counselling will most likely be beneficial.
Being a Victim
Being a victim of violence often leaves one feeling powerless and out of control. The trauma counselling I offer guides people through a journey where they are able to reclaim control over their lives.
Examples of violent events which I offer trauma counselling for:
- Car /industrial accidents
- Hi-jacking
- Armed robbery
- Bullying
Receiving a Diagnosis
Receiving a diagnosis which could potentially change the way you live your life, can be traumatic. These kinds of diagnoses affect people differently, but almost all people need to think about how they plan to live their lives with this diagnosis. This can be a traumatic time, not only for the person being diagnosed, but also for their loved ones. The counselling I provide offers people a safe space to speak about the fears which the diagnosis has brought to the forefront of their minds. When a loved one had been diagnosed, we often feel guilty for having the negative and fearful feelings which often occur. Counselling allows us to work through these feelings that we often feel we have “no right” to feel in the first place. For example, How am I supposed to treat this person now that I know what is wrong? Do I talk to them about these feelings, or keep quiet? Their diagnosis has effected me, how do I deal with these feelings?
Examples of diagnoses which I offer trauma counselling for:
- Cancer
- HIV and other STIs
- Diabetes
- Infertility
- Miscarriages
Amputations
Getting an amputation is often a life-saving decision one has to make. With the technology available today, there are a variety of prosthetic options which enable amputees to live relatively normal lives and continue with their careers and lifestyles. The counselling I offer for amputee’s includes coming to terms with the reason for the amputation as well as how the amputation is going to affect his or her life. I provide counselling for the emotions which may come up during any stage of the process, from before the amputation, after the amputation, during the different phases of the prosthetic process, as well as while the person is getting back into their regular life.
