Sharing your trauma narrative can be painful, yet healing if someone on the other side is truly hearing you without judgement.
Not everyone you tell your story to is trained to provide the necessary safe space you need to begin the healing process. Seeking a therapist to assist you in processing through the experience while staying present can bring clarity to your whole life story.
Four key elements a therapist can provide when a client is telling their trauma narrative include:
- Compassionate Understanding
- Active Listening
- Therapeutic Alliance
- Unequivocal Positive Regard
Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) can be beneficial in treatment amongst groups of people who have similar traumatic experiences. According to the American Psychological Association article describing NET, this method “grants the patient the freedom to reflect on their entire life, cultivating a feeling of personal identity.” Understanding and putting words to the traumatic experiences in correlation to identifying the emotional responses can help people become more cognizant of triggers. Integrating self-care and recognizing self-respect is necessary to treatment.
GROW Counseling can help you discover healing through telling the story of your trauma. Check out a list of our therapists on the website to learn more about our specialities and areas of focus.
Written by: Lisa S. Miller
