Steps from the Red Line
Trauma Therapist Cambridge
Have you been dealing with emotional difficulties because of trauma? Psychological trauma can lead to a variety of unpleasant symptoms. Sometimes, it’s not enough to deal with it alone, and you need the help of a medical professional.
We at Cambridge Mental Health offer clinical mental health services in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where we provide high-quality trauma treatment to help people get back to who they truly are. Our psychiatric day treatment* programs help bring structure into your life without the need for 24/7 medical supervision, so you can keep up with your daily life, whether that’s attending school or work. Our flexible treatment plans help you address any negative thought patterns and improve your emotional resilience and well-being.
Understanding Trauma
Trauma is when a specific distressing event or experience leaves you with traumatic stress. You may experience both mental and physical symptoms following it. Some things that can lead to trauma include:
- Physical Assault
- Natural Disasters
- Motor Accidents
- Sudden Death of a Loved One
- Childhood Neglect
- Hate Crime
- Sexual Abuse
- Emotional Abuse
Of course, everyone experiences trauma slightly differently, and some people may even be at a higher risk of experiencing trauma, depending on their previous experiences. It should be noted that everyone has the ability to heal from trauma, especially when in the right trauma treatment program.
Trauma Symptoms
Here are some of the symptoms that often follow a traumatic event. These include both mental and physical symptoms.
- Feeling Helpless
- Sleep Disruptions
- Feeling on Edge
- Avoiding Situations that Remind Them of Trauma
- Physical Symptoms such as Headaches and Stomach Problems
- Feeling Ashamed
- Anxiety
- Denial
- Emotional Numbness
If you have experienced traumatic stress, know that there are mental health services that can help you. At Cambridge Mental Health, we are well equipped to provide excellent trauma treatment, offering clinical services based on clinical psychology that is backed by science.
Different Types of Trauma
It’s important to note that there are different types of trauma to be aware of.
Childhood Trauma
Childhood trauma is when an individual goes through a traumatic event when they are still a child, whether that’s physical abuse, neglect, or being in an accident. As they are in a time of human development, it can cause a myriad of complex issues. The child may become more emotional and aggressive, and the trauma may develop into mental health challenges like post-traumatic stress disorder or depression. Some children may even have an impacted memory surrounding the trauma and the time around it. For children who go through trauma, early professional help is the best action. It’s still worth seeking help to treat childhood trauma as an adult, too, as it can help you emotionally cope with the trauma.
Collective Trauma
Another type of trauma is known as collective trauma. This is when a group of people all experience the same traumatic stress due to an event or experience. One example of this would be a natural disaster – everyone who was in the area where the natural disaster hit would experience a similar type of trauma. Other examples include the Holocaust, terrorist attacks, and hurricanes.
Acute, Chronic, and Complex Trauma
When talking about trauma, there are three distinct types: acute, chronic, and complex trauma.
Acute Trauma: Acute trauma comes from a single, easily identified event. Often, the event that leads to acute trauma is very shocking, often coming out of nowhere. Some examples include a natural disaster or being in a motor accident.
Chronic Trauma: Chronic trauma is when an individual is subject to distressing circumstances for a longer period of time. This prolonged exposure has a serious impact on the individual in the long term, particularly psychologically.
Complex Trauma: Complex trauma refers to when a person has experienced a lot of traumatic events in their lifetime. For example, childhood abuse often leads to complex trauma.
Trauma and PTSD
There is a significant overlap between trauma and PTSD, but it’s important to note that they are not the same – some people with trauma may not have post-traumatic stress disorder.
PTSD is a specific mental health condition that occurs after a person experiences a traumatic event. Following said event, they have symptoms such as:
- Flashbacks
- Sleeping Difficulties
- Nightmares
- Intrusive Thoughts
- Guilt
- Being Startled Easily
PTSD is a serious mental health condition and requires specific treatment. Here at Cambridge Mental Health in Cambridge, we are able to treat both trauma and PTSD.
How We Treat Trauma
If you choose to come to our clinical treatment center in Cambridge, you will receive excellent care from highly trained staff. Here is how we help.
Individual Patient Plans
Everyone is different. You have your own medical history, and what has caused your trauma will likely not be the same as for another one of our patients. We always deliver very specific and personalized patient plans, because this way, we can ensure you have the best chance of overcoming your symptoms and experiencing true personal growth.
Flexible Treatment
We offer intense outpatient programs, which essentially means you receive the same level of attentive medical care as an inpatient program, only you don’t have to be in our center every hour of the day. Instead, you will attend in-person appointments, following a rigid structure. It’s a way of ensuring you get the help you need while still giving you freedom and flexibility.
Medication Management
At Cambridge Mental Health, we can also handle all medications for you. Whether you are prescribed mood stabilizers or antidepressants, our expert team can store, dispense, and administer any necessary medications. You will always receive your meds at the right time.
Treating Co-Occurring Disorders
Often, trauma is accompanied by other disorders. Whether you also have a mood disorder, anxiety, or struggle with substance abuse, we can help by creating a dual diagnosis plan that takes all your mental health challenges into account.
A Range of Therapy Sessions
A big part of coming to our care for trauma involves attending trauma treatment therapy. We use:
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: This is basically CBT, but specifically for trauma, with it focusing specifically on addressing any issues related to the trauma experienced
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy: Dialectical behavioral therapy is used to help individuals manage their big emotions.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy: This is when the patient is gently exposed to the thing that triggers a traumatic response. Over time, it can lessen the fears.
Innovative Care
At Cambridge Mental Health, we focus on providing up-to-date and innovative care for all patients. That means looking into newer traumatic stress studies and research to see what the best treatment plans we can offer are. One method we use is the Internal Family Systems, which is where we view the mind as many different parts working harmoniously together. We take these ideas and use them as frameworks for our treatment. Rest assured, all treatments we provide are science and evidence-backed, and we see great results time and time again.
Do You Need Our Trauma Treatment?
Are you struggling with unwanted memories and want to improve your overall well-being? Is your self worth suffering? You might wonder if our treatment is right for you. Here are some signs it is.
You Feel Ashamed: It is very common for patients to have low self-esteem following trauma, and even feel ashamed and guilty about it. This is a clear sign that trauma is impacting you, and you could definitely benefit from seeking professional treatment options.
You Have Anxiety: Anxiety is a feeling of persistent worry that is commonly combined with physical symptoms like a rapid heart rate. Having anxiety following trauma is common and is a sign that you could use professional mental health services.
You Experience Flashbacks: Flashbacks are a symptom of both trauma and PTSD. You don’t have to live with them – trauma therapy can help you overcome your past trauma and stop the flashbacks altogether.
It’s Affected Your Work: If your trauma is impacting you so much – to the point where your work is suffering – then that is a clear sign that you need professional trauma therapy.
It’s Affected Your Relationships: Another way trauma may impact your daily life is by causing strain on your relationships. It may manifest in a number of ways – perhaps you struggle with being intimate with a partner, or maybe your trauma has caused you to be more irritable and shut off from your friends and family. In these situations, help from licensed therapists can be the key to overcoming your trauma and healing your relationships.
Seek Help for Trauma Today
You don’t have to live in the shadow of your past trauma any longer. Whether you are a young adult or older adult, have chronic, acute, or complex trauma, we are here to help. We can provide outpatient mental health therapy that will put you back in control of your mind and emotions, and teach you mindfulness techniques you can take away with you. To make the most of our effective treatment, get in touch today – we are always happy to open our doors to new patients who want to turn a new chapter in life.