Introduction
When working as a counselor with clients who have suffered traumatic episodes, it is essential to provide integrative care that is based on evidence and best practice. The process of working with traumatized populations involves an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon, an accurate selection of approaches, and the mitigation of risk factors. In particular, counselors specializing in trauma treatment should be acknowledged the context of the traumatic experience and the involved parties that might benefit the healing process. Moreover, the integration of online means of communication, family therapy, and self-care are immediate elements in proper care for traumatized clients. This paper integrates the findings from readings to claim that for professional counselors, an in-depth understanding of trauma-specific methods of work and the knowledge of vicarious trauma prevention techniques contribute to safe and effective practice.
Trauma as a Multifaceted Phenomenon
Understanding trauma as a multifaceted phenomenon is pivotal at the basis of trauma treatment. In literature, it is referred to as a complex issue that harms an individual at multiple levels. The book by Van der Kolk (2014) vividly explains the omnipresence of trauma in modern people’s lives, which entails an abundance of psychological, social, economic, environmental, and other factors that might trigger a traumatic experience. Thus, trauma reaches beyond physical pain and might be experienced on a merely psychological level. Moreover, not only those directly involved in the trauma but also the witnesses, close people, and even therapists (Trippany et al., 2004; Van der Kolk, 2014). Therefore, when considering the benefits to clients, it is essential to integrate family therapeutic methods when helping the served community overcome their problems. This insight is supported by Witt-Doerring et al. (2018), who imply that having family and friends involved in the process of healing from a traumatic episode is a significant contribution to successful recovery.
Resilience to trauma is an inherent human trait that might be facilitated by means of competent counseling and support. Indeed, Van der Kolk (2014) states that to function in everyday life; the human brain resists remembering trauma to push it away from memory and continue living despite the pain. However, “while we all want to move beyond trauma, the part of our brain devoted to ensuring our survival is not very good at denial” (Van der Kolk, 2014, p. 2). Therefore, people are unable to forget the traumatic experience, as well as they cannot process it properly on their own. It requires deliberate profession-guided work to address the issue and find paths toward its solution. In this regard, an insight for professional counselors is to employ an integrative approach incorporating multiple strategies to help clients face their difficulties in a manner that facilitates their opportunities for healing. In such a manner, the process of work will be more efficient and successful with better goal setting and purpose achievement.
An integrative approach implies considering not only the help of family and friends but also reaching for support beyond conventional communication circles. While counseling individually or in a group might be beneficial for traumatized clients’ well-being, it is recommended to diversify the therapeutic interventions with internet-based support groups. According to Witt-Doerring et al. (2018), engaging in an online community specifically connecting people with similar experiences helps them find support among others and obtain better resources for healing within themselves. For example, “the ubiquity of social media and informal online communities have led adolescents to utilize these as the most likely forums to seek mental health advice” (Witt-Doerring et al., 2018, p. 4). Thus, using social media platforms as tools for enhancing client healing through support group work is possible.
However, continuous exposure to communication with individuals in distress and dealing with PTSD, suicidal intentions, drug abuse, or any other issue is itself a traumatic experience. Therefore, self-care is essential for counselors show should apply the principles of integrative treatment to themselves as well as their clients. Indeed, as claimed by Trippany et al. (2004), professional counselors face risks of burnout, vicarious trauma, and countertransference due to their job responsibilities. Therefore, it is essential to regulate caseload, engage in support discussions with colleagues, continue adduction, and develop personal coping strategies to ensure mental health benefits for themselves and their clients (Trippany et al., 2004). A healthy counselor with an experience in successful trauma management will be able to help their clients with better results.
Conclusion
In summation, the discussion of the process of dealing with trauma as a multifaceted and complicated phenomenon allowed for detecting its characteristic features essential for counselor work. Professional counselors should have in-depth knowledge about the complexity of trauma to tackle its different types according to client needs. It is imperative to integrate family and friends into the treatment process to ensure consistency; online platforms might be used to facilitate support opportunities for clients. At the same time, counselors should prioritize their own mental health by regulating their caseload, obtaining peer consultations, and developing coping strategies to prevent vicarious trauma when dealing with clients’ issues.
References
Trippany, R. L., Kress, V. E. W.., & Wilcoxon, S. A. (2004). Preventing vicarious trauma: What counselors should know when working with trauma survivors. Journal of Counseling & Development, 82, 31-37.
Van der Kolk, B. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Penguin.
Witt-Doerring, J., Shorter, D., & Kosten, T. (2018). Online communities for drug withdrawal: What can we learn? Psychiatric Times, 35(8), 1-14.