Why Create Individualized Trauma Plans?

Sadly, trauma therapy is a common need in our communities. Many types of traumatic experiences impact us in many different ways. At the office of Joe Langheim, we work hard to meet our clients where they are, and walk with them on an individualized plan to better mental health and quality of life, and delivery from aspects of the past that may haunt them.

Why is it so important to create an individualized trauma therapy plan?

Your Story is Different

One fundamental reason that individualized plans are so important is that no one else has your specific life experiences and background. The uniqueness of each human life is evident in sayings like “no one can do it for you” or “all you can control is you” – but these aren’t just trite sayings, because we really are each special and unique in more than a few ways.

Individualized plans create that sense of specificity that matches your unique character and circumstance.

Your Pain is Different

Have you ever heard anybody say something like this?

“Other people deal with (X) all the time - why is it so hard for you?”

That kind of thinking can be very damaging, and we try our best to dispel it here in our office. It's just not helpful or accurately insightful to the way we live our lives. People experience similar events differently, and it's not constructive to compare your pain to what someone else feels. In fact, this kind of statement really just shows a lack of empathy and a kind of confrontational mental stance that degrades a relationship between two people. Improper power balances often factor into our client’s past – and we work through those issues as well.

Different Modalities

Some of our patients benefit more from breathwork or Reiki;  others benefit more from cognitive behavioral therapy or some other approach. We have all of these modalities in-house to help provide the individualized care that our patients need.

There's been a lot of successful innovation and trauma therapy over the past few years. We've seen a lot of it at conferences and in journals and elsewhere. But the key is to implement these new tools effectively, and that means understanding how, when and where to use a particular resource. That's why we do so much discovery before we really start digging into therapy techniques. We want to know as much as we can about your personal situation and background, as well as how you confront the past, present and future, and that's the solid ground on which we build our trauma therapy models.

A Way Out

Early recovery from substance abuse and other forms of addiction can be one of the most exciting times for someone to experience; it can also be one of the most terrifying. Imagine your best friend, the one who has kept you “safe,” secure, and given you an identity in this chaotic world, is suddenly, ripped away! What would that feel like? Sound scary? It is…

Welcome to early recovery. People don’t want to admit this truth because of the fear, pain, and negative consequences an addiction has had in their lives. They are SCARED to see their addiction as their best friend because they believe they then cannot stop. But that’s not true! They can see something for what it is and still decide to stop. However, as I have said, many people struggle to see this truth due to fear. And in reality FEAR has more to do with addiction than anything!

This is the struggle of early recovery. FEAR, FEAR, FEAR.

What you commonly hear in treatment, twelve step meetings, and early therapy is fear will motivate you. Is this true? Of course… There are many times that we experience fear and it motivates us. However, what commonly happens in early recovery is this STEP towards recovery becomes their PATH TO LIFE.

The individual begins operating in fear; they learn to operate from it.

The result is anxiety, depression, fear, feeling stuck, overwhelmed with life, and a need to avoid their emotions and intuition at all costs. The individual is terrified to live life. Life becomes unmanageable. And commonly they are miserable, scared, have low energy, low self-worth, and want to avoid this world.

In truth… This is what addiction is really about!

This is when clients come to see me. They don’t want to relapse into substance abuse, sex addiction, cutting, gambling, or any other form of addictive behavior but cannot live this type of life anymore. And worse, they are ashamed they feel this way due to their perception of what recovery is supposed to look like.

When we have this conversation, I can see the “switch” turn on in their eyes. There is another way?! I can see excitement… And of course, fear too. But of course! That is, in itself, the opportunity to heal. I ask a very simple question to start the journey…

“Would you rather be right or happy?”

It sounds so simplistic… It can’t be true, right?

Well, it is simple AND it is also a very complex question. Being right is staying the same. Being right is continuing to operate in low self-worth, fear, anxiety, and perceptions of negativity.

The good news is all it takes is WILLINGNESS.

Are you willing to be happy? Are you willing to let go of the past? Are you willing to let life be easier? OR must you run the show and stay depressed, lonely, miserable, and in control?

A question we must all ask ourselves during our lives. And the answer is out of this world…

And maybe that is OUR GREATEST FEAR!

Personalizing Trauma Therapy

What do you think of when you hear the words ‘trauma therapy?’

Many of those who have never sought out this kind of service don't really know what to think about it. They have a vague idea that people with horrific trauma will get some one-on-one counseling to get at least part of the way out of the woods and try to live a normal life.

That doesn't really address the multifaceted realities of trauma therapy.

First of all, there are many different kinds of trauma. Trauma therapy services are not just for troops who have seen death overseas, or people who have been tragically abused as children. There are those needs, of course, but there are also many other kinds of trauma that impact people personally – and every person is different.

That's why trauma therapy has to be a personalized journey. It has to take into account the full context of the patient's life experience and address issues effectively. It has to be a “thinking practice” – not just a technical slog through journals and generic best practices. We’re talking about people!

Different Therapy Modalities

Trauma therapists also have a lot of tools in their therapy toolkit.

Again, people unfamiliar with the service will think about ‘just sitting down and talking to people,’ but we also have many other ways to treat existing trauma.

For example, Joe Langheim uses holotropic and rebirthing breathwork as a way to reorient trauma experience. Cognitive behavior therapy works for some people, and meditative therapy can also be helpful. Joe Langheim also offers reiki, shamanic healing and other models to engage individual patients in different ways, to meet each one of them where he or she is, and start from there.

New researched therapy models can do things that conventional talk therapy sometimes can't. Part of the experience is allowing the patient to reimagine their context and empower themselves to work through personal biases and memory impact that can have a negative effect on their lives.

A Philosophy of Care

At the outset and throughout trauma therapy, it's extremely important to have a therapist who does personalize the experience, and one who does not judge patients based on arbitrary factors.

It might seem intuitive that empathy is paramount for therapists, but too many of us have seen professionals who may be certified and experienced, but do not bring this empathy to the table. That can be disastrous for trauma patients, because they are so much in need of empathy in a vulnerable time.

Come to Joe Langheim Counseling to take care of your troubles. Find out more about our office online and get connected to real care that is going to make a difference for you.

Anxiety Symptoms That Are Common Labeled as Personality Traits

Did you realize that over 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders? The main thing you have to do to adequately treat these disorders is properly diagnose them. In many cases, anxiety disorders will be labeled as other problems, which only prolongs the amount of time a person has to wait to get the right treatment.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to classify their anxious behavior is labeling at a personality trait. There are times when these disorders and personality overlap. Various quirks and idiosyncrasies can in fact be a person’s anxiety running amuck.

Read below to find out more about common anxiety symptoms that are mislabeled as personality traits.

Being Irritable is a Sign of Anxiety

Being on-edge, all of the time can be downright miserable. Not only will you feel bad for being irritated by the people around you, it can also affect your relationships in a negative way. Most people think that a person being irritable or crochety is just part of their personality. In reality, this is a textbook example of anxiety manifesting itself in a different way.

If you are feeling anxious, you are more likely to lash out due to the discomfort this causes. If your mind and body are telling you to be worried or stressed about certain things, you will have a hard time calming down. The moment you start to feel anxious, you need to focus on your breathing and concentrating on other things.

Taking your mind off of the source of your stress can help you snap out of an anxiety attack. Seeking out the help of a knowledgeable mental health professional is essential when trying to diagnose your anxiety disorder and figure out how to manage it.

Perfectionists are Motivated By Stress and Fear

Do you consider yourself a perfectionist? If you answered yes, you need to take a step back and assess what motivates you to be a perfectionist. Often times, the answer to this question will be fear and stress. It is generally your anxiety that fuels the desire to do everything the right way.

Most people who are perfectionists feel like they are inadequate or unworthy of the advantages they have in life. Regardless of how perfect you perform a task; it will never be enough to get rid of your anxiety. The only way to get a handle on this problem is by working with a mental health professional.

Avoid Being a People-Pleaser

Another sign that a person has an anxiety disorder is the fact that they are a people-pleaser. This generally comes from a person’s need to feel accepted and loved. Anxiety disorders rob a person of their self-confidence, which is why they derive so much joy for doing things for everyone else. While there is nothing wrong with lending a helping hand, there are limitations you need to impose.

Get The Help You Need Now

Whether you are suffering from anxiety or PTSD, Joe Langheim is here to help you. He is a licensed mental health counselor and a certified trauma therapist. Contact him now for more information on the counseling he provides.

Breathwork Can Heal Trauma and Relieve Stress

Life is a journey that is not without peril.  Finding proactive methods to alleviate the stress and trauma that can be caused by our negative experiences is key to living a long, healthy, and rewarding life.  More often than not, people are unaware of the various techniques that they can use to calm their minds, bodies, and spirits, during times of stress or pain.

A timeless technique practiced by many different cultures is that of controlling the body’s breath in an effort to create positive responses to stress and anxiety.  Breathwork, the generalized term for this practice, describes any type of therapy or meditation that utilizes breathing exercises to improve physical, mental, and spiritual health. 

Many modern forms of therapy today are incorporating breathwork methods into treatment modalities that incorporate all aspects of a person’s healing.  Drawing from Eastern practices such as yoga and Tai Chi, today’s therapy sessions can combine breathwork and Western psychotherapy techniques to achieve results in unique ways.

Breathwork can be used in a myriad of forms to reduce stress and anxiety, control physical tension and pain, and release negative effects of trauma.  Creating self awareness, focus, and release, breathwork can be facilitated by a certified professional or practiced on one’s own.

Of the various types of breathwork techniques that can be practiced, Holotropic Breathwork is perhaps the most commonly used.  The goal of Holotropic Breathwork is to achieve wholeness of mind, body, and spirit. Sessions in this type of breathing exercises are typically facilitated by certified practitioners who guide patients or clients through the process.

This type of breathwork is effective for accessing and releasing sources of pain caused by trauma as it is meant to induce altered states of consciousness. Trauma can be stored through emotional patterns, blocked energy, and chronic stress.  Sessions in breathwork for trauma release include in-depth counseling about present concerns and past experiences, in addition to the practice of specific breathing techniques.

The goal of any type of breathwork therapy is to offer support in achieving greater self-awareness and self healing techniques that people can apply to their daily lives in order to decrease the negative effects of trauma and stress. Therapists such as Joe Langheim LMHC, LPC, CTT offer breathwork techniques as integral parts of a well balanced treatment approach to mental health therapy.  Providing people with the self healing tools of breathwork can give them the ability to take control of their emotional journey in a positive and proactive way.

Signs You Need Therapy After Trauma

Have you ever been through an experience that was life-threatening, unsafe, shocking, or dangerous? If so, you may find that life never really gets back to normal after this event.

In some cases, it’s going to be necessary to seek therapy for the situation and to help you overcome the trauma you experienced. The question is, when is this necessary?

Some of the signs it may be a good idea for you to seek professional therapy and help are found here.

Risky Behavior

If you are involved in a traumatic event, you probably didn’t have too much control over the situation that was going on. If you feel confident and like you are in control of your circumstances and life, you feel better.

Sometimes, if you have been involved in this type of situation you try to engage in risky behaviors to recreate that circumstance, or experiences and feelings that recreate the originally trauma. The goal is to recreate that original traumatic situation to gain a better sense of control over the situation, with the hope that the outcome is going to be different than what happened originally.

For many people, this isn’t a conscious decision. Some of the most common examples of this risky behavior include walking or driving alone in dangerous areas, starting arguments, and more.

Avoidance

It’s common to try and avoid anything that may trigger the ongoing feelings and thoughts related to the traumatic experience you had. If you are in this situation, you may begin to avoid the places, objects, or even people who caused the pain or fear. It’s a completely normal and expected reaction to this abnormal event – especially when you are in “survival mode.” No one wants to continue experiencing the pain the trauma caused, which is why avoidance is so common.

Re-Experiencing

According to information provided by the National Institute of Mental Health, the concept of re-experiencing is very common in individuals who have suffered from PTSD. Some of the symptoms of this include things like:

·  Frightening thoughts

·  Having recurring bad dreams

·  Reliving the trauma again and again

Usually, the symptoms begin from a person’s thoughts and feelings. Situations, objects, and words that remind you of the event may also begin to trigger these re-experiencing symptoms.

Intrusion

Intrusion occurs if you are having persistent and often intrusive feelings and thoughts about the traumatic event. Sometimes they may be unrelated but are typically always disturbing. The more you experience this; you’ll find you are becoming more and more distressed because you have to continue reliving the trauma that you experienced. The issue is that you can’t find a way to turn these thoughts off, even though they make you feel so bad.

Seeking Therapy Can Help You Overcome Trauma

While it may seem as if there is no cure for the trauma or the ongoing issues you have, there is. With trauma therapy you can learn how to cope with these issues and turn things around for yourself.

How Common is Trauma in Modern Society?

There’s a growing understanding among health professionals and the general public that our mental health has a substantial effect on our physical health. Issues like anxiety, depression, and insomnia can damage your heart, leave you feeling lethargic, and make it harder to concentrate on a task. However, issues like anxiety and depression are often the result of traumatic experiences. Getting help from a trauma therapist like Joe Langheim can help people overcome the issues that are the root cause of other problems. Many individuals can benefit from this treatment because trauma is more common in modern society than people realize.

Everyone experiences traumatic events at some point in their life, and everyone develops different strategies for dealing with the trauma. In many situations, we’re able to handle the trauma on our own and grow as a result. But depending on the person or the severity of the trauma, traumatic experiences can leave lasting emotional scars that affect the individual’s physical and mental health.

Traumatic experiences are more common than people realize because they only think about the extreme examples. However, traumatic experiences are any incident that causes physical, emotional, spiritual, or psychological harm. The event leaves the person feeling threatened, anxious, or frightened as a result. Many victims may be in denial about the effect the traumatic event has had on them.

This definition covers many scenarios that people may not consider traumatic. Most people would recognize events such as surviving war, famine, natural disaster, or terrorism as being a traumatic experience. These events are relatively uncommon in modern industrial countries. On the other hand, events such as the death of a loved one, a divorce, sustaining a severe injury, enduring sexual or physical abuse, and other adverse life events can also produce trauma. When all of the possible sources for trauma are considered, it's clear that most people have dealt with at least one of these events in their lives.

After people get past the initial shock, they can respond to traumatic events in many ways that adversely affect their physical and mental health. Some signs may indicate when a person needs trauma therapy. Emotional symptoms include increased irritability, sudden or dramatic mood changes, anxiety and nervousness, anger, denial, and depression. Other signs include difficulty concentrating, altered sleeping or insomnia, changes in appetite, as well as a withdrawal and isolation from day-to-day activities. If you know someone who's experienced a traumatic event, and they have these symptoms, talk to them about seeking trauma therapy treatment.

For an individual recovering from trauma, it can be difficult to notice the emotional symptoms. What an outside observer sees as irritability, the trauma victim sees as people being unusually annoying. However, there are other symptoms that only the victim would know. For example, they may continue to have flashbacks or repeated memories of the event, and an intense fear that the traumatic event will recur, such as when the anniversary of the event approaches or they are near the scene of the original incident. They may also experience the physical symptoms of stress, such as headaches and nausea, and the worsening of an existing medical condition.

If you or someone you know is having trouble overcoming a traumatic event, licensed therapists like Joe Langheim can help. There are many treatment options for dealing with trauma. Joe Langheim has a dynamic and extensive background as a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Trauma Therapist, Certified Breathworker, and Reiki Master with over 11 years of experience in the field of mental health. Send a message online to get a free 15-minute consultation with Joe Langheim.