Tips for Finding the Right Trauma-Based Therapist

Not every therapist is going to be equipped to help you with your PTSD!

PTSD in and of itself is a huge struggle. When you're stuck in an "incorrect" treatment modality you won't reach your goals. Unfortunately, this is something that's more common than you might think.

When you're talking to a professional who doesn't have trauma training, you may do well for a while but eventually you'll grow worse. This is because when you spend a lot of time talking about trauma you can be retraumatized. It is why it's vital for you to work with the right PTSD professional - the most highly qualified person whom you can find in this regard.

How to Choose the Right PTSD Therapist

While anyone can tell you that they've worked with a lot of PTSD survivors, this doesn't mean a therapist is good at it or that they're truly equipped to guide you towards the healing you deserve. For this to make sense, you must understand that PTSD treatment and recovery is a complex process. Your therapist will need to truly understand the science behind it and the important components of healing. This will require you to do due diligence (a.k.a. research), including:

• Connect with a trauma-based specialist. They will hold special certification in trauma treatment. Of course, they should also hold more traditional training (e.g. cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy) as well. Nevertheless, the additional training in alternative processes (e.g. EMDR, EFT, NLP, hypnosis) will be greatly beneficial.
• Choose a therapist who specializes in your originating trauma (e.g. sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse). The more experience your therapist has working with your "form" of trauma, the more effective they will be at navigating, guiding, and demystifying the process for you.
• Interview therapists. You're a consumer of the professional's service. Just like you wouldn't buy a product without first doing some research, you shouldn't enlist in therapy with someone who doesn't answer your questions in a way that makes sense to you. If a therapist isn't willing to have an open discussion about their training, work history, and success rate, move on. Make sure you undertake this process prior to working with a therapist so you can establish safety and control from the onset.

Trust is very important when choosing a therapist...
Trust starts with God and you can learn more about it here!

With the right treatment and team you CAN heal from PTSD. You must be willing to discover and explore your unique path here though. Doing this with someone who's been truly trained to help PTSD survivors will make a huge difference here.