What Is A Trauma Coach: Healing Trauma & Abuse
What is a trauma coach?
A trauma coach is like a compassionate ally who provides a safe space for people who have gone through difficult experiences. They offer a supportive and non-judgmental environment to help individuals cope with the emotional, psychological, and physical effects of trauma. Whether someone has experienced abuse, violence, an accident, or a natural disaster, a trauma coach can help them work through their pain and overcome the challenges that come with trauma.
Trauma is a loaded word, and there is some stigma around this word as well. Trauma can be a sensitive and complex topic, and unfortunately, there can be a negative stigma associated with it. But as a coach, one of my main objectives is to break down these barriers and help people understand that seeking support after a traumatic event is a courageous and empowering step towards healing. By shedding light on the reality of trauma and the impact it can have on our lives, I hope to reduce the shame and guilt that often comes with it. My personal goal is to help individuals move past their painful experiences and onto a path of wellness and happiness.
Trauma coaches use various techniques like breathing exercises, visualization, and therapeutic tools to help clients manage symptoms and reclaim their sense of control. They are passionate about helping people heal and empowering them to live fulfilling lives after trauma. What is a trauma coach trying to ultimately achieve? The ultimate goal is to help individuals move towards healing and achieve a sense of control over their lives.
Okay, so what qualifies as trauma?
Another one of my goals is to help destigmatize the word "trauma" so that people will feel more comfortable seeking help and moving past their traumatic life events towards a healthier and happier path. Is trauma one isolated event, such as a house fire or a natural disaster? Or is it consistent or frequent events like childhood abuse, abandonment, bullying at school, or emotional neglect? The truth is that trauma can encompass all of these things.
The crucial aspect of trauma is how it affects an individual's ability to cope and their personal resiliency regarding their emotional, mental, physical, or spiritual capacity. For example, if a child has a secure attachment to at least one caregiver and can achieve a sense of safety in their nervous system soon after the traumatic event, they can become more resilient and learn to calm down and cope in a healthy way!
Additionally, if a person feels powerless to control the event, feels frightened by the event, or believes the event was a moral injury, they may have a harder time calming their nervous system and might resort to substances, unhealthy relationships, or other coping mechanisms to regain a sense of calm. A moral injury occurs when a trauma violates a person's values of what is fair, just, and right.
The body traps emotions (and holds onto them)
If a person is not able to self-soothe or find healthy ways of comforting or reframing what happened and if there is no one to help them through the event, the person can develop biological, emotional, relational, and psychological after-effects from the trauma. I will go into these in more detail in future articles.
“Trauma occurs when attack or abandonment triggers a fight/flight response so intensely that the person cannot turn it off once the threat is over. He becomes stuck in an adrenalized state.”
That quote is from Pete Walker, author of “Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving. This is what is meant by a dysregulated nervous system. The person goes into a sympathetic nervous system activation and cannot feel calm or safe, and safety is the most important feeling a trauma survivor needs to feel. Children need to feel safe and so do adults. When we don’t, we cannot relax. We become hypervigilant and feel extreme levels of stress which harms our bodies and leads to the biological, emotional, relational, and psychological after-effects I mentioned earlier.
When we get “triggered” by something that happens or by something someone says that offends us or scares us, our bodies remember the events that took place in the past. Pete Walker calls these triggers “emotional flashbacks.” So, when you feel triggered by someone, remember that they only show you something you felt at one time in the past. You are safe now. It is not happening now. Our bodies don’t realize this, but our minds can help our bodies find calm again.
So is coaching a good option?
Healing happens in relationship, and a coach can help you anchor into the present moment so that if you are triggered, you can find your way back to safety and learn tools to help you find safety going forward. What is a trauma coach hoping for? The same things you are most likely, especially since most of us have come through our own healing process. For me personally, it’s to guide you back to your inner self. To help you find peace and freedom after experiencing a traumatic event. Trauma can leave deep emotional and psychological scars that can affect your ability to function and thrive in your daily life.
The process of working with a trauma coach involves delving deep into your inner self and exploring the emotional and psychological blocks that may be hindering your progress towards healing. It’s hard work, and I’ve been on both sides of it. Rediscovering your inner self and reconnecting with the things that bring you joy and fulfillment are worth it. You want to learn how to manage your emotions and responses to triggers that may be holding you back from moving forward in your life.
The bottom line of trauma is that it is an individual perception. My trauma and your trauma may not be the same, which is ok. We might have had the same exact trauma, too, and my perception might be one thing and yours another. This is also okay. Comparing and discounting our trauma because someone else is not as affected does not help us move past it and thrive.
Resources to explore more
While I’m all for coaching, it’s not for everyone! Therapy may be a better option to heal past trauma depending on your mindset. Coaching is a better fit if you’re seeking things grounded in the present and are able to focus on moving forward in the here and now. Outside of that, you’ll always have a ton of resources to read, watch, study and so on. There’s help in whatever form you need if you have the capacity to reach out for it.
Here’s a list of some of the top organizations that are doing amazing work in this space if you need some deep reading to sort out your feelings and consider your own approach!
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN): This organization provides resources and information for families, educators, mental health professionals, and other caregivers who work with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma. Their website includes fact sheets, treatment guidelines, and other resources for trauma-informed care.
The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS): This organization is dedicated to promoting effective treatment and research related to traumatic stress. Their website provides access to publications, webinars, and resources related to trauma treatment and care.
The Center for Mind-Body Medicine: This organization offers programs and resources focused on mind-body approaches to healing trauma. Their website includes information about their training programs, resources for self-care, and other resources related to trauma healing.
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): This organization provides resources and support for survivors of sexual violence. Their website includes information about the effects of trauma, support resources, and ways to get involved in advocacy efforts.
While this is a tough material and a tough space to move forward in, please know there’s always some people passionate about their past struggles and wanting to help others. I want you to find the freedom and peace you need to thrive again. I believe you’ll get there, even if you don’t. That’s why community and relationships can be so powerful to your healing journey, and I hope you find your starting place!
If my articles are helpful to you on this topic, here’s a couple more that may help:
Most Effective Way To Heal Trauma: The Value Of Safety
Benefits Of Trauma: Your Own Special Gifts
