Therapy for Trauma and PTSD

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Trauma and PTSD is stored in the fibers of our bodies. We remember not only with our minds but also our sense of smell, touch, and hearing. Unpacking these wounds takes intricate work, and the therapist you work with must understand all of these components and provide a safe environment for you. Whether you come into the office or meet through telehealth, we will walk alongside you as you heal.

We understand how childhood trauma can affect the very cells of your body; nightmares, panic, and fear are all typical symptoms of growing up in an abusive environment. When these symptoms are present for over 6 months, you may have PTSD. These symptoms can include heart problems, arthritis, body pain, insomnia, memory impairments, and many more. Our therapists are trained in recognizing hypervigilance and helping you learn to self-soothe and begin to process what happened to you.

Medical trauma is also unique. If you've been close to death, experienced a traumatic medical procedure, or been diagnosed with a chronic or terminal illness, you likely have many questions, fears, and anxieties. What you feel is normal, and we want to help you make sense of this. Our Warrenville and telehealth therapists are understanding and know that you may be unable to make it in-person to appointments and can provide telehealth therapy to Illinois residents. We will offer flexible scheduling to accommodate doctor appointments. 

Religious trauma is also difficult. The idea of a higher being should provide warmth and comfort. However, some people use religion to instill hatred, fear, and abuse. The results are the similar to other traumas: depression, hypervigilance, mistrust- and understandably so. 

There is often a connection between being your true self and shedding the past religion that you may have grown up with. This is a complex relationship. Our therapists will help you start to make sense of what happened and write a new narrative to your life, one that you are the author of.

Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human and Sex Trafficking

These are less talked about issues because they are stigmatized and often misunderstood, even by professionals.

The co-owner of S & J Wellness, Jennifer Moreno, MA, LCPC, CADC, is not silent when discussing having lived experience as a survivor and what it takes to journey alongside a client who is seeking therapy for violence, assault, and trafficking. 

At S & J Wellness, we are very selective who joins the practice to provide therapy, especially trauma therapy. Trauma therapy is delicate, and we as therapists are honored to sit with you and help you navigate and try to make sense of what happened. 

Trauma and PTSD Treatment Modalities

Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)- This intervention is primarily used with children and adolescents. TF-CBT is an evidenced based treatment for childhood abuse, and sexual trauma. 

Imago Therapy for Couple's-Imago therapy looks at the attachment styles that each partner had with their caregiver(s). If the relationship with mom or dad was rigid, broken, and abusive, this can carry over into romantic partnerships and present in a variety of ways. Unresolved trauma in both partners can cause conflict, mistrust, arguments, and anxiety. Imago seeks to heal the past attachments and rebuild the connection with your partner or spouse. 

*It is recommended that each partner engage in individual therapy before trauma focused couple's work or in conjunction with individual with collaboration with your therapist.

Attachment and Relational- When we are abused as children, our attachment to caretakes is skewed, if not completely broken. In an attachment and relational focus, the clinician and client seek to heal the past attachment and rebuild a new, healthy attachment.

Attachment and relational is deep work. This intervention will involve talking about traumatic events. The therapist will be understanding and patient. The therapist will not rush the process and may interject if they clinically feel that talking about the trauma is too much at the time. The goal for this intervention is to heal and rebuild attachments by using trust, empathy, connection, and attachment.

Psychodynamic- We are not analytically focused and do view clients from a liberation lens. However, the roots of psychodynamic understand that trauma has a deep impact on our personalities, and where we currently are in life. The past is very relevant. We use this understanding to explore things on a deeper level with clients and get to the roots of the symptomology.

Nervous System Regulation-This is a vital intervention and is based on Polyvagal Theory. When you have PTSD or C-PTSD your nervous system is hypervigilant, hyper-aroused, and this creates physical symptoms. Physical health and trauma are connected. Research shows that those who survive trauma are at greater risk for heart problems, arthritis, and other medical problems. People with PTSD or C-PTSD can experience severe muscle tension, feeling on edge constantly, sleep disturbances, nightmares; PTSD is a painful condition

This is why nervous system regulation and self soothing is vital to trauma therapy. Our therapists will work with you on recognizing PTSD signs and symptoms and  help you learn to self-sooth before they proceed with any other interventions.

We may use or recommend additional interventions throughout the course of treatment. If we recommend a specialty that we are not trained in, we have a network of affirming and trained practitioners that we trust. 

Our Warrenville and Illinois telehealth therapists understand that trauma therapy is brave, and it is difficult therapeutic work to get through. Thank you for choosing us to walk this path with you.