FAQ: What is "Trauma Counselling" at Life To The Full and how does it fit into our services?

At Life to the Full, Trauma Counselling is a distinct and highly specialised service that we primarily deliver through our psychological services, drawing on the expertise of our clinical psychologists. While we also offer spiritual counselling, for trauma-related cases, our preferred starting point is always within a clinical psychological framework.

Here's how we define and integrate trauma counselling:

• Key Modalities and Expertise

◦ Our primary therapeutic approach for trauma is Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). We consider EMDR to be a somatic therapy – meaning it's more focused on bodily experience than just talk-based therapy – and it involves mentally revisiting traumatic situations coupled with specific eye movements, proving to be an efficient and increasingly popular form of treatment.

Our Clinical Director, David Scoffield, has specialised training in EMDR, and we find that clients often specifically enquire about this modality.

◦ If EMDR is deemed too confronting for a client, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) serves as a more traditional pathway to trauma recovery. CBT assists clients in challenging anxious thoughts by objectively assessing their fears and gradually confronting them through exposure.

◦ We also utilise Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as an alternative approach that promotes self-kindness and acceptance of thoughts to foster psychological flexibility, which is our ultimate goal for clients.

• Integration of a Christian Framework

◦ We thoughtfully integrate a Christian approach into EMDR and our other therapeutic models.

This becomes particularly pertinent when clients face theological questions, such as forgiveness, especially given that trauma is often inflicted by others.

◦ Our counselling process encourages a deep exploration of concepts like justice and forgiveness within a Christian worldview. We clarify that forgiveness does not imply condoning harmful actions or returning to abusive relationships; rather, it involves acknowledging the transgression and trusting in divine justice.

◦ Our Christian framework emphasises redemptive stories, inviting clients to lament and grieve, with the belief that God can use difficult experiences for deeper formation and connection.

◦ A core biblical principle we apply is identity, asserting that individuals are beloved children of God, and their worth is not diminished by traumatic experiences. For non-practising Christians, we use "thought experiments" to explore the implications of biblical principles without requiring immediate agreement, allowing them to examine their existential satisfaction.

Ready to take this important step?

Contact Life to the Full today to learn more and schedule your sessions.