FAQ: Which Therapeutic Models and approaches does Life To The Full utilise for Trauma Counselling?

At Life to the Full, we define Trauma Counselling as a highly specialised service, which we primarily deliver through our psychological services. This approach draws on the expertise of our clinical psychologists, and while we do offer spiritual counselling, our preferred starting point for trauma-related cases is always within a clinical psychological framework.

Here are the therapeutic models and approaches we utilise for trauma counselling:

• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

◦ EMDR is our main therapeutic model for addressing trauma. We consider it a somatic therapy, meaning it focuses more on bodily experience than just talk-based therapy.

◦ This modality involves mentally revisiting traumatic situations combined with specific eye movements. It has proven to be an efficient and increasingly popular form of treatment for trauma.

◦ Our Clinical Director, David Scoffield, possesses specialised training in EMDR, and clients frequently inquire about this specific modality due to its growing recognition. We consider it important to feature David's name prominently in our trauma-related content for its significance.

◦ We acknowledge that EMDR is quite confronting, as it asks clients to directly face their trauma, which is often inflicted by others. However, this is done in a controlled environment facilitated by a practitioner, which we believe is crucial for restoration and healing, similar to exposure therapy for anxiety.

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

◦ If EMDR is deemed too confronting for a client, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) serves as a more traditional pathway to trauma recovery.

◦ CBT is a common modality used by most psychologists. It assists clients in challenging anxious thoughts by objectively assessing their fears and gradually confronting them through exposure. The goal of CBT is to help individuals unlock their "psychological flexibility" by questioning and restructuring their thoughts and behaviours.

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

◦ We also utilise Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as an alternative approach. ACT promotes self-kindness and acceptance of thoughts to foster psychological flexibility, which is our ultimate goal for clients. Different practitioners may employ various strategies to help clients achieve this goal.

Integration of a Christian Framework

All our services are available to be delivered within a Christian worldview, should a client be seeking that. We thoughtfully integrate a Christian approach into our therapeutic models, including EMDR. This integration combines evidence-based psychology with a Christian worldview to provide a deeper sense of meaning, purpose, and hope in the healing process.

• This integration 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 framework. 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. This means acknowledging the pain while finding hope in God's ability to heal and write a deeper narrative.

• 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 and scrutinise these truths.

We prepare clients for the challenging nature of trauma counselling, acknowledging that improvement often involves a temporary worsening before progress, particularly with EMDR. We assure them this is a normal part of the healing process, believing that engaging with the pain, rather than avoiding it, leads to long-term restoration.

Ready to take this important step?

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