Psychotraumatology Practice Serving Pennsylvania and Florida
Advanced Counseling and Research Services Liberty Place 313 West Liberty Street, Ste. 224 Lancaster, PA 17603 Tel. 717-394-3994Fax: (717) 394-0124email: acrs@advanced-counseling.com
Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an approach to understanding and responding to the effects of trauma on individuals.
TIC recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for those who have experienced it.
Key Principles of Trauma-Informed Care
Safety: Ensuring physical and emotional safety for clients is paramount. This includes creating a welcoming environment and establishing trust.
Trustworthiness and Transparency: Building trust through clear communication and transparency about processes and decisions. Clients should feel they can trust the care they receive. At ACRS, we communicate with you using plain english so you fully understand your treatment. We also give you a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) so there are no surprises regarding the cost of your treatment.
Peer Support: Incorporating support from individuals who have experienced trauma themselves can be beneficial. Peer support fosters a sense of community and understanding. ACRS offers Trauma-Informed Group Care Sessions.
Collaboration and Empowerment: Involving clients in their own care and decision-making processes. Empowering individuals helps them regain control over their lives. We always have you fully-involved in your treatment.
Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues: Our caring and informed clinicians recognize and address the impact of cultural, historical, and gender-related factors on trauma experiences. ACRS Clinicians are trained and experienced these areas.
Understanding Trauma: Acknowledging the prevalence of trauma and its effects on individuals. This includes understanding how trauma can impact behavior, emotions, and relationships.
Components of Trauma-Informed Care
Screening and Assessment: Identifying trauma history and its effects on individuals as part of the assessment process.
Training and Education: Providing training for staff and caregivers on trauma and its impact, as well as on Trauma-Informed practices.
Policies and Procedures: Developing organizational policies that reflect Trauma-Informed principles, ensuring that all staff members are aligned in their approach.
Supportive Environment: Creating a physical and emotional environment that promotes healing, such as comfortable spaces and supportive interactions.
Holistic Approach: Addressing the whole person, including their physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
Benefits of Trauma-Informed Care
Improved Outcomes: Clients often experience better engagement, satisfaction, and overall outcomes when care is Trauma-Informed.
Reduced Re-traumatization: By understanding trauma, providers can avoid practices that may inadvertently trigger or re-traumatize individuals.
Enhanced Relationships: Building trust and collaboration can lead to stronger therapeutic relationships and better communication.
Application of Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-informed care can be applied in:
Healthcare: Hospitals, clinics, and mental health facilities.
Social Services: Child welfare, housing, and community services.
Education: Schools and educational programs
Substance Use Treatment: Programs addressing addiction and recovery.
ACRS Trauma-Informed Care
In-Person and OnlineTrauma and PTSD Counseling Services
We work collaboratively with you to develop a Treatment Plan that addresses your specific needs and goals.
Personalized and often luxury approach to mental health care that typically offers you more service, privacy, and customization than traditional therapy settings.
Specialized Programs
Programs tailored for specific populations, including:
Veterans;
Survivors of domestic violence; and
Individuals with substance use disorders.
Trauma-Informed Counseling Modalities
Trauma Therapy Modalities (Techniques)
Our Trauma-Informed Care incorporates various therapeutic modalities, including:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a short-term, goal-oriented psychotherapy treatment that takes a hands-on, practical approach to problem-solving. Its core principle is that your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected, and negative thoughts and behaviors can trap you in cycles of distress. CBT helps you identify and challenge these unhelpful thought patterns and develop healthier coping mechanisms. Through techniques like cognitive restructuring, behavioral experiments, and exposure therapy, CBT empowers you to change your thinking and behavior, leading to improved mood and reduced symptoms of various mental health conditions like Anxiety and Depression.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy designed to help you manage intense emotions and improve relationships. It emphasizes the synthesis of acceptance and change, teaching individuals to accept their current emotional state while working towards positive change. DBT focuses on developing four core skill sets: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. These skills help you navigate challenging situations, cope with overwhelming emotions, and build healthier relationships. DBT is particularly effective if you're struggling with borderline personality disorder, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts.
Psychoeducation: Educating you about Trauma and its effects can help you understand your experiences and develop coping strategies.
PTSD Therapy Modalities (Techniques)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): While CBT is used for Trauma, it is also a primary treatment for PTSD, focusing on addressing your specific symptoms and thought patterns.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy designed to help you manage intense emotions and improve relationships. It emphasizes the synthesis of acceptance and change, teaching individuals to accept their current emotional state while working towards positive change. DBT focuses on developing four core skill sets: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. These skills help you navigate challenging situations, cope with overwhelming emotions, and build healthier relationships. DBT is particularly effective if you're struggling with borderline personality disorder, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts.
EMDR Therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy: EMDR is a psychotherapy approach used to treat Trauma and other distressing life experiences. It involves recalling disturbing memories while focusing on bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, taps, or sounds. This process helps the brain reprocess the traumatic memories, reducing their emotional intensity and negative impact. EMDR is effective for PTSD, anxiety, phobias, and other mental health conditions. It aims to desensitize you to traumatic memories and replace negative beliefs with positive ones, fostering healing and emotional regulation.
