Understanding Trauma
Everyone will experience terrible events sometime in their lives. It could be the sudden death of a loved one, a major car accident, a natural disaster, or another critical incident which catches us by surprise. When confronted with these types of experiences, it can be normal to have a short-term reaction. These reactions are often bad at the beginning and peak at around three weeks before a person gradually starts to feel normal again over the next few months. If that is the case, you are human. The human spirit is quite robust, and people can often learn to cope with these experiences. Unfortunately, for about a third of the population, especially when the event was sudden, overwhelming, and uncontrollable, the emotions do not gradually subside and may even worsen with time.
Trauma occurs when deeply distressing or disturbing experiences overwhelm the body’s emotional systems and does not allow the body to reset to ‘peaceful’. Everyone has heard of fight or flight responses - it prepares us for danger. During a trauma response, these responses get stuck in the “on” mode. It can lead to lasting impacts on a person’s mental, emotional, and sometimes physical well-being. Trauma can lead to a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms, including anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, flashbacks, nightmares, and memory problems. This short video may help you understand more about trauma.
Symptoms of Trauma
Trauma is a difficult condition because the symptoms and responses can vary. Trauma psychologists are necessary because they can help identify these symptoms and help you deal with trauma healthily. While symptoms of trauma can vary widely, they typically fall into two categories, arousal symptoms and avoidance symptoms.
Arousal Trauma Symptoms
- Intrusive thoughts or memories of the traumatic event
- Nightmares or flashbacks
- Negative thoughts and feelings, such as guilt, shame, or anger
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering details of the trauma
- Depression and hopelessness
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia or frequent waking in the night
- Anger, irritability, or cynicism
Avoidance Trauma Symptoms
- Physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomach problems, and increased heart rate
- Emotional numbness or detachment from others
- Avoidance of things that trigger memories of the trauma
- Social avoidance, such as not going out
- Wanting to be alone
At Mindstate Psychology, we understand that trauma can be difficult to understand, process and overcome. A trauma psychologist specialises in helping patients deal with instances of trauma in their life, whether it occurred recently or many years ago. When you need a trauma psychologist in Perth, the highly experienced team at Mindstate Psychology offers a caring, understanding and supportive service to help you find your well-being.
Finding a Trauma Psychologist in Perth
If you’re looking for trauma counselling in Perth, it’s important to work with psychologists specialising in trauma to ensure you get the best treatment. Mindstate Psychology is fully endorsed and accredited by a range of professional organisations, including the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA), Australian Psychological Society (APS) and EMDR Association of Australia (EMDRAA). We offer a range of psychological treatments, and always put your emotional health and well-being at the centre of everything we do.
We understand that seeing a psychologist for trauma therapy in Perth is a significant step. However, we are committed to ensuring you feel safe and supported during the therapeutic process.
The Importance of Trauma Psychology
Psychologists play a crucial role in helping people who have experienced trauma. They use various therapeutic approaches to help individuals process and overcome traumatic events. Trauma reactions occur differently for everybody. The way that you deal with trauma may be completely different to other people. We structure our therapy and interventions around your symptoms, experiences and progress.
We also know that avoiding trauma can have significant, long term effects. These can include flashbacks, nightmares, sleep disorders, anxiety and depression. While talking about past trauma may be confronting for some people, it’s an important step in your recovery. With expert help from our trauma psychologists, you can learn to process your experiences and deal with them in a safer and healthier way.
Getting Help for Your Trauma Counselling in Perth with Mindstate Psychology
Trauma comes in many forms, and that’s why you need a psychologist specialising in trauma counselling. Some common types of trauma include:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Domestic violence
- Sexual abuse
- Childhood trauma
- Grief and loss
- Witnessing or being involved in disasters
While this list isn’t exhaustive, it does demonstrate that trauma can stem from many different situations and experiences. Mindstate Psychology offers tailored trauma therapy in Perth. By booking an appointment with our experienced trauma psychologists, we can develop a therapy framework specific to you.
We understand that seeing a psychologist for the first time my be daunting. We’ve created a safe space where you can uncover, process and learn coping strategies for dealing with trauma. You don’t need to tell us everything in your first consultation, because this session is more about developing a relationship with your practitioner.
If you feel comfortable after your initial consultation, we’ll schedule you for regular appointments as required. Our psychologists will advise you on the optimal appointment frequency specific for you. These may change as your treatment progresses.
It is important to recognise that recovering from trauma might be a long process, depending on your situation. Trauma therapy is focused on helping you learn to deal with your trauma safely whilst living a full, rewarding life.
Our Expert Trauma Psychologists in Perth
Many of Mindstate Psychology’s practitioners are highly experienced in helping individuals through their trauma.
Depending on your psychological needs, your practitioner may discuss using EMDR to help with your trauma. EMDR is the endorsed by the World Health Organisation and Australian Psychological Society as a first-choice treatment for PTSD and trauma. You can discover more about EMDR here. If you would like to see one of our psychologists for help with trauma, you can find out how to get started with therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about seeing a Trauma Psychologist in Perth.
How long does trauma therapy typically take?
It is hard to predict how long trauma therapy might take as everyone is different. The length of treatment will depend on the complexity of your trauma, your current coping mechanisms and personal situation. At Mindstate Psychology, we are committed to fully support your healing journey.
Can trauma be completely cured?
Trauma therapy is focused on helping you deal with the past in a healthy way. The past doesn’t go away, no one can reverse what has occurred. In that sense, your experiences will still be a part of your life, even after treatment. Trauma counselling in Perth is more about processing your experiences so that you can still lead a fulfilling and happy life.
What should I expect during my first visit to a trauma psychologist?
We acknowledge that seeing a psychologist for the first time might be scary for some. However, our psychologists are here to help you through the healing process. For therapy to be effective, it relies on a working relationship between you and your trauma psychologist. Much of your first appointment is an opportunity for our psychologist to get to know you, and for you both to develop a rapport.
Is trauma therapy eligible for insurance rebates?
Trauma therapy is eligible for Medicare rebates if you have a GP mental healthcare plan. Trauma therapy may also be eligible for private health insurance rebates, although this depends on your insurance provider and the type of cover you have. Typically, psychology is part of your Extras cover, but it’s worth checking this with your provider before making an appointment. More information about fees and rebates is available on our fees page.
Do I need EMDR to cure my trauma?
Depending on your psychological needs, your practitioner may discuss using EMDR to help with your trauma. EMDR is the endorsed by the World Health Organisation and Australian Psychological Society as a first-choice treatment for PTSD and trauma. You can discover more about EMDR here.
