What makes a good trauma therapy counselor? Is it all their degrees and how great their social media presence is? Those can help but those are not what makes someone great at walking with you through your trauma. To help you in your pursuit of finding the right person to help you through trauma, I have listed 5 attributes to look for in a trauma counselor.
Listener
When looking for a trauma counselor it is important that they are a good listener. A good listener will give you the space to process and discuss what happened on your own time. A good listener also won’t make it about themselves, they won’t interrupt or interpret your experience for you. Instead they will let you lead the conversation, without pushing their own agenda. This will give you the freedom to tell your story knowing that their focus is on you.
Patient
Sharing a traumatic experience can take time. It won’t look the same for everyone and it might take you weeks or months to open up and that is perfectly fine. Having a therapist that will meet you where you’re at and walk with you at your own pace can promote healthy healing. A therapist who is patient allows you to fully feel everything you have experienced.
Challenging
When dealing with trauma that means you will have to face some harsh truths, realities, or memories. This will not always look pretty or be easy. You want your therapist to be able to challenge you in the moments where you are ready to take the next step. When facing trauma that might look like setting boundaries or confronting difficult reminders. A therapist can be challenging while also respectful and loving.
Empathetic
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. An empathetic trauma therapist will be able to acknowledge the severity of your grief and validate what you are encountering. Empathy also allows your therapist to best understand you because it creates an environment where you feel safe to share and be your authentic self.
Problem solver
A trauma therapist that is a good problem solver will help you find innovative solutions to work through your trauma. There are many different types of therapies that can be used when dealing with trauma. Some common examples being CBT, EMDR, or exposure therapy. A therapist who is a problem solver would be willing to use many different perspectives in order to find the best one for YOU. This also means working with you to find coping strategies that will promote increased functioning in all aspects of your life.
Next step
If you are looking for a trauma therapist that will embody all of these attributes then you are at the right place. At New Vision Counseling and Consulting we have a team of therapists trained that would love to walk alongside you as you navigate through your trauma. You can reach us at (405) 921-7776 to learn more about how we can best help you.