Trauma Treatment in Sycamore and North Aurora IL
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If you are interested in counseling for Trauma, call OakHeart at 630-570-0050 or 779-201-6440 or email us at [email protected]. We have counselors, psychologists, and social workers available to help you at one of our locations in North Aurora, IL, Sycamore, IL, and/or via Telehealth Online Therapy Services serving Kane County, DeKalb County, Dupage County, and beyond.
A trauma reaction is an emotional response to an event that was terrifying, overwhelming, and/or resulted in feelings of helplessness. How each individual defines trauma varies, but the following are commonly reported as traumatic events: natural disasters, sexual assault, domestic violence or abuse, war, serious accidents, life-threatening illness or medical events, sudden or violent loss of a loved one, childhood abuse or neglect, and exposure to the traumatic experiences of others (e.g., first responders, healthcare workers, people who learn that a loved one has experienced a trauma). Not everyone who experiences a trauma develops Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In fact, most people exposed to trauma do not go on to develop PTSD, though many experience meaningful disruptions to their functioning, mood, relationships, and sense of self even without meeting full diagnostic criteria. Trauma can also contribute to or worsen a range of other difficulties (e.g., depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorders, insomnia, relationship problems, and chronic physical symptoms). This page addresses the broader impact of trauma. If you suspect you may have PTSD or have been diagnosed with PTSD, our PTSD page covers diagnosis and treatment in more depth. What is Trauma?Trauma refers to the response, not the event. Two people can be exposed to the same event and have very different reactions, with one developing significant trauma symptoms and the other recovering without ongoing impairment. A number of factors influence how someone responds to a potentially traumatic event, including prior trauma exposure, age at the time of the event, social support, biological and genetic factors, the nature and duration of the event, and the response of others following the event (e.g., whether the person was believed, supported, or blamed).
During a trauma, an individual may experience a fight, flight, or freeze reaction. Following a trauma, there are a multitude of normal reactions. Examples include feelings of denial, shock, or numbness. An individual may also feel anxious, distressed, fearful, agitated, angry, or irritable. They may feel like their emotions are a roller-coaster and have difficulty regulating their emotions. They may feel hopeless about the future and have difficulty experiencing positive emotions such as joy or love. |
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Following a trauma, an individual may distrust others or even themselves. They may become withdrawn and isolate from friends and loved ones. A traumatic experience can lead to physical symptoms such as nausea and headaches, a pounding heart or rapid breathing, and feeling easily fatigued. Some people feel detached or like they are floating, and it is important to know that this is the body's way of protecting itself by distancing from emotions, sensations, and memories.
Additional reactions to trauma include feeling as if you are "going crazy," experiencing flashbacks, a loss of a sense of safety, a loss of a sense of power and control over oneself or one's future, decreased self-esteem, and difficulty with intimacy. These symptoms may impact an individual's occupation, school work, and relationships.
It is important to note that these symptoms develop as a way to protect the body and self, because an individual's system is perpetually in a state of fight-or-flight. It does this to constantly scan for threats, but in reality, it makes functioning very difficult.
This is a confusing time because a person who has experienced trauma may question themselves, others, and the world around them. Their belief system has been shaken to its very core and now they have to try to make sense of this life-altering event while attempting to organize it into their narrative. While sifting through trauma, it is normal to want to avoid situations, people, or details that contain reminders of the event. Unfortunately, this often results in building a life around avoidance and fear, as one's body and mind become conditioned to be in a state of distress.
Additional reactions to trauma include feeling as if you are "going crazy," experiencing flashbacks, a loss of a sense of safety, a loss of a sense of power and control over oneself or one's future, decreased self-esteem, and difficulty with intimacy. These symptoms may impact an individual's occupation, school work, and relationships.
It is important to note that these symptoms develop as a way to protect the body and self, because an individual's system is perpetually in a state of fight-or-flight. It does this to constantly scan for threats, but in reality, it makes functioning very difficult.
This is a confusing time because a person who has experienced trauma may question themselves, others, and the world around them. Their belief system has been shaken to its very core and now they have to try to make sense of this life-altering event while attempting to organize it into their narrative. While sifting through trauma, it is normal to want to avoid situations, people, or details that contain reminders of the event. Unfortunately, this often results in building a life around avoidance and fear, as one's body and mind become conditioned to be in a state of distress.
Categories of Trauma
Trauma is sometimes categorized in the following ways, though many individuals have experiences that overlap across categories:
Acute Trauma refers to a single, time-limited event (e.g., a car accident, an assault, a natural disaster, a sudden death of a loved one).
Chronic Trauma refers to repeated and prolonged exposure to traumatic events (e.g., ongoing domestic violence, long-term childhood abuse or neglect, repeated exposure to combat).
Complex Trauma generally refers to exposure to multiple traumatic events, often of an interpersonal nature and often beginning in childhood, with wide-ranging effects on development, identity, emotion regulation, and relationships.
Developmental Trauma refers to trauma that occurs during childhood, often within caregiving relationships, and can affect attachment, emotional development, and the ability to form safe relationships in adulthood.
Secondary or Vicarious Trauma refers to trauma that develops through indirect exposure, such as learning that a close family member has experienced a traumatic event, or repeated occupational exposure to others' trauma (e.g., first responders, healthcare workers, therapists, child welfare workers). See our Responder & Veteran Care page for more on occupational trauma.
Medical Trauma refers to trauma resulting from a serious illness, injury, frightening medical procedure, ICU stay, traumatic childbirth, or perinatal loss. See our Maternal Mental Health and Infertility, Miscarriage, and Neonatal Loss pages for related information.
Traumatic Grief refers to grief following a sudden, violent, or otherwise traumatic loss (e.g., suicide, overdose, homicide, accidents). When grief and trauma overlap, individuals often have difficulty engaging in typical grieving processes because of the trauma-related symptoms (e.g., avoidance, intrusive memories) that interfere. See our Grief and Bereavement page for related information.
Acute Trauma refers to a single, time-limited event (e.g., a car accident, an assault, a natural disaster, a sudden death of a loved one).
Chronic Trauma refers to repeated and prolonged exposure to traumatic events (e.g., ongoing domestic violence, long-term childhood abuse or neglect, repeated exposure to combat).
Complex Trauma generally refers to exposure to multiple traumatic events, often of an interpersonal nature and often beginning in childhood, with wide-ranging effects on development, identity, emotion regulation, and relationships.
Developmental Trauma refers to trauma that occurs during childhood, often within caregiving relationships, and can affect attachment, emotional development, and the ability to form safe relationships in adulthood.
Secondary or Vicarious Trauma refers to trauma that develops through indirect exposure, such as learning that a close family member has experienced a traumatic event, or repeated occupational exposure to others' trauma (e.g., first responders, healthcare workers, therapists, child welfare workers). See our Responder & Veteran Care page for more on occupational trauma.
Medical Trauma refers to trauma resulting from a serious illness, injury, frightening medical procedure, ICU stay, traumatic childbirth, or perinatal loss. See our Maternal Mental Health and Infertility, Miscarriage, and Neonatal Loss pages for related information.
Traumatic Grief refers to grief following a sudden, violent, or otherwise traumatic loss (e.g., suicide, overdose, homicide, accidents). When grief and trauma overlap, individuals often have difficulty engaging in typical grieving processes because of the trauma-related symptoms (e.g., avoidance, intrusive memories) that interfere. See our Grief and Bereavement page for related information.
Common Concerns About Starting Trauma Therapy
Many individuals delay starting trauma therapy because of concerns about what the process will involve. A few of the more common ones we hear about:
Worry that therapy will make things worse. It is true that engaging with trauma material in therapy can temporarily increase distress, particularly when avoidance has been a primary coping strategy. However, evidence-based trauma treatments are structured to keep distress within a tolerable range, and clinicians monitor this throughout treatment. Worsening symptoms that persist over time are not an expected outcome of effective trauma therapy and should be discussed with the clinician.
Concern about not remembering enough. Memory for traumatic events is often fragmented, non-linear, or partially inaccessible. This is a common feature of how the brain encodes traumatic experiences, not a barrier to treatment. Trauma therapies can be effective even when memory is incomplete.
Uncertainty about whether the experience "counts." Many individuals minimize their experiences or compare them unfavorably to others (e.g., "other people have had it worse"). The question of whether an experience meets a diagnostic threshold can be addressed during the assessment phase of treatment, but ongoing impairment in functioning, mood, relationships, or sense of self is itself a reason to seek support, regardless of how the original event would be categorized.
Worry that therapy will make things worse. It is true that engaging with trauma material in therapy can temporarily increase distress, particularly when avoidance has been a primary coping strategy. However, evidence-based trauma treatments are structured to keep distress within a tolerable range, and clinicians monitor this throughout treatment. Worsening symptoms that persist over time are not an expected outcome of effective trauma therapy and should be discussed with the clinician.
Concern about not remembering enough. Memory for traumatic events is often fragmented, non-linear, or partially inaccessible. This is a common feature of how the brain encodes traumatic experiences, not a barrier to treatment. Trauma therapies can be effective even when memory is incomplete.
Uncertainty about whether the experience "counts." Many individuals minimize their experiences or compare them unfavorably to others (e.g., "other people have had it worse"). The question of whether an experience meets a diagnostic threshold can be addressed during the assessment phase of treatment, but ongoing impairment in functioning, mood, relationships, or sense of self is itself a reason to seek support, regardless of how the original event would be categorized.
How is Trauma Treated?
OakHeart clinicians use evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches matched to the client's symptoms, history, and goals. For individuals who meet criteria for PTSD or Complex PTSD, we offer structured trauma-focused protocols including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for stabilization and emotion regulation. These are described in more detail on our PTSD page.
For trauma-related difficulties that do not fall under a PTSD diagnosis (e.g., trauma-related depression, anxiety, grief, or relationship difficulties), treatment may incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and other evidence-based approaches. The choice of treatment depends on the specific presentation, and clinicians work with clients to identify the most appropriate starting point.
For trauma-related difficulties that do not fall under a PTSD diagnosis (e.g., trauma-related depression, anxiety, grief, or relationship difficulties), treatment may incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and other evidence-based approaches. The choice of treatment depends on the specific presentation, and clinicians work with clients to identify the most appropriate starting point.
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Click here to learn more about Eating Disorders
Click here to learn more about Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Click here to learn more about Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Click here to learn more about Depression
Click here to learn more about Grief and Bereavement
Click here to learn more about Insomnia
Click here to learn more about Eating Disorders
Click here to learn more about Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
