Getting to the Root of It.

We often focus our attention on outward signs of distress such as inability to sleep, irritability, substance abuse, difficulty concentrating, feelings of disconnection or meaninglessness, and other symptoms of anxiety, depression, and mental illness. However, as a result of groundbreaking research like the CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study, we are learning more about the vital importance of looking beneath surface symptoms to treat underlying early childhood experiences of trauma in order to more effectively relieve pain and suffering. 

ACEs are defined as experiences of abuse, household challenges (intimate partner violence, household substance abuse, household mental illness, parental separation or divorce, or an incarcerated household member), or neglect that occur during the first 18 years of life. The more ACEs study participants experienced, the greater their risk was of a multitude of problems, including risky health behaviors, chronic health conditions, cancer, and early death. 

Trauma is so profoundly disruptive that our very physiology and neurochemistry is dramatically and negatively impacted, even into adulthood.

Trauma-focused therapies offer hope for healing, and at Arbor Cove Therapy, several approaches found to be effective in treating trauma are utilized, including the Attachment, Regulation, and Competencies (ARC) model, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).

If you are interested in learning more about the ACEs study and the importance of preventing and treating early childhood trauma, an excellent resource is the TED Talk below from Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris. National Public Radio also offers an online quiz to help you calculate your ACE score and learn more about factors that make people more resilient to trauma.

Contact Arbor Cove Therapy, LLC, to discuss scheduling trauma-focused therapy services for yourself or your child or adolescent.