Trauma Recovery with Christian Counseling in Santa Monica

What we experience dramatically influences our perceptions of ourselves. After experiencing trauma, individuals might struggle with the idea of letting something like time or darkness control them. Dealing with these trauma-related issues alone can be difficult, but Christian counseling at Santa Monica Christian Counseling can help individuals of any age reclaim their strength through Christ-based trauma recovery.

Get connected with a Christian Counselor
Please contact our reception team at
424-361-6197

Schedule an Appointment

Defining Trauma?

60% of men and 50% of women undergo some kind of trauma during their lifetimes in the United States. If you are reading this then you’re likely seeking help to work through and coping with both emotional and psychological trauma.

Abnormally stressful events that threaten your personal safety and well being can cause emotional trauma. Many things can be traumatizing and taking steps to overcome the feelings of fear, regret, and loneliness can be difficult. Instead of a broader definition, trauma is actually defined by the person’s individual response to an event instead of by the event itself.

Any event that an individual finds threatening which causes fear or a sense of helplessness can be considered trauma. For example, an attack, abuse, divorce, death, natural disaster, war, and serious injuries can all be serious causes of trauma.

Trauma also has emotional effects:

Feeling emotionally numb and disconnected
Isolation from others
Heightened anxiety or fear
Confusion or difficulty concentrating
Sadness, hopelessness, or loss of interest
Feelings of shame or guilt
Anger, irritability, and mood swings
Shock or denial

On the other hand, trauma can also have physical side effects including racing heartbeat, sleeplessness, fatigue, unexplained aches and pains, and muscular tension.

Trauma symptoms may only last several days while others last several years, depending on the person’s experience and their ability to deal with the event. Getting past trauma can be difficult and takes time. Sometimes something unexpected can trigger an emotional response.

The counselors at Santa Monica Christian Counseling understand that processing traumatic events can introduce a new range of emotions and that recovery is a journey. Christian trauma counseling can help individuals gain more control over their lives rather than letting those traumatic experiences overpower them.

Types of Trauma

Emotional trauma falls into two main categories. The most famous is called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. Studies show that 1 out of 10 individuals in the United States who undergo a traumatic event develop PTSD. If you have ever been at a serious risk for sexual violation, death, or injury, you may be at risk for PTSD; however, PTSD usually results from a single traumatic event.

The second type of emotional trauma is called Complex Trauma. This is a cumulative trauma and will sometimes increase as time passes. Complex Trauma is the result of ongoing trauma like chronic illness, physical violence, or long-term sexual abuse. In some cases of complex trauma, individuals develop Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) – formerly referred to as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD).

If you or someone you know needs guidance on how to manage symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or complex trauma, Santa Monica Christian Counseling can help equip you with the tools you need to take steps towards recovery and health.

Get connected with a Christian Counselor
Please contact our reception team at
424-361-6197

Schedule an appointment

When You Should Seek Trauma Counseling?

You can benefit from Christian trauma counseling if you have experienced a life-altering traumatic event. It is normal to experience a time of grieving. However, having someone to come alongside you through this process can be a real help. Support that can uplift and empower you can be beneficial to your mental health. You may see positive results from Christian trauma counseling if you:

Have difficulty functioning during daily activities at school, home, or work
Suffer from prolonged depression, anxiety, and fear
Isolate yourself
Have difficulty maintaining lasting relationships
Experience emotional flashbacks, memories, or nightmares
Avoid “triggers” of the event
Cope with symptoms through substance abuse

Choosing Santa Monica Christian Counseling

When considering counseling for trauma, it is vital to find a counselor you can trust due to the sensitive nature of trauma recovery. Not everyone is willing to open up as much as the next person. Studies show that inadequate counseling for trauma can actually be harmful. Santa Monica Christian Counseling provides:

Compassionate professionals – Each Christian counselor is certified and trained to help you cope with trauma. The trauma counselors at Santa Monica Christian Counseling know how to handle serious topics and discuss them with sensitivity and care.
Safety and confidentiality – We create a safe place for trauma victims to share their story and explore painful experiences. We keep every session 100% confidential and never share your information with anyone.
Science and Christianity – With our combined expertise, we use proven results from science-based counseling as well as Christian-based methodology.
Risk-free session – We offer an initial risk-free counseling session.

Remember that recovery from trauma is possible. Professionals counselors now know more than ever about trauma’s effects on both the body and mind. Christian counseling for trauma will help you find the strength to overcome your painful experiences.

Understanding Christian Trauma Counseling

Trauma can leave you in shambles. It can bring fear, loneliness, and hopelessness. Christian trauma counseling can help you organize your thoughts and find healing and belief in Christ. Although you will need to face your fears and conquer overwhelming emotions, Christian trauma counseling can help you free yourself from the effects of experiences that dominate your life.

The goals of Christian trauma counseling include:

Processing and understanding emotions and memories related to trauma
Managing feelings like anger or irritability
Rebuilding relationships or building new ones
Finding new life in Christ

Christian Counseling for Adults

Although trauma recovery can be a painstaking process, healing is possible with Christ. Often, an emotionally traumatized mind and body will get stuck in “fight or flight” mode, making it difficult to complete daily activities. Individuals will be trapped in a state of constant hyperarousal or fear. However, successful Christian trauma counseling can restore balance to your life by situating you in a place of safety and dependence on God. This is accomplished by establishing a stable physical and psychological sense. Common counseling methods include:

Psychodynamic Therapy – helps patients use words to express their feelings and experiences around traumatic events and uses the therapeutic relationship for understanding
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – helps the patient gain awareness and understanding of thoughts and behavior associated with the traumatic event
Lifespan integration– gentle, body-focused therapy which promotes healing
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy – combines the elements of cognitive behavioral therapy with rhythmic eye movements. These eye movements have been proven to unblock traumatic memories
Somatic experiencing – uses the body’s natural healing ability by focusing on how the body reacts to emotional and physical side effects of trauma

At Santa Monica Christian Counseling, we provide the best trauma-based counseling, including treatment for PTSD. In spite of traumatic experiences you might have had in the past, Christian trauma counseling can help you build a bright future.

Counseling for Childhood Trauma

Trauma experienced in childhood can have devastating effects if these issues are left untreated. Young children often have difficulty understanding events and interpreting how they feel; however, Christian trauma counseling will help your child process these events and express them healthily.

We know that dealing with a traumatic experience can be tough for both the parent and child, and we do everything to support the family during a difficult time. Similar to counseling for adults, Christian trauma counseling uses similar effective approaches to help children:

Finding peace – showing your child how to control emotions through stress management or relaxation therapy
Better understanding – we allow your child to talk about the event at a pace that does not cause more distress. This will help your children gain a better understanding of the event and their emotions surrounding it
Letting go – it is beneficial to let go of self-blame and inflated ideas about the trauma like believing that he/she caused it or that they could have prevented such event

If you or your child is suffering from trauma as a result of abuse or other traumatic experience, the experienced and professional counselors at Santa Monica Christian Counseling are here for you and your family.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is different about a Christian approach to trauma counseling?

A large part of our approach to counseling uses conventional counseling methods; however, Christian counseling is different in that it acknowledges that this trauma has affected your faith in some shape or form. Your beliefs may be in crisis or a source of strength. Either way, it is important to have like-minded people surrounding you who know the importance of Christian beliefs and values for healing.

How do I choose the right Christian counselor?

Retraumatization can occur during counseling after trauma. It is crucial to seek help from an experienced counseling specialist. For more information, browse the counselor profiles.

How long does trauma counseling last?

Trauma counseling is 100% individualized. Each patient works through traumatic experiences at their own pace, and counselors will continue treating you so that you can receive the results you want.

What can I expect if my child needs Christian trauma counseling?

Santa Monica Christian Counseling has one of the best trauma counseling programs for children and adolescents in the area. Reach out to us for more information.

Christian trauma counseling can help you regain your strength. If you’re tired of living with symptoms of trauma, contact us today.