Can we beat the effects of trauma!?
The South African society is characterized with traumatic incidents which includes, but aren’t limited to car accidents, strikes, traffic violence , bully behaviour at work or at school, conflict in divorce cases and family conflict. At the West Coast we experience higher levels of gun robbery, crimes at home and businesses, burning down of houses and clinics, to mention but a few.
A traumatic incident or accident normally cause high levels of shock, fear, uncertainty, anxiety, tension, sleeplessness, depression, anger, avoidance, as examples. For decades most psychologists and counsellors treated trauma and the effects of trauma one dimensionally, on a cognitive level, with the ignorance of symptoms on a subconscious and body (physical) level. This resulted in clients still presenting with symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder after treatment or having physical symptoms such as muscle spasms, neck and lower back pain, etc.
At present, after new research in the fields of psychology, by Peter Levin, in psychiatry by Dr. Basil Van Der Kolk and in neurology with Dr. Robert Searer, there is a focus on a holistic approach in dealing with and treating patients with trauma on a conscious, subconscious and body level. We want to introduce and apply this holistic approach at the West Coast to free and heal our patients after traumatic events. The three dimensions in the holistic approach are:
- On a conscious level, we use psychological debriefing and/or cognitive therapies like Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) or Rational Emotive Therapies (RET) to deal with thoughts, emotions and experiences on a sensory level, rooted in the more frontal brain. This needs to happen normally as soon as possible after the traumatic incident or accident to prevent unfinished business.
- On a subconscious level, when traumatic experiences are overwhelming for the brain and/or happen over a period of time, for example a disaster or a violent relationship; the patient will store unfinished business in the subconscious mind. This unfinished business stored in the subconscious mind can be triggered in the here and now and can cause general anxiety disorder, panic attacks, sleeplessness and other symptoms of PTSD. We now use a new development in psychology, Brain Working Recursive Therapy (BWRT) to delete or totally clean up the unfinished business stored in the brain – with amazing results.
- On a body level, patients store trauma in their bodies after a traumatic event or a long term body position in sport, at work or in an accident, or after a pregnancy or giving birth. Normally people respond to a traumatic event with flight, fight or if not possible a freeze response – meaning storing the trauma in the body. These patients react with anxiety, stress, tension, sleeplessness, back and neck pain, to mention a few. New research and current practice treat such patients with Tension (stress, anxiety) Releasing Exercises (TRE). A multi-professional approach, through psychiatrists, neurologists, psychologists and clinical social workers, contributed to the development of body therapies, like TRE. To relief or tremor out the stored trauma, patients sleep beter, asking for less tablets for anxiety and tension; stress and smoking and drinking alcohol even improves.
The advantage of the holistic approach for treating trauma is total treatment. We teach the patient TRE, and they relief their tension and anxiety for life. We see a decline in chemical (mis)use, less anxiety, tension and stress related disorders and sleeping like a baby. Overall higher levels of mental health is now possible.
Any inquiries:
Dr. Gielie van Dyk
Clinical Psychologist
BWRT Level 2 Practitioner
TRE Level 2 Practitioner
(022) 714 1101
gajvandyk@gmail.com