Oh Alisha, I posted this and then read your other thread and remembered that while your T is nice, she is not a T that has a specialty in working with PTSD/trauma patients. She may know about PTSD but that doesn't mean she really has the expertise to actually "treat" patients that struggle with PTSD, and there "is" a difference. What comes to my mind is someone who has seen people ride horses, may have even read about how to ride horses but never actually rode or experienced being with a horse themselves. And a horse knows "quickly" when someone who is inexperienced is around them or on their back, they pick up on the uncertainty and fear/confusion right away. Well, that is how people who struggle with PTSD are too, they are so sensitive they pick up on the "messages given off by an inexperienced therapist" and quickly and it makes them uncomfortable. A person with PTSD, being very sensitive, needs to sit across from a therapist who is right on target with their knowledge and experience with their ability to pick up on the needs of the PTSD patient very quickly and also giving off a confident sense of "knowing and experience". There simply cannot be any "questions" about PTSD coming from a treatment provider, they have to be able to identify and be right on target with "soothing helpful responses" in dealing with a PTSD patient. A T has to be right on target with "validation" when they see a patient struggling too. And the T has to present the right body language and facial expressions that go right in step with this ability too because a PTSD patient is so sensitive that they pick up on even the slightest sign of "not understanding or possible dismissive reaction".

The other thing a T must provide is a place where a patient can let out their overwhelming emotions until they can get to a place where these stored up emotions have emptied out and they can begin to feel the relief from finally being allowed to "let it out" verses having to obey all the messages from others that keep telling them they need to "hold it all in and control it all the time". A PTSD patient has a lot of "emotional pain and pent up anger" and desperately needs to let it all out because they just cannot keep it pent up any longer. They need to let it out without feeling ashamed, cry if they need to, be angry if they need to, and whatever they need to no longer "suppress can just finally come out" without having to have someone "that is going to tell them it is wrong to need to do that".

A good trauma specialist will "never" be dismissive in any way, they "have to be right there with a patient", it is a must. A good PTSD/trauma patient therapist must give the patient their undivided attention with a calm and concerned and knowing presence as their patient is expressing their "trauma needs". A good trauma therapist has to be "right there to witness whatever their patient needs them to witness" and totally validate and "believe" the patient with "full attention, yet being very calm and attentive". A good trauma therapist is "never condescending" to their patient either, instead they need to have every step in their therapy in full recognition of the "enormous need" and "sensitivity" of the patient. Any hint of a therapist conveying a "I don't believe you" verbally or physically, will ruin the therapy session and begin a sense of lack of trust in their patient.

The therapist "must" set up a space for the PTSD patient to really feel they are in a safe environment where the presence they have with them is "I am here, I believe you, I am listening, I know how you genuinely struggle, you are safe here and I am committed to validating what ever you really need and to help you understand these deep "very real needs" that challenge you and that there are no "just solutions" as so many others say to you that "cause you to feel even more pain".

Yes, because people who "hurt" can't let it out somehow, are told to hold it in or suck up or behave or "just take it" somehow, they do turn to other ways of expressing their pain. They self injure, they develop eating disorders or have anger issues, or withdraw and often feel guilty simply because they "genuinely need help to express whatever deep need is just not being heard somehow".

OE