All of the staff at The Trauma Informed Counseling Center and Health for Life Counseling Grand Rapids are considered Trauma-Informed. While their personal counseling style and modalities may differ, our clinicians are all up to date and understand trauma, which is very important for the therapeutic process of anyone. Our office is a safe space where there will be no shame or blame put upon you for what you are going through (many have experienced such reactions from people in their lives, and unfortunately some non-trauma informed clinicians in the past). Our Counselors all recognize that anyone can experience both psychological (emotional) and physical (somatic) reactions to trauma (and/or disturbing life events). In fact, if someone has experienced multiple traumas, such as a victim of childhood abuse or neglect, the victim of a crime (both the experience and the aftermath), and other complex traumatic events, there may have a diverse set of unwanted symptoms and behaviors. Multiple longitudinal research studies, including The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) Study, found long-term negative mental and physical health consequences that resulted from traumatic experiences during childhood and adolescence. Trauma-Informed Counseling, in general, is more of an overarching approach to providing compassionate and empirically proven care.

A trauma-informed counselor collaborates with their clients to help them understand the origins of symptoms and behaviors that they may be experiencing. Further, a trauma-informed counselor will suggest connections to activities outside of therapy that may help a person better regulate their emotional and physical health. A trauma-informed counselor will utilize interventions and exercises in therapy that are aimed at helping relieve the symptoms that resulted from trauma.