Resources for Parents and Families

A person's reaction to trauma can be difficult for loved ones to understand. At Innova, we know that you are the first line of support for your family member and we want to equip you with the best possible tools for that role.

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Healing is a Journey Best Traveled with a Faithful Companion for Support

Trauma work is often similar to readdressing a previously broken bone. If someone breaks a bone and does get the right medical attention, it will heal, though it is often crooked, painful, and has reduced capabilities of functioning.

If we can eventually seek medical attention, it is often necessary for the doctor to “re-break” the bone first to reset it for healing. This can seem like the opposite of what any rational person would “want” to do to heal and requires a great deal of initial pain and discomfort.

In many ways, addressing our trauma can feel like the same process. If we have spent years struggling with being overwhelmed by our emotions or if we have done the opposite and “numbed” our emotions, starting the process of confronting them can be uncomfortable. Because of this, it is easy to empathize with why many clients may arrive at treatment and feel afraid, intimidated, uncomfortable, or even desire to leave during the first few days.

Other clients, may be relieved at having the structure they are lacking in their lives and may experience these feelings later once they start addressing their feelings about the trauma. Both scenarios can result in a person “sabotaging” their recovery by leaving therapy before they can experience the relief that comes when their symptoms begin to improve. This is why support and encouragement not just from therapists, but from everyone in a client support network are often crucial to a clientʼs recovery.

What are some common reactions to trauma?

Many individuals are often surprised to learn that the struggles they have are actually a product of trauma

  • Irritability
  • Isolation
  • Feeling detached from others, as if no one understands you
  • Sitting with oneʼs back to a wall in any room
  • Sleeping on the couch
  • Bedwetting as an adult
  • Nightmares
  • Avoidance of crowds
  • Carrying a gun or weapon regularly
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Substance dependence and abuse
  • Personality disorders (especially Borderline Personality Disorder)
  • Disordered Eating
  • Self harm

Frequently Asked Questions

Many families don’t know where to begin or what to ask. Here are a few commonly asked questions to help you make the best decision for your loved one.

Email
admin@innovarecoverycenter.com

Does Your Trauma Treatment Program Take Insurance?

We take all major insurance. We also have generous payment plans to make sure finances are not a barrier.

What if my loved one doesn’t want to talk about their trauma?

This is very common. Sometimes individuals experience something that feels so horrific or shameful to them that they cannot speak about it. They fear judgment. They wonder if it is their fault or if it could have been prevented. Others don’t want to burden someone else with their story. You don’t need to know details to be supportive. It is enough to say “I am here for you, no matter what happened.”

How do I schedule my teen’s first appointment?

Seeking treatment or support is a courageous choice. We want to make it as easy and comfortable as possible. Our stress-free admissions process begins with a confidential phone call to one of our experienced advisors. We will not make your teen discuss details of their trauma, but rather will seek to understand the struggles they are facing today as a result. Once scheduled for an appointment, your teen will meet with a therapist to make a plan to achieve those goals. Most insurance companies cover our program, so finances are not a barrier.

How do I know what level of care my teen needs?

People can think they have to be “really bad off” to schedule a session. Nothing could be further than the truth. Therapy is an important self-care and growth practice. We encourage teens to meet with one of our therapists for a session and let us help them discern the level of care. This is part of what we are trained to do.

However, If you or a loved one are in crisis, you can get help right away by reaching out to a helpline through phone, text message, or online chat. A therapist is a good support when not in crisis.

How do I get my loved one to go to therapy?

It is important that someone chose therapy for themselves instead of trying to appease someone else. Encouraging someone you care about to look into possible therapy options, even offering to review potential therapists with them, is a good way to show support. People who feel forced into therapy may feel resistant and find it harder to put in the work needed to make a change.

How do I know if my teen needs therapy?

Talking with a therapist can benefit teens struggling with emotional difficulties, life challenges, and mental health concerns. Therapy can be very helpful if feeling overwhelmed, fatigued, resentful, anxious, depressed, apathetic, panic attacks, or socially withdrawn.

Therapy requires honesty, with yourself and with the therapist you work with. But if your teen is willing to do the work, therapy can be rewarding. It is a safe, judgment-free space where you can share anything, with a trained professional who is there to help. Therapy is also a good self-improvement tool that teaches people skills that enhance communication, self-awareness, boundaries, and stress reduction.

Know Someone who could use some help?

If your teen is experiencing the above symptoms, they may benefit from focused teen trauma treatment. We are here to help. Call or text today to schedule an appointment with one of our trauma-informed coordinators.

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