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How do you respond to disclosing trauma?
What’s most important is the therapist’s authenticity and sincerity.
- “Thank you for trusting me enough to share such a personal and difficult story”
- “I appreciate the courage it took to share that with me.”
- “I want you to know that what happened wasn’t your fault.
- “I am so sorry that you were hurt/mistreated/harmed.”
How do you respond to someone trauma dumping?
If you’re the one getting dumped on, Becker suggests validating the person’s feelings and showing empathy, but telling them you do not feel comfortable being in the conversation. “[Then offer] to help them secure the more helpful person or professional to talk to about this,” she says.
How do you stop trauma bonding?
Breaking the bond
- Keep a journal. Writing down things that happened each day can help you begin to identify patterns and notice problems with behavior that may not have seemed abusive in the moment.
- Consider the relationship from another perspective.
- Talk to loved ones.
How should therapists respond to clients who disclose trauma?
When clients find the courage to disclose their trauma, therapists haven’t necessarily gotten much training about how to best respond. The advice I’m offering is not meant to be formulaic, but in my experience seems to provide clients with a feeling of relief and comfort after they have disclosed. Here are some suggestions about how to respond.
How can I help my client respond to a disclosure?
After any of these initial responses, it’s equally important to allow for silence so those messages can be absorbed. It can also be helpful to invite the client to notice the thoughts, feelings, and body sensations that have been evoked by the disclosure, as those experiences need to be validated and processed as well.
Should you ask clients about past trauma?
Asking clients questions about past or present experiences of trauma, abuse or neglect has become a standard part of the intake and assessment phases of most mental health treatment practices.
What happens when your client’s disclosure is met with silence?
If your client’s disclosure is met with a stony or panicked silence they will leave feeling very guilty, damaged, enraged or all three. Abuse has a lot of shame associated with it. Please do not reinforce this by failing to respond appropriately. ~ Maintain eye contact with a soft gaze.