Counselling for Trauma

by P.A. Miller

The kind of trauma that Jeremy would have wanted support with - still does - would have entailed a possible group of therapists and medics.

So as a counsellor working today and not thirty years ago, I would have referred him to a specialist psychiatrist or psychologist, while I continued to work with him in counselling, and that would be in allowing him to express all his feelings in a safe environment - and helping him make sense of them.

This would also include bereavement work, anger - guilt - even though he was not guilty in any sense - victims often feel they should have been able to 'do' something and in Jeremy’s case, of course, he may have felt guilt that all his family were dead and he still alive - and why?

Counselling, in that kind of traumatic situation is more to do with 'holding' the client emotionally, as they feel fragmented - no roots - no sense of belonging - out of control - fear of madness and of course an overwhelming sense of loss. Often resulting in excessive alcohol intake, drugs, and/or self-harming.

Each client brings their own story and has their own particular needs.

This kind of counselling can go on for years, with the client returning if and when another aspect of his/her grief manifests itself.