About Trauma Therapy for Veterans and First Responders

Just by the nature of their jobs, active military, Veterans and First Responders are prone to trauma and PTSD.

The actual criteria of that traumatic stressful event is death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence. There may be a direct or indirect exposure to the stressor. For example, you may witness (by hearing or seeing) an individual violent near-death experience (indirect). You also may directly experience violence and near death yourself (direct).

Early childhood development plays a role in how we learned to process and manage stress or trauma. Understand what is considered adverse childhood events (ACE’s).

In Dr. Mike Dadson's Trauma Therapy Clinic blog, he reviews the 3 phases of trauma treatment. "Trauma therapies,circle and move towards centre of distress in a client" notes Dr. Dadson.

In Dr. Dadson's research, "The neurological pathways of PTSD: Implications for treatment" this publication identifies the changes in the brain and the impacts trauma can have on your brain.

It is highly important to seek counselling if you expereince these symptoms for more than 30 days. 

In order to effecivly resolve trauma, it is just as importnt to seek a trauma informed therapist if you are suffering from a traumatic event or suspect you may have PTSD.

Dr. Dadson emphasizes:

When a clinician is trauma informed, it means they are informed about, what makes traumatic stress distinctive from other stress, what are common reactions to traumatic stress. A trained trauma informed clinician will to know when traumatic stress leads to post traumatic stress disorder and how-to precise interventions can disrupt that outcome.

In the video above, Dr. Dadson discusses the impacts of trauma

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, (PTSD) occurs when reactions to a traumatic event continue to reoccur for one month or more without resolving. “Seeking professional help immediately following a traumatic stressor may help prevent the onset of PTSD”, advises Dr. Dadson.

Dr. Dadson states:

Unwanted and upsetting memories of the event can emerge with emotional and physical reactivity, nightmares, flashbacks, and significant distress. These symptoms can occur when the body is reminded of the traumatic stress. In order for your mind to recover from the overwhelming traumatic experience, your body and mind will work together to process the event.

Addressing and Treating Trauma in Veterans and First Responders:

As the former National Executive Director and the National Clinical Director and Clinical Contractor for the Veterans Transition Network and a Clinical Contractor (2013-2020), Dr. Mike Dadson implemented andexpanded programs to train professionals in the treatment of trauma forVeterans across Canada.

Dr. Michael Dadson has been a Registered Clinical Counsellor in good standing  with the BC Clinical Counsellors Association for more than 30 years. Additionally, Dr, Dadson is a Certified Member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.

To view Dr. Mike Dadson's collection of counselling videos, visit him at his YouTube channel here.

For more information on trauma and trauma treatment and recovery, visit me at my trauma therapy clinic website: www.traumatherapyclinci.com