Blog posts, news articles, and other resources from The Center • A Place of HOPE
The power of nature and gardening as a therapeutic practice can be transformative for those who have experienced trauma. This article will delve into the profound benefits of gardening, focusing on grounding, mindfulness, and nurturing life. It will also explore the science behind why it's such a transformative practice for...
Healing Spaces: Creating Environments That Facilitate Trauma Recovery This article explores how designing and creating a physical environment, like a calming and safe living space, can support trauma recovery. Elements such as color psychology, space optimization, and including elements of nature for a healing ambience are all discussed, as is...
This article discusses the interplay between trauma and substance abuse, exploring how one can exacerbate the other and offering guidance on holistic approaches to treatment that address both issues simultaneously. What is trauma? Trauma is a psychological and emotional response to a distressing or disturbing event or series of events...
Processing trauma is a complex and deeply personal journey, often marked by emotional distress and a range of psychological challenges. In this context, mindfulness practices offer a profound and invaluable resource for those seeking healing and recovery. In this article, we will explore why mindfulness practices can be profoundly helpful...
This article describes the profound impact of early loss or bereavement on a child's developing psyche when combined with traumatic circumstances. It also looks at the lasting repercussions of childhood traumatic grief into adulthood. Suggestions for those seeking support for managing issues around childhood traumatic grief are given at the...
If you’ve been through something traumatic, you already know how painful it is. After a traumatic event, most people feel terrified and even paralyzed. You might have experienced feelings like despair and helplessness. Trauma survivors often feel their sense of trust in the world is shattered, and they will never...
This article explains the connection between prolonged trauma exposure and the onset of physical diseases, focusing on the body's stress response. What is prolonged trauma exposure? Prolonged trauma exposure refers to a situation in which an individual is subjected to traumatic events, experiences, or circumstances over an extended period rather...
We don’t know what, exactly, causes mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Why do some people get depressed, for example, while others don’t? Although there is no singular cause of any mental health condition, researchers have found certain factors can put you at higher risk for developing mental health...
Childhood is often depicted as a time of innocence – a time in life when we don’t have anything to worry about. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for some – a disturbingly large percentage of children experience trauma during this crucial time. Trauma is your emotional reaction after experiencing something...
This article explains the relationship between traumatic experiences and eating disorders, including binge eating, anorexia, and bulimia. Social media body image pressures can exacerbate eating disorders, and the process by which this takes place is described, alongside ways to tackle these issues for anyone suffering from difficult eating behaviors and...
Human beings come from all different walks of life. But one thing that most – if not all – of us have in common is, at some point, we will lose someone we love. This is a sad fact of life. People die. And the rest of us are left...
This article explains the concept of defense mechanisms. It defines the term, details a short history of the origins of defense mechanisms within psychology and psychotherapy, and gives descriptions of each of the main defense mechanisms. What should you do if you recognize aspects of these defense mechanisms in your...
Bargaining is one of the five stages of grief. The five stages of grief is a model also known as the Kübler-Ross model after Swiss-American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, who coined the phrase in her 1969 book, On Death and Dying[1]. Although the Kübler-Ross model was developed to support terminally ill...
Most people are aware the effects of a traumatic experience can last for a long time. What you may not know is that future generations can inherit -- sometimes literally -- these effects as well. Many families have been impacted by generational trauma, and it’s possible that you are facing...
Have you ever heard of the “fight-or-flight response”? Fight and flight are both common, well-known responses to trauma and stress. They’re biological responses that we, as humans, have to confront dangerous situations. When faced with a threat, our nervous systems can react to help us fight off the threat or...
“Boundaries are a prerequisite for compassion and empathy. We can't connect with someone unless we're clear about where we end and they begin. If there's no autonomy between people, then there's no compassion or empathy, just enmeshment.” — Brené Brown, Atlas of the Heart What is enmeshment? The concept of...
Many people have experienced a form of abandonment in their lives, which can lead to issues around trust, belonging, and connectedness. You’re not alone if this is your experience. According to the American Psychiatric Association, abandonment means: Desertion or substantial leave-taking by a parent or primary caregiver of his or...
Part II of a Six-part Trauma Series. Trigger warning: This is a difficult topic. Some examples of trauma with depression will be eluded to without details in order to set a scene for clarity and relatability. _____________ Skyla sits and stares out the window of her small apartment. She watches...
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The whole person approach to treatment integrates all aspects of a person’s life: