So What is a Trauma Recovery Coach?

I get this question a lot, and with good reason. Becoming a Trauma Recovery Coach is on the cutting edge of mental health, which means that this is an innovative way to provide mental health care. Also, it means that nobody knows what I do, exactly.

In short, I help trauma survivors build a life they have always deserved and wanted. But how?

Here are several questions that help explain my role as a Trauma Recovery Coach. Is there a question I didn’t answer? Please add it in the comments!

Is This Therapy?

Therapy is a good place to start when explaining what a Trauma Recovery Coach does with clients. Therapists and Trauma Recovery Coaches meet with clients and work on specific issues over time. Therapists and Trauma Recovery Coaches know a ton about trauma, mental illnesses, grief and loss, and more. We all care about our clients reaching healing milestones and creating the happiness and life they have always deserved and wanted.

So what are the differences? Therapists do three things that Trauma Recovery Coaches do not do: diagnose mental illness, prescribe or suggest different medications, and create specific treatment plans. I know a lot about mental illnesses but I do not diagnose. This is out of my scope of competence. It takes several years to learn how to diagnose, and sometimes professionals still get it wrong before they get it right. I also do not suggest or prescribe medication, which is the job of a medical doctor or psychiatrist.

Last, I don’t create treatment plans. Individuals come to me and we work together on the issues and challenges that are present. We live in the now, and we lead from behind, providing voice and choice for our clients.

Is This Just Life Coaching?

I am confident about providing life coaching if that’s what clients are looking for. One aspect of life coaching in that I support my clients and what they want to do in their lives. However, I provide so much more as a Trauma Recovery Coach.

The primary difference is that Trauma Recovery Coaches are trauma-informed. We are trained to understand and address the unique challenges and mindsets that trauma survivors experience. As a trauma survivor myself, I have a unique perspective and set of skills to address trauma-related issues as we meet over time.

Do Trauma Recovery Coaches Work with PTSD?

Absolutely! Trauma Recovery Coaches have all kinds of specialties. My specific specialty is PTSD Remediation. Diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in 2006, I lived with PTSD for most of my life, until PTSD Remediation eradicated the symptoms. I continue to learn all I can about PTSD and the emotional, mental, and physiological fallout from childhood sexual abuse. That is my background and I have passion and purpose to help others with these issues.

Are Trauma Recovery Coaches Certified?

Trauma Recovery Coaches need to be certified. As of now (fall 2021), I am waiting on certification from the International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaching. I just need my portfolio to be approved! But I have had the necessary education for certification. Plus I will continue to studying with them – and other notable organizations – to gain more knowledge, wisdom, and experience.

What if I’m Not a Trauma Survivor?

Everyone struggles with different things. I welcome people of all kinds, trauma or not. We are in this together.

How Do I Find Out More About Trauma Recovery Coaching?

I offer a free 30-minute discovery call so that you can find out what you need to know, if we have a connection, and if you want to move forward on this journey of hope and healing. Another way is to sign up here to keep in touch and get to know me a little better!

Do you have more questions? Put them in the comments for more answers!

The post PTSD and Trauma Recovery Coaching appeared first on PTSD Parent.

We meet when it is so early. This means that it’s 10 am on a Friday. I KNOW, I’M SUCH A CREAMPUFF WHEN IT COMES TO MORNINGS. But sometimes I walk to his house and it’s a half hour each way (uphill, of course, both ways) so I need to factor in my health and stuff. And time to drink my coffee before that. So there’s a lot going on, basically.

Surprise! Ready, Camera, Action!

I say all this because I generally don’t shower on Friday mornings before we meet. I mean, we’re sitting in front of microphones, not in front of a camera.

Usually.

The last time I went over, he surprised me with a camera set up in his kitchen, which is basically where we record our shows. As I got out of my car in front of his house, Chris opened his kitchen window and yelled, “That is quite the patriotic outfit today!”

I can’t help it that I look SO GOOD in camo. It just goes with my skin tone, seriously. In the video below, you can see how much fun we had razzing on my most professional and amazing outfit. Right before we went live, I was singing Proud To Be An American by Lee Greenwood. I’m an Army brat, I know every word.

Well, I rolled with it. Chris generally has great ideas when it comes to our new show, and the live video (included below) introducing the podcast was amazing, showered or not.

How to Get More Episodes and Videos

Now that we’ve recorded video, we are sure to do more. I mean, it was too much fun. We’ll be talking about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in our lives and families, including symptoms, treatments, research, rumors, and stories from us and from invited guests.

We’re excited for you to be involved. Here’s how you can stay up to date on the latest:

• Subscribe to PTSD Parent to get an alert when the latest video is available
• Like the PTSD Parent Facebook page to get notified of the latest news an videos
• Subscribe to the PTSD Parent Youtube channel

Here is the intro video to the PTSD Parent Podcast

This was really fun to record, unshowered and in a weird outfit or not. This episode introducing the PTSD Parent Podcast is just a really good example of the tone of the show, our chemistry, our sense of humor, and what it’s like to have PTSD from a male and female prospective. Enjoy!

The post PTSD Parent on Video: It’s as Funny as You Hope appeared first on PTSD Parent.

It’s not a vacation until someone has a meltdown, especially if you’re with family. This can be even more of a certainty for those of us with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Lately, I like to refer to my PTSD trigger events as “crap attacks.” First, it makes me laugh. Second, I got it from the TV show Bob’s Burgers, which I binged on during the last year and it is now one of my favorites. I believe the line was spoken by Tina – a teenager – who said, “Geez, Mom and Dad, don’t have a crap attack.” Since I have teenagers, I busted a gut so hard my kids now randomly yell out, “Crap attack!”

My PTSD “crap attacks” can show up even on the most relaxing or fun vacation. Here are some ways that we can take care of ourselves to avoid PTSD triggers during this down time.

[Tweet “Here are some ways that we can take care of ourselves to avoid PTSD triggers during vacations.”]

Manage Expectations of the Vacation

Some vacations do not feel like my idea of a “vacation.” I move at a slower pace than most people. While I enjoy and appreciate adventure, I’m also up for hours in the sun by the pool, dozing and reading. Others in my family – with whom I love to spend time – do not appreciate all of this down time; they like to stay on the move.

For example, when we go to Disneyland with the high school band, I know that I’m not going to have hours by the pool. I know that it will be an exciting and busy series of days, which I will enjoy, but can also make me cranky. I know that the crowds and music and heat will get to me after awhile, and I’ll probably hide somewhere – even in the nearest bathroom. Not my ideal, but managing my expectations for the vacation ahead can help me keep my emotions in check.

I don’t need to plan out every day of my vacations, but I do like to be prepared before I get there. I check out the weather, the hotel, and read up on any of the places we plan to visit. This helps me manage my expectations for the days ahead.

Bring Comforting Stuff

Hotels can feel sterile to me, even when they’re nice. I don’t know about you, but I can never have enough blankets and pillows. I always pack a thin but comfy and familiar blanket with me, along with my favorite pjs, snacks, books (on my Kindle to make packing easier), and even a couple of movies or shows I can stream.

Sometimes new surroundings can be overwhelming, and coming back to our familiar and favorite things can be very comforting. When I feel extra tired and my defenses are down, I can take a time out with a good book or one of my favorite shows, do some meditation, eat a filling snack, and be ready to head out again.

Do the Boring Stuff

It’s really tempting to have the “Hey, It’s Vacation!” mindset about everything, this may not be the best choice. At least, it’s not sustainable for me. Sure, I can eat a bacon burger and drink a couple of beers and miss my meds for a day and stay up until 2 a.m., but I will pay the consequences.

That’s the hard truth that I need to remember. I make choices and there are consequences. When I don’t do the typical self-care routines that keep me sane, my defenses can fail and PTSD crap attacks are more likely to occur.

On vacation, I try to do as many routine things as possible. If I don’t go to bed at the same time I usually do at home, that’s cool, but I need to try and get eight to ten hours of sleep. I eat regularly throughout the day – more often if we’re walking all day long, like at an amusement park. I pack my meds where I can see them, making them easy to find and take each day. While it’s tempting to skip out on this boring stuff, it can help reduce the chances of a PTSD trigger event.

Take a Time Out

Since I get overwhelmed in my own home, it’s reasonable to expect that I may be overwhelmed at some point while on vacation. Regardless of where I’m vacationing, I plan one evening that I call, “Introvert Night!”

Instead of hanging out with everyone else, I stay in my room and enjoy the quiet. Taking advantage of the clean bathtub, I take a soothing bath. I enjoy room service, splurging a little on dinner. I watch a movie or two and read. If there are other introverts that I’m traveling with, I invite them into my sanctuary…or I don’t. It just depends on what I need.

Vacations offer us a chance to manage our PTSD so that we won’t have any pesky crap attacks while we’re trying to relax. Take some time to plan what you might need so that you can make the most out of your vacation.

The post How to Not Have a PTSD Crap Attack During Vacation appeared first on PTSD Parent.

I took advantage of this experience for my column over at Sweatpants & Coffee, appropriately called That’s What She Said.  My youngest’s question, “So, you’re saying that your presentation was more important than my concert?” started a post traumatic stress disorder “you’re not good enough” event. The conversation ended with me questioning how they could possibly think that they could say something like that to me when they never have said anything like that to their father.

Enjoy this excerpt from the article, When You Realize Your Kids are Sexist, at Sweatpants & Coffee

“So, you’re saying that your presentation was more important than my concert?” asked my 12-year-old son at the dinner table one evening.

My breath stopped. Everything slowed down, from the beat of my heart to my son slurping a spaghetti noodle. My vision tightened down to a small tunnel and sounds blurred.

It was just your typical Post Traumatic Stress Disorder trigger, along with some good old-fashioned woman-rage.

The You’re Not Good Enough Trigger

One of my big PTSD triggers is the belief that I’m not good enough. Anything I am and will be and try and do will simply never be good enough.

I understand where it comes from logically. Logic does not take the trigger away. Especially when your youngest child asks, “So your presentation was more important than my concert?”

I missed his concert due to a calendar conflict, like so many that have come before. Years ago, my husband and I decided that our boys have two parents, and we were going to take advantage of that. We work together, filling in for each other. He has missed recitals and games and concerts, as have I, but never both of us at the same time. We have also had many conversations with the children as these calendar conflicts have come up over the years.

And yes, I had another conversation about it that night, reminding our youngest of our past agreements and behavior and that his dad taped the concert so that we could watch it together the next day.

The next day, his words echoed around the inside of my skull – “So your presentation was more important than my concert?” Along with the leftovers of the trigger – the immediate anger, the hurt, the “you’re not good enough and you’ll never be.”

Go here to read the rest of When You Realize Your Kids are Sexist at Sweatpants & Coffee!

Searching for Hope and Inspiration? Check Out Caskets From Costco

A Funny and Poignant Grief Book

For twenty years, I thought that I had been marching through the stages of grief in a straight line. I had been following the formula, crossing each processed grief experience off my list.

Except that I was totally deluded. And I didn’t discover that until Jim, my beloved father-in-law, died. I found myself drying off from my shower the morning after his death, really hoping he couldn’t see me naked. Or, if he could, that he was averting his eyes.

From that moment, my path through grief resembled a roller coaster, spiraling and twisting and turning, circling back around. Echoes of past trauma, including childhood abuse and cheating death, would no longer be ignored. I somehow needed to get from the beginning to the end of this grief adventure, and I don’t have a good sense of direction.

But what is always present during a journey through grief, regardless of the path chosen?

Hope.

Caskets From Costco is a funny grief book that demonstrates the certainty of hope and healing in an uncertain and painful world.

Go Here to Read a Free Excerpt of Caskets From Costco!

The post Not Good Enough for You? PTSD and Sexist Kids appeared first on PTSD Parent.