Addressing Trauma As A Step Toward Long-Term Healing — Jeff Holloway
Andy Knight
Jeff Holloway
Most often people are assessed by observable behaviors, whether they are children or adults. In many instances onlookers begin forming opinions of these people based on these behaviors and forget to place these behaviors in context to events that have shaped these behaviors. Trauma is much like and undiagnosed infection, we see the negative affects and symptoms but this does not tell us about the underlying illness. Untreated trauma remains in a person’s system, and while it can appear dormant at times it inevitably will become activated and we again will see the negative symptoms.
In addressing the trauma at its root cause we can help in building resiliency by removing the underlying illness which in turn removes the observable symptoms/behaviors. Trauma-based therapies address these underlying issues and help the individual return to healthier pattern of interactions and self-esteem. As with many medical illnesses, addressing the primary issue of trauma allows the professionals to then determine other co-occurring concerns and address those in a healthier and safer means.
This conversation will look at how trauma manifests in individuals and how to safely address these issues so that long-term treatment regarding secondary concerns such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
About Jeff Holloway
Jeff found his love for working with adolescents while tutoring under-privileged children as an undergraduate, and this experience influenced his decision to major in social work. Jeff earned his bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of South Dakota, and then his Master’s in Social Work at the University of Iowa. For the next decade, Jeff specialized in working with childhood trauma in a variety of treatment settings, including residential treatment, in-home services, foster care, and outpatient therapy. In 2002, Jeff relocated with his family from Iowa to Georgia, where he worked in administrative roles at a therapeutic boarding school, a wilderness program and a boarding school specializing in learning disabilities, further honing his expertise in working with adolescents and with complex family systems. His desire to help families find the right treatment options for their children led him to educational and therapeutic consulting, where he helped to facilitate hundreds of therapeutic placements.
Of joining the First Light Wilderness team, Jeff stated, “Having the opportunity to join the family of New Vision Wilderness programs and to return to working directly with children and families refuels the fire that was started over 20 years ago when I discovered how powerfully healing working in nature with a group of kids could be. I am so excited to work with this incredible team of professionals to provide healing, growth and service to families at First Light. “ Jeff has lived in North Georgia since 2002 with his wife, Debi, and their three college-aged children. When not working, Jeff enjoys golfing, practicing martial arts, and driving through the mountains on his Harley.
Notes
Trauma is like a virus. When we see substance abuse and angry children, this anger are symptoms. I work with a 78 year old client who is still dealing with the trauma she experienced as a child. The right program is whatever works for you.
When working with a trauma, the piece that's deep inside is what we want get some resolution for. This is hard work because we are talking about things that are painful. The underlying cause will keep coming out.
Some times there are traumatic memories buried in your brain that you don't even recognize on a conscious level that can "flip your lid" and cause you to want to fight or flight or feeds into anxiety or depression.
Episodic trauma are large events that you can point to like abusive experiences, violent experiences, major accidents, etc.
Systemic trauma are lots of smaller events. For example, a bully in school who picks on you every day for one or two years.
Most people with addiction have this underlying trauma. They never worked through this, went for treatment, or had someone in their life to hug them. The smoking, drinking, or shooting up of a substance makes the pain go away. It's a coping skill. Addicts say that they are self-medicating. That's an excuse to justify it.
Have you read the book The Body Keeps the Score . Even if you experienced a traumatic experience before the age of 3 that you can't even remember, your body doesn't forget.
The key part of working with trauma or almost anyone is asking "Why are you having these reactions? What is going on here? Let's talk about that." When I do training with staff and working with adolescence, I get them to watch and know the kids. Know what their baseline level is. Little things can build and escalate upon other little things. Ask them what's going on? The old philosophy of "don't poke the bear" isn't good enough. You need to help the bear. If you ignore it they'll keep escalating. Sometimes the part of the brain that sees consequences is not developed. They don't see that they are about to escalate. So talk to them. "How are you feeling? What's going on? Tell me about it." If you get into the "Knock it off. Stop that." commands without getting to the root issue, then you're not being therapeutic. Help them before it escalates. Deal with it the first time you see that they're in a bad mood.
This is easier to work with at a young age. If it's not dealt with when they’re 18 or 40, then it will not get better. It will get worse. They become hardwired. It's all they know. People do negative behavior because it does help some. For example, people panhandle because it works.
Mom gets beat up the most because they know they have unconditional love. The best day to get treatment is today. Don't talk about how you should've or could've. You cannot go backward.
Some people say that they are not ready to send their child to treatment when they're young. Because you don't want to poke the bear. Maybe mom has some systemic trauma for how the child has treated you. Maybe they are scared to suggest it or to take away the phone or the car keys, then I have to help them develop plan B. Visualize what life will be like with a 40 year old living in your basement smoking pot and watching the internet. If you do nothing, nothing is going to change. The answer for a young adult is to say, "Go to treatment or get out of my house." Typically, you can crash at a friends house for a week before you have to find someone else's couch. Turning off their phone or taking the car keys is an effective step. If the addict you're concerned about is an elderly parent, then the motivator might be taking away access to grandkids. Telling her, "You're not safe. You're not healthy." Their motivation to change has to be greater than their motivation to not change. They’re feeling like it's too scary to change. Why try life because I might fail at it. This is a family issue. You want your kids to be happy and healthy. But sometimes you can't control that 20-something, and it's hurting your health and happiness. Your mom wants you to be healthy and happy. Remember that they have to feel a bit of pain or they won't change.
What if it is a mental health issue? You have to assess their history to see if there's been trauma. Are there things that have occurred way earlier on in life. If anxiety and depression are caused by historical trauma, then that can't be fixed by medicine. What is that underlying piece that we need to work on? The trauma can be physical or non-physical. It can be a bully threatening you or an absentee dad. Emotions created from trauma are fear, anger, abandonment, sadness. That trauma needs to be worked on even if their 20s. After you have given them whatever tools they possibly might need, then it's time for treatment with a therapist.
Today COVID is causing isolation. Suicide is at an all-time high. Depression and anxiety is at an all-time high. The best treatment is the one where there is community and connection. You can't do this on a Zoom call. You're still isolated. For parents, the busiest time has been now right after the first 9 weeks and report cards come in. Kids don't even have to login. Young adult programs are going to be inundated with kids who are not able to make it in school being isolated.
How do you find a therapist if online therapy sessions on Zoom aren't working? Ask them who does in-person therapy? Do your research? Lookup the Georgia Therapy Network.
For young adults you have to approach behavior change incrementally. Start removing their comforts:.Remove the internet. Take away the car. Take away their phone.