Trauma and PTSD

At Alta Mira, we treat Trauma/PTSD as it coincides with substance addiction or abuse. It is through the treatment of this dual diagnosis that a person can be completely treated and live in full recovery.

Just as the muscles in the human body strengthen or degenerate based on their use or disuse, the psyche develops, expands, contracts and scars based on life events and how they are experienced and understood. Traumatic experiences threaten one's sense of wholeness and undermines our capacity to form trusting and reliable interpersonal connections.

Emotional results of trauma include:

Internalized shame
Guilt
Humiliation
Demoralization
Degradation
Remorse

Individuals cope with trauma/post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its psychic/emotional effects in unconsciously-driven maladaptive patterns of thinking and behavior. While these coping mechanisms were originally invoked as a way to survive, they become disruptive and destructive later in life.

These mechanisms commonly include:

Rationalizing, intellectualizing and denying often with obsessive thinking
Compulsive behaviors with ritualized aspects as seen in OCD
Disconnecting from self and others through disordered eating or substance abuse
Gambling, spending, compulsive sexual behavior and other process addictions
Self-harm, isolation and withdrawal

Individuals and families carry trauma wounds from emotional, physical, or sexually violent and threatening events. Another set of trauma-linked conditions derives from interpersonal experiences of failed attachment or misunderstanding.

In these instances, individuals feel they were "never understood" by relied upon caregivers, even from those who appeared to provide more than adequate resources and attention. Years later these individuals blame themselves for how they feel and own an internalized sense of failure that validates their story of self-loathing and inferiority.

Many stuck in this mindset beat themselves up by maintaining a set of unattainable, self-imposed standards of success. Despite these views causing great psychic pain, the underpinnings of trauma and disconnection make them seem unshakable.

Since trauma and attachment disorders involve the brain and manifest with life threatening physical and psychological effects, its treatment by necessity must include biological, psychological, social, interpersonal and spiritual components. Recovery requires intense effort and diligence on the part of client and staff in order to identify and then change the maladaptive patterns which plague individuals struggling with trauma.

Who seeks help for trauma-related difficulties?

Individuals seek help for trauma-related disorders as they become aware of the associated disturbing, disruptive, destructive or life-threatening effects. Among these are:

Health complications and illnesses
Depression, suicidal thinking or attempts, eroding self-esteem
Sleep disturbances including insomnia, nightmares, night sweats
Agitation and anxiety including mood swings, hypomania and panic
Flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, disorganized thinking and dissociation
Interpersonal difficulties and relationship losses
Spiritual disconnection and identity disturbances
Increased substance use or abuse
Disordered eating
Process addictions: gambling, internet, spending
Sexual compulsivity and sex addiction
Encouragement to seek help for any of the above from a professional or family member

Seeking help for trauma-related difficulties is a very personal and individual decision often occurring at a moment of psychic, physical and emotional/spiritual crisis.

At Alta Mira, our clients and their family members quickly discover they are not alone and do not have to stay trapped in the spirals of loss and disconnection that accompany unresolved and untreated trauma and attachment disorders.

Trauma and Disordered Mood Program

The Trauma and Disordered Mood program addresses the client at all levels: mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. Through Integrative and Holistic Psychology we can facilitate healing at the level of causation, not just management and treatment of symptoms.

Conditions, symptoms and our life situations develop because of multiple reasons. We need to look at the whole person not just the mind if we want better results.

When we truly decide to change our lives and relationships, something amazing happens. We become alive again, revealing our true essence and healing to live from a place of wholeness.

Transformation of the body, mind and spirit is a rewarding path to choose. It's a way to peel back and dissolve the layers of trauma, hurt and the pain of a lifetime It's learning that through healing our body, mind, and spirit, by letting go of the past, and choosing to move forward, that we will find the life we were meant to live.

Through this process we come to understand how happiness starts from within and begin freeing ourselves from our stories that have disabled us. We begin to see ourselves, relationships and life with an entirely new perspective. We feel alive and joyful again. We begin to live life from a place of who we truly are, revealing our true essence to ourselves and others.

The Approach

You will have the opportunity to recreate your path through a blending of both conventional and integrative services, including but not limited to the following:

Individual one-on-one sessions two to three hours per week- help you process experiences and uncover the root cause of your suffering
Our program director works in a compassionate psychodynamic and cognitive/behavioral way with traditional therapy, while integrating complimentary alternative therapies

Believing that when we can recognize and experience who we really are from the level of soul and clear out the cellular memories stored in our bodies that are the root cause of our suffering, we will no longer live from our egos and inauthentic habitual patterns.

Group sessions will encompass:

Group therapy
Meditation and relaxed awareness practice
12-Step meetings
Educational groups
A number of group activities, both on and off campus
Meeting with professional facilitators with expertise in aparticular specialty areas ( i.e. Equine Therapy, Adventure Therapy, etc).
Participation in Experiential Groups where the primary focus will be on intense, personal experiences that will both surprise and enlighten you
Attendance at support group meetings of your choice (with Staff approval) at least twice per week and attendance at Community Meeting.
Attendance at educational seminars on a wide variety of subjects ( i.e. Nutrition, Sleep Hygiene, Native American Practices; etc. ) related to recovery, growth, healing and transformation
Optional IV, Oral and Dietary Nutrient Therapy will rebalance brain and body chemistry quickly, so you will be better able to benefit from your work at Alta Mira.
Regular Body Work such as exercise, yoga, massage, Tai Chi, and acupuncture will help you to detoxify, heal, grow and relax.
Self-directed individual growth experiences through books, self instructional CD's, DVD's and videos. Journaling will be encouraged to record and track your experiences.
Working closely with your Program Director and Support Team to develop and implement a program that is appropriate and effective for you
Family Therapy addressing root causes and insight into interpersonal dynamics

Intention & Outcome

The blending of these conventional and integrated therapies allows the client to get at the root cause of their suffering and attend to themselves from every angle: emotional, physical and spiritual.

Improved mental and physical energy
The freedom of releasing yourself from unhealed trauma, emotional wounds and baggage that no longer serves you
Enhanced focus and mental clarity
Elevated mood
Physical detox, rebalancing and healing
Improved sleep
Less triggers, more awareness and the ability to handle and choose behaviors that serve you better
Ability to identify beliefs, self-sabotaging behaviors and feelings
Increased understanding of choice and personal responsibility
A basis for connection to the world around you
Increased self-care capabilities and coping skills
Identify and make spiritual connections
Discover, connect to and honor your essence, the truth of your soul and life's purpose.

Areas of Focus

Utilizing the methods previously mentioned we will address issues in different realms to help you achieve the desired Outcomes. We will bring focus to the following areas (and probably more):

Uncovering and healing the root cause/trauma

Uncovering and releasing cellular memory/trauma memory driving behavior, emotions, and illness

Addressing and rebalancing stress in the body, mind and spirit

Identifying where we hold our stress and the source: physical, emotional/mental, life style, energetic or spiritual
Correcting stress/energetic imbalances, learning self-regulation, connecting mind/body/emotions/spirit
Regulation and awareness

Correcting brain chemistry and physical imbalances

Complete diagnostic testing
Overcoming addictions and cravings of certain foods, substances and emotions
Detoxification to eliminate toxins and drug residues
Vitamin deficiency assessment and balancing

Identifying ego fixation and sabotaging behaviors

What early wounding drives your choices, behaviors and emotions?
How do you manipulate to get your needs met?
How do you betray yourself to get love, acceptance and approval?
What do you think, feel or do that takes you farther away from your true nature?

Heightening awareness

Uncovering your "story"
How do you defend and maintain your story (Cognitive )

ego/image
illusion of control/power
tolerance for insanity (yours /others)
grandiosity/self centeredness
alienation/detachment
beliefs/judgments
fears

How do you distract yourself from the "truth" ( Behavioral )

addictions
attachments
drama
work/play
"stuff"

Increasing Clarity

What do you say you want?

values
actions

What are you attached to?
What can you "let go" of?

Learning free choice and personal responsibility

What do you really want?
What are you willing to do and not do?
What are you committed to?
What truth will you live?
Who are you?

The Tools & Skills Box

The aforementioned questions help to point out the direction for a new path. The tools help to clear the new path. Your level of willingness to be responsible for new and different choices determines the depth and applicability of your discoveries. Some of the tools you will use to assist you in learning to be responsible for yourself and to others are:

Individual reflection and addressing superficial levels of behaviors (disordered eating, substance abuse, Depression, anxiety, sexual compulsivity, others)
Active and honest feedback from staff and peers
Emotional awareness and regulation
Increase awareness and identify core beliefs that unconsciously drive behaviors
Identifying true passion and bliss and what you want for your life
Meditation, mindfulness, relaxed awareness
Journaling
Healthy eating
Body movement
Body and energy work increasing awareness of body sensations associated with emotions and blockages in the flow of our energetic and emotional network
Self-care and coping skills
Body and energy work increasing awareness of body sensations associated with emotions
Body image and awareness
Relapse prevention
Participation (showing up)
Honesty

If you have any questions about Trauma/PTSD, please contact our call center at (866) 922.1350.

More Treatment Info

» Treatment Overview
» Integrated Treatment
» Chemical Dependency
» Co-Occurring Disorders
» Depression
» Eating Disorders
» Codependency/Relationships
» Process Addictions