Understanding the Benefits of Trauma-Informed Care in NJ
What is Trauma-Informed Care?
Trauma-informed care, commonly referred to as trauma-informed therapy (TIC) has gained popularity among mental health professionals in recent years. It’s a type of therapy that focuses on the impact of trauma on a person’s mental health through a person-centered approach. This means that each client is assessed as a whole, taking into consideration all areas of their life that may have been impacted by traumatic experience(s).
Trauma-informed therapists are knowledgeable about the impacts of trauma and are careful not to trigger or re-traumatize their clients inadvertently. This approach to therapy emphasizes the importance of ensuring that clients feel both physically and emotionally safe in their sessions.
An Overview of Trauma-Informed Care
Before we delve deeper into TIC, let us first understand what trauma therapy is. Trauma therapy is a type of therapy that aims to address the effects of trauma on the person’s overall well being and functioning and help them to adapt to their life post-trauma. It focuses on the person’s strengths, resources, and resilience while recognizing the impact of trauma on a person’s mental health. It acknowledges that people who have experienced trauma may present with unique needs and challenges that may present differently than someone who has not experienced trauma.
PRINCIPLES OF TRAUMA INFORMED THERAPY
- A Safe and Supportive Environment
Trauma-informed providers create a safe therapeutic environment for their clients by establishing boundaries, providing structure, and ensuring confidentiality. - Trustworthiness
Trauma-informed providers honor transparency in the therapeutic alliance, communicate clearly with their clients and respect their boundaries. - Flexibility & Empowerment
Trauma-informed providers help their clients develop coping skills and empower them to take control of their lives. This starts with empowerment in the therapeutic relationship, as the client is in control and leads the therapeutic pace. Providers are willing to adapt their approach to meet the client’s needs and are responsive to their clients’ feedback. - Mind-Body Therapy
Trauma-informed providers use a variety of techniques to address the client’s physical, emotional, and psychological needs. Mind-body therapy techniques include mindfulness, yoga, and meditation. - A Collaborative Approach
Trauma-informed providers collaborate with their clients and involve them in the decision-making process. - Cultural Humility
Trauma-informed providers are culturally competent and respect their clients’ beliefs and values. - Empathy and Support
Trauma-informed providers are compassionate, non-judgmental and are empathetic to their clients through the healing process
The Benefits of Trauma-Informed Care
TIC can provide assistance to individuals who have gone through trauma, whether it occurred during childhood or as an adult. Even if someone is not in therapy specifically for their trauma, this approach can help maintain emotional safety during sessions.
It’s worth noting that not everyone has experienced trauma, but adopting a trauma-informed approach during therapy sessions won’t harm those who haven’t. As a result, many therapists use this approach in all of their sessions, rather than just when dealing with specific traumatic events.
The Effectiveness of Trauma-Informed Care
While trauma-informed care doesn’t refer to a specific set of therapeutic interventions, it has been shown to be beneficial for both youth and adults who have experienced trauma. Additionally, it can help trauma survivors address feelings of guilt and shame that often accompany such experiences.
Starting the journey towards healing from trauma can feel overwhelming, but getting the right support can help ease the burden. If you are considering trauma-informed therapy, take the time to find a therapist who is trained in trauma-informed care and who you feel comfortable talking to and who you trust. Clients who receive trauma-informed care can expect a safe and supportive environment, a collaborative approach, mind-body therapy, flexibility, empathy and support.
Rebecca Sidoti, LCSW
VR Therapist
OCD & Anxiety Expert
Kristin Justice, LAC
Grief & Loss
Women’s Mental Health
Stress & Adjustments
Caroline Goodhines
Maria Rice
Denise Spivey
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FAQ's about therapy at Mind by Design, NJ
How do I get started as a new client?
New Clients can reach out to us directly via call, text or email here:
Or, you can complete a new client form and we’ll reach out to you within 24 hours here:
What is your cancellation policy?
We ask that clients provide at least 24 hours notice in the event that they need to cancel to avoid the 50% cancellation fee. we understand that life happens and do our best to be flexible & reschedule.
Does my insurance cover my visits?
We provide”Courtesy Billing” for clients who are using the Out-of-network insurance benefits.
Our Insurance Page shares a small blurb about Why We Left Insurance Panels
Do you offer traditional talk therapy?
of course! though we have some unconventional therapy approaches, we are rooted in evidenced based practices. Talk therapy is a major player in the therapy room! See What we Treat and Integrative Services for more information
Is Online Therapy As Effective As In-Person Therapy?
Online therapy is essentially face-to-face counseling, just conducted remotely. Studies show that teletherapy is as effective as traditional counseling. Professional organizations and state governments recognize its benefits and have set regulations for it. However, like any therapy, its success in achieving your goals isn’t guaranteed. It’s important to discuss with your therapist whether teletherapy is working for you.
Can I Change Therapists If I'm Not Happy?
Yes, you can switch therapists to another provider within the practice, or we can provide you a referral if preferred. We want to ensure that your time and effort are well spent, and that you are getting the relief you need, that’s why we work collaboratively with each other in the practice, as well as outside therapists who we know and trust.
How Do I Know If Therapy Is Helping?
You should feel like you’re making progress. Signs it’s working include:
Feeling comfortable talking to your therapist
Your therapist respects boundaries
You’re moving towards your goals
You feel listened to
You’re doing better in life
Your self-esteem is getting better
Is Online Therapy Easy to Use for Non-Tech-Savvy People?
Yes, it’s pretty simple to access sessions. You’ll need basic internet skills, such as opening and visiting the patient link sent to you via email. It’s similar to video chatting like Facetime or Zoom. We can also walk you through it on the phone the first time to ensure a strong connection
What Questions Should I Ask My New Therapist?
Feel free to ask anything. Some good questions are:
- How often will we meet?
- What do you specialize in?
- What experience do you have with my issue?
- What outcomes can I expect?
- How will I know I’m progressing?
- How long do you usually work with clients?
- How will we set my treatment goals?
How Should I Prepare for My First Session?
Showing up is all that you need to do! But if you really want to get the most out of session, it could help to take some time to think about what you want from therapy. It helps to write down your goals, questions you have or things that you feel are important to share.
What is the difference between associate therapists & fully licensed therapists?
Our Qualifications:
Our founder, Rebecca Sidoti, is a highly qualified, state-licensed therapist and supervisor with extensive training in anxiety related disorders and innovative treatment such as Ketamine Therapy. Mind by Design Counseling adheres to standards set by the our governing counseling boards.
To see each providers credentials, training and licenses, visit our “Meet the Therapists” Page to learn more.
- LAC/LSW are therapists who may practice clinical work under the supervision of a fully licensed therapist.
- LPC/LCSW are therapists who have completed the necessary clinical hours post-graduation under supervision and can practice clinical work independently.
What Geographic Areas Are Served?
Currently, we serve clients in New Jersey and are expanding to other states as telehealth laws evolve. While telehealth offers the convenience of attending sessions from anywhere, state laws require clients to be in-state during their session.
Is Virtual Counseling Suitable for Everyone?
Online therapy might not be as effective for individuals with chronic suicidal thoughts, severe trauma, significant mental health history, or those recently in intensive care. Such cases often benefit more from traditional, in-person counseling. We’ll help you decide if our online services are right for you during your intake and evaluation.
What Equipment is Needed for Online Therapy?
To join a session, log in using the credentials we provide. No downloads are needed. Our platform, compatible with both individual and group sessions, requires:
A computer or mobile device with a webcam and internet access.
We’ll help you test your setup before your first appointment to ensure a reliable connection. iOS users should use the Safari browser for mobile and tablet sessions.
What Questions Will Therapists Ask Me?
It depends on your goals. Expect questions about your thoughts, feelings, relationships, work, school, and health. They’ll ask to understand your therapy goals.
How Do You Keep Client Information Secure?
Security and Confidentiality of Sessions:
Your privacy is crucial to us. We use TherapyNotes, a HIPAA-compliant platform, ensuring secure and confidential teletherapy sessions. This platform’s security features include encrypted video connections, secure data transfers, and encrypted databases, ensuring your information is safe at all times.
What is VRT used for?
we use VRT to support Exposure Therapy, a long standing traditional therapy modality to treat phobias, anxiety and stress. we send a headset directly to your home so you can access VRT from anywhere.
VRT not only helps with exposure therapy for phobias, but is great for ADHD, mindfulness, PTSD and social anxiety.