Trauma Treatment | Blaise Amendolace

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Trauma Therapy

What is trauma?

Trauma is the word that health professionals use for psychological injury. While some injuries are small, and heal on their own, others can be more destructive and wreak havoc on our health and wellness for years. Psychological trauma can be incredibly difficult to identify and accurately diagnose, as one of the hallmarks of severe or complex trauma is having difficulties remembering, checking out during traumatic experiences, or developing stories that feel more safe in comparison to the original injury or injuries. Trauma can have such a profound impact on our lives, as we have come to clearly understand that experiencing trauma changes our brain chemistry, our relationship with our self and others, and the way that we approach most things in the world. We can be traumatized by other people, witnessing or experiencing scary or life-threatening events, sociopolitical factors, and countless other experiences. Sometimes people experience post-traumatic stress as being checked out from their emotions, being angry at the world, feeling like they are always on high alert for potential danger, or feeling like they have to work harder than most people to just stay afloat and survive.

How do I know if I have post-traumatic stress?

First, please know that many professionals in the mental health community (including myself) do not agree with the label of "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)." When anyone experiences a single trauma, or multiple traumas, the automatic reactions and life-saving alterations to our way of being are anything but a disorder. Most trauma survivors have tapped into a reservoir of strength and resilience that is remarkable, and it is part of the work of therapy to better understand how and why each trauma survivor has developed their unique way of responding to their original injury. While many health professionals focus on diagnosis, the difficulty with trauma is that many survivors take time in treatment to clearly identify and share their traumatic experiences. In addition, many of the symptoms of PTSD overlap with symptoms of other disorders, such as Depression, Anxiety, Relationship Difficulties, and many forms of addiction. Health professionals continue to refine the formal ways to diagnose PTSD, however, many people with post-traumatic stress will likely benefit from therapy to help them improve the overall quality of their lives, regardless of whether or not they meet formal criteria for a disorder.

What role does my childhood play in the experience of post traumatic stress?

Quite a bit, actually! One of the most frustrating things about dealing with post traumatic stress as an adult is that we usually do not have a clear understanding of why we are stuggling, and was never told that certain experiences we had throughout our childhood play a significant role in our lives as adults. Fortunately, a great deal of research has been done to identify and validate the importance of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE's). Please see the infographic below to determine if you have experienced any ACE's, and how those experiences might be impacting you as an adult:

Do cultural factors play a role?

Absolutely. If you come from marginalized, oppressed, or at-risk populations, the potential unwanted mental health impact of growing up in a culture that did not include, accept, or acknowledge is significant. Fortunately, there is newer research concerning ACE's that takes this into account, and you can see one of the newer ways that mental health professionals are viewing the impact of ACE's below:

How do I find a skilled therapist to treat post-traumatic stress?

Trauma treatment can look very different depending on the therapist that is providing it. Here are some things you want to look for in a skilled trauma therapist:

Clear understanding of the physiological markers of trauma
Extensive training and supervision in the treatment of trauma
- the more training, the better!
Cultural humility and curiosity
Ability to create personalized, contextual, and unique treatment plans
Safe, warm, and non-threatening environment and relationship building
Patience
Willingness to discuss difficult, sensitive topics with compassion

Things to avoid at all costs when searching for a trauma therapist:

Any 'one size fits all' approach
Any one trying to convince you that you should be experiencing stages of trauma, there is no such thing
Any one afraid or unwilling to accept you for who you are
Any one who makes you feel judged or shameful for your experienced

How can Dr. Amendolace help me navigate my post traumatic stress?

Dr. Amendolace has extensive experience treating, researching, supervising, and consulting in the area of trauma. He completed his dissertation on the Program Evaluation of a Sexual Abuse Treatment Program, the Family Learning Program (FLP) in Melbourne, Florida. While completing his research, he worked full-time for FLP for over three years, learning how to treat what many experts identify as the most damaging experience a person can suffer: sexual trauma/abuse. He led groups for sexual abuse victims of all ages, as well as groups for non-offending siblings and caretakers. Upon completing his research, and learning first hand how devastating sexual abuse can be to individuals and their families, Dr. Amendolace dedicated his professional life to continuing to work with those most adversely impacted by traumatic experiences.

Over the past ten years, Dr. Amendolace has worked with survivors of sexual abuse, both women and men, as well as countless others who have experienced different forms of abuse and neglect. He has led abuse survivor support groups, worked with South Florida Survivor's of Torture, and provided psychological assessment and reports to advocate for victim's rights. He has worked as a consultant for various organizations providing Child Maltreatment Prevention trainings, and is frequently sought out by colleagues to consult on cases where abuse is a significant part of the clinical picture.

Dr. Amendolace is not afraid to "go there," and creates an environment in therapy that provides safety, relief, and full acceptance of his clients. He has developed a way to understand ('conceptualize') his trauma survivor clients from a complex, contextual, and culturally inclusive lens. He excels at helping clients step outside of their comfort zones and begin to enjoy life in ways that are deep and fulfilling. Whether its called PTSD treatment, trauma therapy, personal support, growth mindset, etc., Dr. Amendolace will help you travel on your journey from survivor to thriver!