Trauma counselling is a powerful tool for any South African who is trying to heal. Many of us struggle every day with the aftermath of a traumatic experience.
This struggle can present itself in obvious ways like lashing out and having nightmares, or in more subtle ways like emotional numbness. The symptoms of trauma may differ but one thing remains true, adequate counselling is the best way to overcome it.
In this article, we’ll discuss why trauma counselling is so important and show you how the AD Suicide Prevention Program makes healing possible and accessible.
What is Trauma Counselling?
Trauma counselling is a form of therapy that supports people on the journey to healing from traumatic experiences. It accounts for both the emotional and psychological effects of trauma, allowing individuals to tackle both and reach a point of peace.
Traumatic experiences often have a long-term impact on the mental health of victims. This can prevent them from living their lives to the fullest as they remain stuck in the unresolved heartache they experienced.
Trauma counselling is the first step to rebuilding emotional stability. That’s why this form of therapy should be accessible to all South Africans, because each one of us deserves to heal and live a full life.
Who Needs Trauma Counselling? (Signs You Might Need Help)
Trauma responses aren’t always obvious. Sometimes we fail to recognise it in other people and even in ourselves. These signs will help you detect who needs trauma counselling:
- Flashbacks or Nightmares about a traumatic incident
- Anxiety, Depression, and Suicidal Thoughts
- Self Harm
- Drastic Changes in Behaviour
- Substance Abuse
- Avoidant Behavior
- Changes in Sleep and Appetite
- Trouble Concentrating
- Physical Trauma Symptoms like headaches
The AD Suicide Prevention Program: Your Safe Space for Healing
If you or your loved one is experiencing any of the struggles we mentioned above, then it might be time to seek trauma counselling. And there’s no better way to start this journey than with the AD Suicide Prevention Program.
Our nonprofit organisation provides free trauma counselling for children and teenagers in South Africa. We recognise the value of each life and we’re committed to showing struggling teens that they can live full, beautiful lives, no matter what they’ve been through.
Our mission is simple but far from easy. We are devoted to helping young South Africans overcome traumatic events and make full recoveries.
The ADS team is packed with nothing but the best. Our counsellors are trained professionals who have dedicated their lives to saving others and being a guiding light towards trauma recovery.
Types of Trauma Counselling Services We Offer
We offer a range of counselling services to help children and teens aged 12 to 18 years. No matter what you’re going through there’s help for you.
- Free Trauma Counselling for Individuals in Need: As a nonprofit organisation, we maintain completely free therapy programs, including counselling for people who have suffered trauma.
- Crisis and Trauma Counselling for Immediate Support: Our suicide helpline is the perfect option for people who are in a crisis and require immediate support. The phone lines are always open if you ever need someone to help you in times of emergency.
- Trauma Counselling for Adults: While we do not offer direct counselling for adults, we do help South African adults connect with trauma counsellors that cater to them.
What Makes Our Trauma Counselling Program Unique?
Trauma counselling is too important to make the mistake of going to the wrong place to get help. A bad experience with counselling can make you avoid it which means the emotional and mental scars you have will have more time to seep deeper into your psyche.
This emphasises the importance of getting it right. So here’s why ADS is right for you:
- Qualified Counsellors: ADS counsellors are qualified and experienced, but beyond that, they’re empathetic. They handle each case with deep empathy, ensuring each teen feels seen, heard, understood, and valued.
- Confidentiality: Privacy is a priority for us at ADS. You can rest assured that your details will never be shared outside our team.
- Compassion: Leading with kindness is what we do best. Teens who come to us receive warm welcomes and support from all our counsellors.
- Cultural Sensitivity: We do not stick our heads in the ground like the proverbial ostrich. Instead, we accept the realities of cultural dynamics and allow that to influence how we handle each individual case.
- Tailored Support: Our counselling is tailored to your unique problems and experiences, allowing you to rebuild and thrive, no matter how difficult the past was.
Online Trauma Counselling: Healing at Your Convenience
Our focus is and will always be on the happiness, well-being, and convenience of our patients. We provide free online trauma counselling for anyone in need, allowing you to heal from wherever you’re most comfortable.
We know there are some South Africans who doubt the effectiveness of online trauma counselling, with most of them citing confidentiality as their main concern. But what they don’t know is that there are many benefits of online trauma counselling such as:
- Accessibility: Studies have shown that mental health treatment remains out of reach for 72% of South Africans living with mental disorders. The gap for mental health treatment in our country is wide, but with online trauma counselling, we can bridge that gap. This form of therapy makes mental health treatment accessible for everyone.
- Flexibility: Conducting trauma counselling online allows for flexibility with communication methods and scheduling. Whenever and however you want to talk, we’re here to listen.
- Comfort and Safety: Therapy like this gives patients a sense of comfort and safety because they can attend their sessions without leaving their safe space. This helps them let their guard down more and open themselves up to the process of healing.
- Reduced Isolation: Victims of trauma tend to isolate themselves from the world. Online therapy can be a great way to get them to connect with someone, make them feel less alone, and slowly bring them out into the world.
- Confidentiality: Yes, even the dominant concern of South Africans is a major benefit when it comes to us. We ensure maximum confidentiality and give our patients room to share without judgment, criticism, and while maintaining privacy.
Real Stories of Healing and Hope
One of our most impactful case studies was the story of a 16-year-old South African who was on the verge of ending their own life.
They had planned it down to the most minute details and by the time we intervened, we were just weeks away from the date they’d chosen to say goodbye to everything.
Thankfully, our counselling sessions over a three-week period brought them back from the edge. We worked with them to overcome their suicidal thoughts, and involved their mother to help monitor and encourage healing.
This is just one of many stories, one of many lives that we’ve saved through our counselling sessions.
Start Your Healing Journey Today
As we wrap up this article, we just want to remind you that you’re not alone. ADS is here to help you heal. We want to be a guiding light until you reach the end of the tunnel.
So if you or any South African teen you know is dealing with trauma, then please reach out.
