Our country is having a mental health crisis. As the importance of caring for our mental health climbs, so too do the numbers around the shortage of mental health professionals. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) estimates 2022 saw a shortage of 8,000 professionals, far surpassing the estimated 2,593 in 2013.
In the course of a decade, Integrative Trauma Treatment Center, along with other mental-healthcare agencies, have felt the pressure of the shortage. In an attempt to bridge the ever-widening gap of care, ITTC launches Trauma Coaching. With the use of coaches specialized in trauma-informed care, we add another layer to increase access to trauma-specific mental health support worldwide.
Now, it is still important to note that coaches in no way replace mental health professionals. Rather, together, we can interrupt the generational spread of trauma through the expansion of human resources trained to support survivors in an informed way. Survivors will work with their coaches either as an addition to psychotherapy or on its own in effort to build on strengths of the survivor while working towards goals.
If you are a mental health professional seeking support in tasks, there are several ways we advise integrating coaching with therapy.
Psychoeducation
When clients first come to us, many don’t have language around what they are experiencing on the inside or how to explain the needs they are wanting met. The work of a coach can help provide education around the effects of trauma to support the client in coping and understanding beneath the surface.
Goal Setting
In the goal setting stage, coaches can provide collaborative support and take more time to work with clients to develop their own goals. When we offset this task, the time in therapy can be spent around the treatment plan.
Skill Building
In the time between therapy appointments, your client can have a touchstone to keep working on desired skills from trigger management to developing better skills around sleep. The coach can be another tool for accountability and help clients soothe overwhelming emotions and develop more self-compassion in the process.
It is our mission that people affected by trauma feel and know they do not have to go at it alone and there are more resources in place for them. Interested in learning more about Trauma Coaching? Visit our partner’s website, The Orenda Project, with globally accessible, specialized trauma coaching courses + online membership communities here.