TRAUMA COUNSELLING

SUCCESS IN TRAUMA COUNSELING SERVICES
By Beatrice Karengera Trauma counselor
MBWIRANDUMVA Initiative

Trauma is defined as an experience of danger that may disrupt life, cause pain, accelerate anxiety, or bring about loss or suspense.

Although trauma may disrupt life and bring loss and suspense, it also represents a turning point because with it comes:

1. An opportunity to change

2. To view life differently

3. To become more caring or to learn new methods of copying in difficult times.

As a counselor when a client comes seeking for help from me, first I must understand her or his position and bring comfort and hope in that person by using the skills of a counsellor. By this I help the client to avoid denial and accept the situation; I also help the client to relieve emotional pain, confusion other insecurities resulting from the crisis. The client may change the focus from pain to opportunity. I teach her or him the skills that will help him speed the recovery process physically, emotionally and spiritually. By doing this, I provide guidance and prevention of crisis that bring trauma.

As counselor, I would like to say that counseling is a process, it takes time, people who have gone through trauma are hurt deeply. Most of the time, their trust has been betrayed. They will therefore take time to learn to trust all over again. This means I have to be prepared to take time, positively accept the client, value him/her an counsel with patience and wisdom.

In MBWIRANDUMVA Initiative, we have people who have been deeply hurt after genocide. They are having what we call PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). This condition can result from delayed response to a critical incident or trauma e.g. critical incident, if psychological debriefing is not carried out within the first few weeks after the incident, many people will experience the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Most of our women are having:

1. Physical Symptoms like:

a. recurring headaches

b. constant tiredness, flashbacks

c. Sleeplessness, nightmares

d. Regular acidity or stomach ulcers

Indigestion

2. Mental and emotional symptoms include:

a. Severe withdrawal

b. Poor concentration and memory lapses

c. Increased insecurity evidenced through suspicion of others

d. Difficulty in making decisions

e. Depression or violent reactions

3. Spiritual symptoms:

a. Some of our women have lost their joy in relationship with God.

b. God seems distant and uncaring

Others would say that God does not love them or have mercy on them.

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