Have you ever felt lost, struggling with unexplained emotions or reactions? You’re not alone. Learn about the world of Complex PTSD (CPTSD) Trauma Coaching, exploring how it can help you heal from past experiences and unlock your true potential with Gina Fox and Mystic Mag.
What inspired you to become a PTSD/CPTSD Trauma Coach?
Initially, I wasn’t looking to be a coach. I was looking to find out what was wrong with me. Why did I feel different, why was I having all of these strange emotions and reactions, who was I really and what’s wrong with my brain. I prayed to God to help me. Praying for His guidance. Praying for answers. It was soon thereafter, I found the initial trauma coaching course. I was so intrigued with what I was learning and discovering about myself.
I finally got the answers – I was dealing with the aftereffects of childhood trauma which resulted in Complex PTSD (PTSD because cptsd isn’t on the DSM 5 yet) I went on to study and continue my education in Complex PTSD, learning about neuroscience and physiology. This is where the body keeps the score. I also continued my education as a Christian Mental Health Coach and learned how childhood and adult trauma correlates to mental health challenges our nation is facing today.
Little did I realize God was setting me up to use my journey to save others and make an impactful difference. Through the healing I received, I was able to look at my trauma in a different way and use it as a benefit to help others who are struggling. Others who do not even know they have childhood or adult trauma but they just feel off or different. There is a tremendous demand for recovery.
What does it mean to be a PTSD/CPTSD Trauma Coach?
A Certified Complex Trauma Recovery Coach is a Mental Health Practitioner trained in working with clients with childhood & adult trauma otherwise known as Complex PTSD or CPTSD. With coaching, past traumas are acknowledged but we work in the present day. Clients experience an emotionally safe environment with a healthy connection and do not experience retraumatization. Coaches acknowledge with gentle curiosity, maladaptive (negative) coping mechanisms and unhealthy behaviors due to broken core beliefs from past traumas.
What are some of the biggest challenges you encounter during your sessions?
I bring authenticity to every single session. One of the aftereffects of my trauma is a damaged Pre-Frontal Cortex. I have a tendency to forget a question I was going to ask my client (I write them down now or try to remember) or forget a response. Sometimes it’s embarrassing. But being authentic and showing my flaws through vulnerability, creates a deeper connection for my client to see they are not alone.
What is the difference between Coaching and Therapy in your field?
Complex PTSD Coaches do not diagnose, cure, treat or prescribe medication. Complex PTSD/Trauma Coaching is not therapy, counseling, advice giving, mental healthcare, or treatment for substance abuse or any addictive behaviors and should not take the place of. However, we do work alongside licensed mental health professionals. Trauma Coaching is for people who have endured childhood or adult trauma and maybe struggling with the aftereffects. Most do not know they have aftereffects.
Clients struggle with emotion regulation, negative thinking/cognitive distortions, excessive nervousness, extreme sadness, mood swings/anger outbursts without realizing the cause, or who may have done some internal healing work and want to dig deeper to identify the connections of what is holding them back from healing today. Coaching clients take the lead every session. Coaching involves using the side-door approach with effective tools, brainstorming, goal setting with a plan of action, accountability, education, assignments, examining lifestyles and coping skills and responding to questions from the coach.
Trauma Recovery Coaching is different from Life or other types of coaching?
As Trauma Coaches, we have the life experiences and through those experiences, understand how the aftereffects of trauma affects us. Because trauma affects everyone differently, we like to explore looking at past traumas that are affecting clients in the present day. By identifying the root cause, it helps clients to make a distinct connection as a result of their trauma and see the environment may have played a role in your daily life.
Other types of coaching look only at the present/future with clients and will not help to uncover the root of the clients experiences. We do not use structured therapies, diagnose or assess mental health challenges or give advice on how a client should handle a certain situation. We do however discuss options, view experiences, use neuroscience and education for potential growth and understanding what happens in the physiological and psychological with trauma, goal setting, and helping to guide the client to see the best potential outcome for them. The coaching.client relationship is equal. No one is more superior than the other.
The client takes the lead. We as coaches choose to support clients always, without judgment for choices they make or do. We focus on positive changes with tools to manage daily life as a survivor who is healing.
How Is Trauma Recovery Coaching So Effective?
There are multiple reasons how Trauma Recovery Coaching is effective: Childhood trauma is a relational trauma, which means it happened in the context of relationships. The journey of healing and working through developmental trauma also happens in the context of relationships. The coaching relationship with the client is built around the client learning how to feel safe with another person. Complex Trauma survivors’ unconscious brain was programmed in a negative manner.
It’s learning to create new neuroplasticity to rewire and adapt to positive change while building safety within. Clients’ needs are met specifically and individually, not generally. Each client is recognized as having their own needs to be met and sessions are tailored to those needs and goals. We walk alongside our clients.
We work together, helping the client claim power and authority over the circumstances and speak their truth while learning to integrate principles into their life that are positive for healing. We work with the whole body; mind, body, and spirit. There is never a cookie cutter approach. Instead we listen to what the client needs and offer the benefit of education, experience, empathy, hope, encouragement and inspiration.
What is the most important detail in maintaining a relationship of mutual trust with clients?
Showing up each session, on time and being open and honest. Showing vulnerability over perfection creates a sense of trust and safety. This is essential to coaching as time is of the essence. So many have abandonment wounds and waiting can start bringing up deep wounds of shame, guilt, rejection that stems from their past. As coaches, we do everything in our power to be prompt, attentive, and attuned.
What do you love most about your profession?
There are a couple things actually. I love that I was able to turn my childhood trauma into making a difference in the lives of others. Using evil for good. Being the voice for the voiceless. Being chosen to walk alongside your client, helping them transform, as they help you transform too. Being able to relate without ever speaking a word. That’s the connection. Being that beckon of light that brings hope, inspiration and empowerment to others to show transformations do exist from trauma.
