Writing Creatively in Therapy - Trauma: What Counselling Students Need to Know

In Episode 308 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly take us through this week's three topics:

Firstly in 'Ethical, Sustainable Practice', we look at grounding techniques for trauma.

Then in 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with Dr Jessica J. Clapham about writing creatively in therapy and its benefits to well-being.

And lastly in 'Student Services', Rory and Ken talk about trauma, and what to know as a counselling student.

Grounding Techniques for Trauma [starts at 03:43 mins]

Grounding techniques are an essential skill when working with clients affected by trauma. In this section, Rory and Ken discuss when we can put grounding techniques into action, and their impact:

What do you do when your client dissociates? This means your client is taken back to the past, this could be a traumatic event or conversation they have experienced.

Grounding techniques are a way to bring your client back to the here and now.

If you know a client might touch on something traumatic in a session, you can use grounding techniques before you start to help bring them into a more relaxed state.

Disclose to the client that they might experience dissociation when speaking about trauma - psychoeducation can be really helpful in normalising a client's responses to their trauma.

Take notice of body language and voice etc. to recognise when intervention might be necessary.

Look out for fight-or-flight, or shutdown in your client.

Be a regulating, calm influence within the therapy room.

There are six different grounding techniques that you can try with clients to find the most effective for them.

Teach a client these grounding techniques for trauma so that they know how to use them when needed - maybe suggest they practice them at home.

Writing Creatively in Therapy [starts at 26:01 mins]

In this week's 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with Dr Jessica J. Clapham about writing creatively in therapy and its benefits to well-being.

The key points of this discussion include:

Writing is a process that allows us to organise our thoughts and to record and recognise our feelings.

Clients can explore their own feelings in response to either a piece of poetry or an image.

It can help clients to access the subconscious and explore feelings they might find difficult to articulate.

Dr Clapham's group process usually follows these steps:

Identifying themes within a poem or image.

Exploring your feelings in writing, without caring about punctuation etc.

Juxtaposing - listening to other perspectives if people feel comfortable sharing.

Re-framing - put positive change into action in light of new information.

This exercise can help people to find their voice.

It places focus more on the journey than the destination.

Encourages clients to develop self-compassion.

Trauma: What Counselling Students Need to Know [starts at 44:18 mins]

Trauma is something that isn't focused on during the foundations of counselling studies, but during placement, it's possible you might come across it. In this section, Rory and Ken give an overview of the importance of gaining knowledge about trauma in the therapy room:

Simple things can trigger trauma for clients, it could be as simple as recounting a walk to work.

Learn how to recognise when trauma presents in clients.

Be aware of vicarious trauma - being exposed to a traumatic event, even second-hand, can take its toll on you.

Practising self-care is important, do your best to recognise when you might be experiencing vicarious trauma.

Utilise supervision and take any concerns to your supervisor.

Consider personal therapy if something comes up in a session with a client that triggers something for you.

Links and Resources

Trauma-Informed Grounding Techniques: Essential Tools for ...