What Is a Trauma Coach?

A trauma coach is a life coach who specializes in trauma and healing. Trauma coaching supports clients who have suffered through something terrible and helps them begin rebuilding themselves to a state of resilience. A trauma coach holds space for clients who have been through a traumatic event to express their feelings and emotions and help them learn to cope. 

Trauma is a sensitive topic. It’s also more common than some people may realize. Many people have lived through some form of a traumatic event throughout their lifetime. 

Let’s take a closer look at what trauma is, the difference between a trauma coach and a therapist, and how you can become a trauma coach. 

What Is Trauma?

Trauma is the response that a person has to an event that is very stressful or intense. Trauma can have a lasting effect on your brain. Often, you are left overwhelmed after such an event and may not know how to cope with what has just happened.

Because trauma is a sensitive topic, many people never reach out for help after experiencing trauma and are left untreated. It can cause many issues. Some people can be left with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, flashbacks, and other mental problems.

People can experience both mental and physical symptoms from trauma. Some of these symptoms include:

• Jumpiness
• Nightmares
• Rapid heart rate
• Tense muscles
• Social withdrawal
• Guilt
• Emotional numbness or apathy
• Fear
• Behavioral changes
• Mood Swings
• DABDA (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Avoidance)

While these are common symptoms, people can experience trauma in many ways. So, let’s move on to discuss what a trauma coach is. 

What Is a Trauma Coach?

A trauma coach helps clients build resilience after experiencing a traumatic event or multiple events. A trauma coach has extensive knowledge of trauma’s stress on the human mind, body, and soul. 

With trauma coaching, clients can learn tools to overcome many symptoms of a trauma response. A trauma coach needs to be patient, compassionate, and able to listen and hold space for their clients to move past the issues and live a more fulfilled life.

A trauma coach is a non-clinical role, so let’s discuss the difference between a trauma coach and a therapist.

Trauma Coaching vs. Therapist

A trauma coach will give clients a space to discover their own coping strategies, values, strengths, and goals so that they can move on with their lives. A therapist works under the medical model of care and is qualified to treat trauma. A trauma coach does not treat trauma. They understand how a person with trauma may behave or think and can help facilitate change.

Sometimes, trauma is so deep that a therapist may be needed to treat the client’s trauma. People may have both a therapist and a trauma coach.

One of the key differences between the coach and the therapist is that a therapist may only be available on appointments. A trauma coach can typically be available to talk with someone in between sessions if necessary.

How To Become a Trauma Coach

To become a trauma coach, you don’t need any professional license or degree. However, considering trauma is a touchy topic for people, having a trauma coach certification will add to your credibility. Clients want a coach who understands trauma and the effects that it can have on a person’s body.

The Addictions Academy offers a certified trauma coach class that is nationally accredited. Our course will train you in all aspects of trauma as well as when you may need to refer someone to a medical professional. Take our certified trauma coach training today and become a well-informed trauma coach.