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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Where do I start to treat trauma of repressed childhood molestation?

    Related Topics
    Addiction Mental Health Physical, Emotional & Sexual Abuse
    2 days ago, my mother told me a story that set of a trigger in my brain releasing one clear memory of abuse by a grandad when aged under 10. I have been a hardcore drug addict for over 20 years and I have been working on my addiction problems for many years. Today I am 9 days clean, I have told my family, they are in shock. I spent 24 solid hours crying and have finally slept and feel better. I have no desire to use. I'm just unsure. I've got a lot of issues to treat and did not expect this at all. What sort of professional would u suggest? I'm 39 years old. I already have CBT Therapy arranged for Thursday just trying to recover from addiction, will that suffice?
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    • Vivienne Colegrove
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    Vivienne Colegrove

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    I have been working in Eltham, Melbourne as a relationship and family counsellor for over twelve years. I draw on current theory and research about … View Profile

    It's really important that you are solid in your addiction recovery, as well as managing life day-to-day, before you are receiving treatment that directly targets trauma memory processing. It sounds like the CBT therapy for addition recovery may be a really good place to start. Once this is established, you may speak to that therapist about whether they think you are ready for therapy that helps you process trauma memories, and whether they are the best person to offer this. Evidence -based therapies that may help will include trauma-focussed CBT, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Where issues are more complex (that is, trauma has occurred at vulnerable periods of brain development and over time) you may wish to find a therapist who is experienced in working with complex trauma - this is where other therapies are integrated as needed to ensure that you can work through any other challenges that may have developed in response to the trauma. All the best with your recovery.

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