How to Coach Yourself and Others Grief Coaching and Counseling | Page 23

8.--Try to find some deeper meaning in what happened to you.
True, you were victimized but you can become a
survivor. Survivors often find that changes in their
outlook on life are possible, even preferable. What have
you learned from your traumatic experience? Record
these insights in a journal or voice them in a support
group that is sympathetic to your situation.

9.-- Seek therapy.
Psychotherapy, particularly with a certified
EMDR practitioner who specializes in trauma,
is often very effective in helping people
overcome the aftermath of trauma. If you can’t
stop thinking about what happened; if you are
always feeling anxious and on guard; if you
find yourself avoiding your normal routines or
if you are experiencing some of the other
symptoms of post-traumatic stress, you can
probably benefit from professional help. The
EMDR International Association can give you
a referral to a certified EMDR practitioner in
your area (www.emdria.org), telephone (512)
451-5200. If you were a crime victim, most
states offer victims assistance to pay for
psychotherapy.

10.-- Be patient with yourself. Healing takes time.
Your recovery will have it’s ups and downs. Follow
the guidelines in this article and know that you are
in a recovery process that will take time.
Remember, you may have been victimized but you
do not have to continue being a victim. In this
unfortunate case you were rendered helpless but to
continue in that status is very limiting. By
following the steps outlined above, you will emerge
as a survivor. Your traumatic experience can make
you a stronger and wiser person. The potential is
there for you to learn and grow in ways you may
not have considered had the trauma never occurred.