Corner Canyon Health Center's residential trauma treatment program is trauma-informed and trauma-focused, meaning that all elements of the program are designed to make the client feel emotionally and physically safe in addition to effective treatment. Along with trauma focused therapy and trauma informed therapy, Corner Canyon provides Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The setting, programming, and staff/client interactions are all implemented with the client’s physical and emotional comfort and safety in mind. Our trauma treatment center is completely non-punitive, meaning that clients are not written up or given a consequence for breaking rules, rather we process these kinds of behaviors clinically. We utilize Seeking Safety to establish an emotionally safe environment so that our Trauma Specific Modalities for trauma care at Corner Canyon Health Centers are effective.
Trauma is defined as any type of damage to the mind, body, and emotions as a result of an overwhelming, severely distressing event or events in life. Simple trauma is one event, and complex trauma is multiple episodes of trauma. Further studies of traumatic stress show that trauma is now representative of two types of trauma: “Big T” and “Small t” trauma. Before these were differentiated, trauma was only thought of as Big T trauma.
Little t Trauma: Little t traumas are not always life-threatening events, but are often events that exceed our emotional capacity. These events may include repetitive, non-isolated occurrences such as being bullied, called names, or humiliated. Little t trauma may also be tied to extremely stressful life events such as starting a new job, divorce, financial trouble, or having a child.
Big T Trauma: Big T traumas are significant, devastating, and often isolated incidents. These events may include natural disasters, sexual assault, car accidents, robbery, or war. Due to the distressing nature of these experiences, survivors can be left feeling helpless and experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
PTSD symptoms are different for everyone, but the most common symptoms include:
PTSD can be successfully treated at Corner Canyon’s inpatient trauma treatment center. Our clinicians are trained in multiple research-based treatments, and we have seen improvements among our patients through these treatment methods.
Corner Canyon Health Centers is an Inpatient EMDR treatment center that specializes in treating trauma with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Brainspotting, which builds on EMDR and shortens the therapy process. Brainspotting in addition to Brain Balancing, assesses problem areas and uses mild electrical stimulation to restore neurotransmitter communication between brain/brain and brain/body cells. EMDR and Brain-spotting, are most effective in an emotionally safe environment and facilitated by certified Therapists. EMDR therapy is an eight-phase treatment. Eye movements (or other bilateral stimulation) are used during one part of the session. After the clinician has determined which memory to target first, the therapist asks the client to hold different aspects of that event or thought in their mind and use their eyes to track the therapist’s hand as it moves back and forth across the client’s field of vision. This is believed to be connected with the biological mechanisms involved in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, which means internal associations arise and the clients begin to process the memory and disturbing feelings. In successful EMDR therapy, the meaning of painful events is transformed on an emotional level. Unlike traditional talk therapy, clients gain insight from their own accelerated intellectual and emotional process and not as much from clinician interpretation. The overall effect is that clients conclude the treatment feeling empowered by the very experiences that once debased them. As a natural outcome of the EMDR therapeutic process, the clients’ thoughts, feelings, and behavior are all indicators of emotional health and resolution.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is an evidence–based novel psychotherapy that fosters rapid recovery by reprogramming how the brain stores traumatic memories and imagery. The treatment program incorporates memory visualization techniques that are enhanced by the use of horizontal eye movements, as well as memory reconsolidation, a way in which new information is incorporated into existing memories. ART incorporates aspects of several treatment modalities, including EMDR, Gestalt, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and brief psychodynamic therapy (BPP). From these therapeutic frameworks. ART employs techniques like rapid eye movement, exposure, imagery rescripting, and guided imagery. Using these methods, ART practitioners can help change the way stress-inducing images are stored in the brain, reducing their negative physical and emotional effects.
Corner Canyon’s brain technology completely assesses the brain, and once problem areas are identified, structured and mild electrical impulses are delivered non-invasively to help heal the brain, develop healthy new neural pathways, and balance neurotransmitters, hormones, and other elements critical to optimal functioning. Clients with anxiety, depression, and other PTSD issues report significant improvement and restoration to more normal states. Clients are sleeping more and deeper within a week, it’s usually the first change they notice. Clients also report being able to focus more clearly on the information presented in programming, leading to better understanding and treatment outcomes.
SGB focuses on the part of a client’s sympathetic nervous system, the stellate ganglion, that regulates the physiological reactions like “Fight or Flight” people experience in response to trauma. Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) shots rapidly improve PTSD symptoms so that clients can access other treatment modalities more quickly and effectively and build skills to improve outcomes in trauma residential treatment. It also alleviates long term effects like flashbacks, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and inability to function normally.. SGB has been used for several years as treatment for complex pain symptoms that affect the head, face, neck and arms. The treatment is performed by a certified medical doctor, usually an anesthesiologist, using x-ray or ultrasound imaging to guide a needle into a bundle of nerves located near the base of the neck. A long acting anesthetic is then injected into the nerve tissue. The anesthetic effects of the procedure can last for several weeks or potentially longer. Current protocol is 2 shots, 6 weeks apart, with follow up shots as needed.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a therapy designed to help clients who have trauma, personality and mood disorders, and behavior patterns that are not helpful, such as substance abuse, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. This approach works by helping clients increase their cognitive and emotional regulation by observing triggers that lead to reactive states while helping them assess which coping skills to apply in the sequence of events, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors while avoiding negative reactions.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps change harmful attitudes and behaviors which can lead to addiction. CBT is goal-oriented, short-term, hands-on, and logical. The goal is to create healthy thinking and behavior patterns so that they become intuitive patterns in the client’s minds and bodies. CBT is a popular treatment because it is very short-term, but the results last a lifetime.
Psychodynamic Therapy is the therapeutic interpretation of emotional and mental processes. The primary goals of psychodynamic therapy are to enhance the client’s self-awareness and increase their understanding of their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs in relation to their past experiences, especially their experiences as a child (Haggerty, 2016). This is accomplished by the therapist guiding the client through the examination of unresolved conflicts and significant events in the client’s past, gaining an understanding of how these patterns came to be in order to deal with them. “In contrast [to behavioral therapy], dynamic psychotherapy, which facilitates a patient’s rewriting of his life narrative, his picture of himself, his past, present, and future, seems uniquely positioned to address the depth of a individual’s experience.” – Richard F. Summers
Group Therapy has been proven to be the most effective therapy intervention, followed by Family Therapy, and last by Individual Therapy. Corner Canyon Health Centers utilizes group therapy to effect change and help clients form lasting connections. The effectiveness of group therapy in the treatment of substance abuse can be attributed to the nature of addiction and several factors associated with it, including depression and anxiety, isolation, denial, shame, temporary cognitive impairment, and character pathology (personality disorder, structural deficits, or an unintegrated sense of self).
Our trauma informed residential treatment program is trauma-focused, meaning that all elements of the program are designed to make the client feel emotionally and physically safe in addition to effective treatment. The setting, programming, and staff/client interactions are all implemented with the client’s emotional comfort and safety in mind. Our trauma treatment center is completely non-punitive, meaning that clients are not written up or given a consequence for breaking rules, rather we process these kinds of behaviors clinically. Individual consequences may follow repeated rule violations, and will often be creative and strategic, designed by the therapists to address the specific behavior. We utilize trauma informed training to establish an emotionally safe environment so that our Trauma Specific Modalities for trauma care at Corner Canyon Health Centers are effective.
Corner Canyon maintains a safe physical and emotional environment, which is the first pillar of effective trauma treatment. The second pillar of effective trauma treatment at our trauma treatment center is Connection. Connection is our personal interest and investment in our clients. Our personnel not only provide trauma informed therapy, but also hang out, talk to, play with, and support each of our clients. This also includes teaching and modeling assertive communication to work through issues and concerns regarding trauma and other issues. If feedback is necessary, it is delivered gently and with care. The third pillar at our trauma treatment center is managing emotions. This skill is taught in addition to the therapeutic modalities that we use. Within our therapeutic modalities at our trauma treatment center, we do many skill building assignments such as assertive communications and practice managing emotions in interactions with others.
Trauma–Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy is a version of CBT that addresses the specific mental and emotional health needs of clients and their families who are struggling to manage the destructive effects of early trauma.
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy typically includes:
Corner Canyon uses multiple modalities to treat PTSD, including EMDR, Brainspotting, SGB shots for rapid relief of PTSD symptoms, experiential therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and Neuro Enhancement Brain Technology, a technology-based brain intervention designed to effectively treat PTSD symptoms in addition to many other problems without medications. Pre and post outcome studies indicate that clients with trauma symptoms experience a 51% reduction over the course of an average length of stay, this study was completed prior to adding SGB shots. Clients have reported better sleep with a significant reduction in nightmares, less anxiety and rumination, reduced startle reflex, and many other improvements in mental health. Through these methods, we are able to treat various types of trauma and achieve positive results, helping clients feel and function better and preparing them for rebuilding healthy and happy lives.
At Corner Canyon Health Centers, we’re here to help you manage and overcome your trauma with our residential trauma treatment programs. With the help of our experienced and knowledgeable staff, you will have the tools you need. Fill out this form to start your admissions process.