What Can I Gain from an Online Support Group? Insights for Women Coping with Medical and Complex Trauma
You're a successful woman who has or continues to experience medical and/or complex trauma. You've heard of women's support groups before but you're so used to doing things on your own that you haven't taken the time to explore what support groups can offer. When you think about them, you have questions like "Will this really be helpful?" or "What can I gain from joining an online support group?"
Well, here's the thing: online women's support groups for medical and complex trauma connect you with other women who understand what you're going through. This can be a monumental concept after being dismissed by medical professionals, and maybe even friends and family. These online women's support groups offer a place to connect with people who just get it, even if they don't have the same diagnosis as you. This way you can gain the support and understanding you've been missing.
But it's not all about the connection. Women's support groups offer practical tools and information as well. So, in this blog, we'll discuss the specific ways an online support group can help you cope with medical and complex trauma.
You Will Have Access to Connection and Support
Connecting with people who have a similar diagnosis can be life-changing. It's not just about hearing someone say, "Me too!" It's also about being heard, seen, and understood. In a women's support group for medical or complex trauma, you can talk to other women who actually get it. These will be women who have been through invasive procedures, have experienced the dread and fear that can accompany a medical diagnosis, or have had to go through long periods of rehabilitation and recovery. You will no longer have to feel isolated and as if you are the only one going through it.
Tools to Use in Your Daily Life
In my women's support groups at Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, you will be provided with tools that you can use in your everyday life. These tools are informed by my years of experience as a medical trauma therapist in Washington, DC.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT tools are ones that are realistic for you and other women to use each week. With CBT, you can learn about how to reframe limiting beliefs, create positive thinking patterns, and challenge thoughts that keep you from living your life to the fullest. When you've gone through medical and complex trauma, it can be hard to see yourself as more than a patient. CBT can show you that with the right tools, you have the power to become your own advocate and take action within yourself and in your life.
Mindfulness and Visualization
Mindfulness tools are also beneficial as they can help you learn to be more present in the moment and in your body. Mindfulness and visualization help you become more aware of your breath, body, and emotions. This can be a powerful way to help you process your trauma while also calming your nervous system down.
When your nervous system is calm, you will be able to process your trauma with greater ease. Visualization can also be a great way to work through memories or patterns from the past that are still floating around in your mind. Visualizing yourself in a safe and peaceful place can help your mind and body realize they are no longer in danger.
Psychoeducation
At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, not only will you have a medical trauma therapist but also a therapist for women in Washington, DC leading the group. Making sure whoever is leading the support groups is knowledgeable about medical trauma is important. Through psychoeducation, the group leader can provide insights into how trauma affects your brain and nervous system.
This way you can understand why you experience certain reactions when triggered, which can be incredibly validating. The therapist leading the support group can also support each individual through their journey of healing and recovery. You will have the support of a trauma-informed therapist and other women who understand in one place.
Specialized Support
When you're in a women's support group for medical and complex trauma, you are going to be able to access specialized support. You will not only have access to a medical trauma therapist who is passionate about helping women heal, but you will also have your peers. These peers are women who are further along in the journey or have started off differently and have resources to share.
The benefit of a support group is sharing the knowledge and experience of everyone in it. You get to gain support from your peers who have faced a similar trauma, as well as from a mental trauma therapist, and learn from each perspective. Also, you get the chance to support other women who have been or are going through what you have. This is a powerful way to create meaningful connections and build relationships with other women in the group.
So, overall, online support groups are there to give you a chance to connect with other women who get it. You're able to do this alone but having the support of others who understand is invaluable. No longer will you have to feel isolated or feel dismissed by medical professionals. You will have a community of support and understanding, as well as tools to use in your daily life for coping with trauma.
Interested in Joining Online Women's Support Groups?
Gaining support when you have been through medical and complex trauma can help you feel so validated and heard. Your struggles are not invisible and you are in no way alone. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I created online women's support groups as a therapist for women in Washington, DC so women can come together and share their experiences. Medical and complex trauma is real and learning from each other can be life-changing. Follow the steps below to get started on your journey to healing.
Get to know me here.
Fill out our convenient online mental health services contact form.
Gain the support you deserve!
Other Mental Health Services Offered at Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women
You are highly successful but this doesn't mean that you have to do it alone. Having the support to validate your feelings surrounding your medical and/or complex trauma can be so beneficial. Hi, I'm Kelsey Bates! I specialize in women’s health, which means I offer several mental health services geared toward helping women cope with medical trauma. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I offer an array of therapeutic services for anxiety, depression, and PTSD in both Individual and Group counseling settings. I also specialize in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy in addition to CBT.