Liz Chelak, LCSW, CCTSI, CRPS is a highly renowned therapist in West Palm Beach, licensed by the Florida Board of Social Work. Liz trained at Long Island University, Florida Atlantic University, and was certified in trauma therapy by the Arizona Trauma Institute. Liz specializes in childhood trauma therapy and is highly experienced in helping hundreds of clients heal from childhood trauma and live fulfilling and rewarding lives.
If you experienced childhood trauma, healing is possible in our safe, comfortable, and nonjudgmental office. Liz is the top-rated trauma therapist in West Palm Beach with not only the education and training in trauma therapy but the lived experience of healing from her traumatic past and creating a successful life and career utilizing empathy to help others. She has earned a reputation with her clients to be a caring, empathetic, relatable, and personable trauma therapist utilizing evidence-based interventions to help her clients heal from childhood trauma in a safe and comfortable environment.
Explore Online Therapy or In-Person Counseling for Childhood Trauma
How to Heal From Childhood Trauma?
Childhood trauma is one of the most common causes of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Symptoms of PTSD from childhood trauma include:- Repeated memories of the stressful event
- Repeated dreams of the stressful event
- Strong physical reaction when reminded of the event (heart pounding, sweating, trouble breathing)
- Trouble remembering parts of the event
- Strong negative feelings such as horror, shame, or guilt
- Feeling distant or cut off from other people
- Being superalert or hypervigilant
- Difficulty experiencing positive emotions
- Difficulty concentrating
- Trouble sleeping
- Engaging in risky behaviors
- Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)
- Rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT)
- Narrative exposure therapy (NET)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Embrace Healing The Power of Trust in Therapeutic Relationships
“In my experience, the most effective aspect of therapy is the therapeutic relationship. Establishing trust between a client and clinician is the first step to healing.”
What is Childhood Trauma?
Childhood trauma can result from any type of abuse, whether it be physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, or exposure to dangerous situations, domestic violence, natural disasters, or accidents. These traumatic experiences can have long-lasting effects on an individual’s mental and physical health and may manifest in a variety of symptoms later in life. It is important to seek the help of a qualified trauma therapist to address and work through these issues in a safe and supportive environment.
How to Treat Childhood Trauma in Adults?
Our therapists provide childhood trauma therapy for adults in West Palm Beach from a trauma-informed perspective. A qualified and experienced trauma therapist can provide an accurate assessment and diagnosis, create an individualized treatment plan, and provide a safe environment to process your childhood trauma and decrease trauma symptoms.How Does Childhood Trauma Affect the Brain?
Experiencing a traumatic event as a child has a profound effect on the brain. Trauma occurs when a memory of a distressing event becomes encoded in the brain with heightened emotional intensity. During this time an increased amount of cortisol is released in the brain. When cortisol levels are elevated for a prolonged period, it can have negative effects on the body. Some of the side effects of high levels of cortisol in the body include:- Suppressed immune function
- Increased blood sugar levels
- Decreased bone density
- Increased blood pressure
- Disruption of sleep and mood
- Impaired cognitive function
- Increased risk of depression and anxiety
How Childhood Trauma Affects Adulthood?
Childhood trauma in adults can have serious consequences on all areas of your life. Some symptoms of childhood trauma in adulthood include:- Depression
- Anxiety/ Panic Attacks
- Personality Disorders
- Mood disorders
- Nightmares
- Decrease in energy
- Memory Impairment
- Dissociation
- Narcissistic Disorder
How to Remember Childhood Trauma?
A common childhood trauma symptom is memory impairment. However, remembering your childhood trauma should only be done in a safe and supportive environment with an experienced childhood trauma therapist.How Can Childhood Trauma Affect Health?
Childhood trauma can have a significant on physical health. Traumatic experiences increase the levels of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Excessive stress hormones can cause physical symptoms such as:- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Immune system dysfunction
- Chronic pain
How to Recover From Childhood Trauma?
Through therapy for childhood trauma with an experienced trauma therapist, you can reduce your trauma symptoms. Our therapists provide childhood trauma therapy for adults in West Palm Beach, FL using evidenced-based interventions such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TFCBT), rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT), and narrative exposure therapy (NET).How to Know if You Have Childhood Trauma?
Here are some questions to find out if you have experienced childhood trauma.- Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often swear at you, insult you, put you down, or humiliate you? Or act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt?
- Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very push, grab, or physically injure you?
- Did an adult or person at least 5 years older than you ever touch or fondle you or have you sexually touch their body?
- Did you feel that no one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special? Or your family didn’t look out for each other, feel close to each other, or support each other?
- Did you often feel that you didn’t have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes, and had no one to protect you? Or our parents were too drunk or high to take care of you or take you to the doctor if you needed it?
- Were your parents ever separated or divorced?
- Was your mother or stepmother physically abused in any way?
- Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic or who used drugs?
- Was a household member depressed or mentally ill, or did a household member attempt suicide?
- Did a household member go to prison?
How to Find a Good Psychologist for Past Childhood Trauma?
When seeking a psychologist or therapist for childhood trauma, it’s important to find a therapist who is certified in trauma therapy and has experience working with adults who have experienced childhood trauma. Look for therapists in your area who specialize in trauma-focused therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and narrative exposure therapy (NET). Consider reading reviews or asking for recommendations from trusted sources to find a therapist who is a good fit for you.
What Kind of Therapist Do I Need for Childhood Trauma?
Healing childhood trauma requires a therapist who is trained and experienced in treating clients who have trauma. Overcoming childhood trauma is possible with a therapist who has the personal experience of going through traumatic experiences and healing through them.I have experienced complex childhood trauma have the personal experience of overcoming these challenges and creating a fulfilling life for myself. I would love to help you achieve the goals you set out for yourself. My experience allows me to have a deeper level of understanding and provide a more empathetic and relatable approach to therapy. I can offer valuable insights and perspectives from my personal experiences, while still maintaining a professional therapeutic relationship.
How Does Therapy Help Childhood Trauma?
Healing childhood trauma can help you:- Learn coping and regulation skills to overcome symptoms of trauma, depression, and anxiety
- Increase awareness of the effects of childhood trauma on your adult life
- Change negative beliefs that resulted from the trauma to improve self-esteem and confidence
- Process traumatic memories in a safe and controlled manner to reduce the emotional charge attached to the memories
- Develop stronger social skills to improve and build healthy relationships
How Long Does Therapy Take for Childhood Trauma?
A good trauma therapist will create an individualized treatment plan with you based on your personal goals and their professional assessment. The length of treatment depends on you and your therapist. Typically, trauma therapy begins with psychoeducation on trauma symptoms and assessment. In the next step, you will develop and practice regulation skills. The following phase involves processing trauma. Finally, you will begin to integrate the work you have done in sessions into your daily life.Is There an Effective Treatment for Childhood Trauma?
Our therapists have extensive experience helping their clients heal from childhood trauma. With effort and commitment to therapy, you, too, can overcome your childhood trauma, feel peace, and regain control of your emotions. After completing trauma therapy, you can feel more self-aware, be able to identify your triggers and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Ultimately, overcoming trauma can lead to a more fulfilling and satisfying life.How to Get Childhood Trauma Therapy?
To find effective trauma therapy, look for a therapist specializing in trauma therapy in your area. We utilize evidence-based interventions to help you heal from childhood trauma in West Palm Beach.What Therapy Is Best for Childhood Trauma?
The Trauma Therapy Center utilizes researched and proven interventions for childhood trauma trauma, such as TFCBT, REBT, EMDR, and NET.Should I See Therapy for Childhood Trauma?
You should seek therapy for childhood trauma if you experience trauma symptoms such as:- Flashbacks or unwanted memories of the traumatic memory
- Avoidance of triggers or reminders of the event
- Negative thoughts or beliefs about yourself, others, or the world
- Hypervigilance
- Difficulty sleeping or nightmares
- Irritability or anger
- Inability to feel positive emotions
- Feelings of depression or anxiety
- Substance use
What Are Evidence-Based Treatments for Childhood Trauma?
Healing childhood trauma is a multifaceted process, but change is possible. You can eliminate your depression, anxiety, feelings of emptiness, and negative beliefs by working with a trauma therapist. Our therapists utilize evidence-based treatments for childhood trauma, including:- Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TFCBT) is when the therapist helps you identify your negative beliefs and cognitive distortions and reframe your negative thoughts into positive beliefs.
- Rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) involves learning to identify irrational beliefs that are not serving you and implementing a thought pattern that cultivates acceptance.
- Narrative exposure therapy (NET) involves organizing traumatic memories and integrating them into memory without an emotional response.