Repairing what has fallen inside
Trauma treatment
Trauma leaves traces not only in memories, but also in the body and the nervous system. It can affect how you think, feel, and react in daily life.
Many people develop ways to deal with that pain; for example, by suppressing emotions, working excessively, using substances, or withdrawing. At Affect2U, we help clients process the underlying experiences and patterns step by step, so that recovery becomes possible. As a private treatment centre for trauma and addiction, we offer trauma care in Belgium from our clinic in Vosselaar, near Antwerp, alongside programmes in South Africa. A programme can be residential or outpatient, and it always begins with an intake, without a waiting list.
Types of trauma
What is trauma?
Trauma is not only what happens, but above all what happens inside as a result of an event. Some experiences are so overwhelming that the nervous system is unable to fully process them. As a result, the body continues to react as if the danger is still present.
There are different forms of trauma, including:
- shock trauma (a major event)
- developmental trauma (repeated experiences in childhood)
- generational trauma (patterns that are passed down from generation to generation)
Childhood trauma and developmental trauma often carry on into adult life. You do not always notice it in your memories, but you do notice it in how quickly you tense up, how hard it is to set boundaries, or how you handle closeness. At Affect2U we support adults in recognising and working through those patterns.
Recognize the signals
How can trauma manifest itself?
Unprocessed trauma can manifest itself in various ways, for example through: anxiety or panic, depressive feelings, burnout or chronic stress, addiction or compulsive behavior, emotional dysregulation and relationship problems.
People often develop coping strategies to deal with these feelings, but these can reinforce the problem in the long term.
A combination of treatments
How does trauma treatment at Affect2U work?
Our trauma treatment combines various forms of therapy to support both the mind and the nervous system.
We work with, among others:
- cognitive behavioural therapy
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- body-oriented therapy
- trauma-focused psychotherapy
This combination of top-down and bottom-up therapies helps clients to process trauma safely and sustainably.
Treatment can include individual therapy, group sessions, family counselling and residential programmes.
Every programme begins with an intake. Together we look at what is going on and draw up a treatment plan that suits you: a residential admission from 28 days, or outpatient counselling if you can stay at home and at work. A multidisciplinary team follows that plan with you: psychologists, therapists and experts by experience, each looking at your recovery from their own angle.
Take the first step
What can trauma treatment bring you?
With the right guidance, people can experience stability again step by step, such as:
- less intense trauma symptoms
- better emotion regulation
- more inner peace
- more confidence in yourself and others
- a greater sense of safety in the body
After a residential programme, the support does not stop. With aftercare and relapse prevention you hold on to what you have built, so that recovery becomes something you carry into everyday life.
