What is trauma?

The term ‘trauma’ or ‘post-traumatic stress disorder’ is used to describe a range of psychological symptoms people may experience following a traumatic event. A traumatic event can take on any number of different forms including verbal, physical, emotional or sexual abuse, being neglected or abandoned in childhood or adolescence, war, rape or being the victim of violent crime.

Symptoms of trauma include:

• Sleeplessness
• Anxiety
• Repeated reliving of traumatic events without resolution
• Reoccurring relapses with no obvious triggers
• Flashbacks
• Depression
• Difficulty in starting or maintaining intimate relationships
• Bingeing on drugs, alcohol or food
• Physical symptoms such as headaches, irregular heartbeats and stomach pains

Am I experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Tabankulu Programme for Trauma Treatment

The programme for trauma treatment at Tabankulu provides integrated treatment for individuals suffering from trauma symptoms or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  The setting provides a place for the individual to process their experiences, either in childhood or adulthood, and break their silence and shame.  These individuals may also be chemically dependent and/or have coexisting psychiatric diagnoses.  If compulsive behaviors and unresolved trauma are not treated in the residential setting, they can often be the cause of relapse once an individual leaves treatment.

The main components in our programme are:

Shame Reduction:

• We find that our clients experiencing trauma always have a strong sense of shame.  The shame involved around trauma is often so great that individuals suffer in silence.  The goal of our programme is to break this silence and heal the shame that binds us.

Trauma Work:

• Tabankulu provides a safe haven to explore trauma.  Often times this can be overwhelming and for this reason we have very experienced counselors on duty 24 hours a day.

Meaningful Therapeutic Experience:

• The main component of Tabankulu treatment is daily group therapy.  Group therapy is a powerful tool to help clients begin to make connections and relationships that help them to identify and overcome the effects of the trauma in their lives.
• A Primary Counsellor specializing in trauma is assigned to each client, and will work on an individual basis with him or her throughout the course of his or her treatment.
• Our approach draws upon different psychotherapeutic techniques.  Our dedicated staff come from a range of different trainings.  Along with a psychodynamic approach we also draw upon cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT).

Education:

• Educational groups to think about new skills and the development of emotion tolerance

12 Step Foundation:

• The foundation of our programme is based upon the Twelve-Step philosophy which is a peer led free worldwide support system.  By linking our clients into this support group we ensure that they have access to an outside support system and a spiritual foundation for long-term recovery.

Healthy Lifestyle:

• Integrative therapies and activities that include art therapy, organic gardening, mindfulness meditation, yoga, Qi Gong, surfing, and caring for the horses on the property.  Clients have a chance to start truly living and enjoying life again within the beautiful and spiritual surroundings of the Cape Peninsula.