Many folks have had some form of traumatic experiences. There is an emerging body of thought that helping folks lessen the extent to which they see their trauma as the central component of their identity and is a part of enabling them to live their lives more fully.
Make no mistake. Addressing trauma is a critical part of helping people move forward. There are many helpful interventions including traditional talk therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Body Work and others. (Appropriate medications can also make a salubrious contribution.) Another important aspect is to have the trauma survivor engage in meaningful activities that are enjoyable and life giving. These can include an endless list of possibilities such as music, dance, volunteering, friendships and relationships. In other words, the myriad of ways a person can engage with the world. (People sometimes become isolative in their trauma and its aftereffects.)
The key point here is, yes, trauma is something the person has experienced. And, yet, it is not the entirety of their experience. They have had other experiences, some of them positive ones. Acknowledging and appreciating these is helpful and important.
At the health center where I work, many patients are interested in coming in and putting some energy into dialing down the effects of their past trauma. It takes some effort to do that. It also pays considerable dividends.