Various therapeutic methods address trauma, including exposure therapy and CBT. This article will explore how these techniques support healing.
Table of Contents
- Understanding Trauma
- Trauma Treatment Methods
- How Therapists Choose the Right Techniques for Treating Trauma
- What to Expect in Trauma Therapy
- Trauma Therapy at BlueCrest Counseling Services
- FAQs
Key Takeaways
- Trauma can come in different forms, but regardless of the type, it can interfere with daily functioning and reduce quality of life.
- Fortunately, trauma-focused therapy exists, with popular methods including CBT, EMDR, and somatic therapy.
- Mental health professionals will determine the best treatment approach based on the client’s symptoms, the source of trauma, co-occurring disorders, and the treatment stage.
- The healing process is typically gradual, and setbacks may occur, but most patients experience positive outcomes in the long run.
Introduction
Trauma can take a considerable toll on a person’s life, impacting relationships and making it difficult to function. It can be difficult to find the right treatment given its impact on the brain and body, but healing is possible with evidence-based trauma-informed techniques.
Common treatments include exposure therapy, which allows people to process traumatic memories in a safe space, so they don’t feel as overwhelming, and cognitive behavioral therapy, which addresses negative thought processes aligned with traumatic experiences. This article will review the options to help you make an informed decision.
Understanding Trauma
According to the mental health specialty group Ambitions, around 70% of adults in the United States have experienced at least one traumatic event, but not everyone will develop lasting effects; approximately 6% of U.S. adults may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Various incidents can cause trauma, and it can manifest in different ways as follows. The most common trauma disorders include:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Typically tied to one incident or multiple traumatic events, such as an accident, natural disaster, or war, individuals with this condition may experience nightmares, intrusion, avoidance, hyperarousal, and negative cognition.
- Complex Trauma Disorder: Related to ongoing trauma like neglect and sexual abuse. Individuals with this disorder experience all PTSD symptoms as well as shame, dysregulation, and relationship disturbances.
Trauma is difficult to fight because it causes changes in the body. It primarily affects the amygdala, a key player in the fight-or-flight response. It also impacts the nervous system, putting the person in a constant state of alert.
In normal circumstances, the amygdala ‘turns off’ when a threat passes. With trauma, the switch is permanently activated, leading to hyperarousal. In addition to impacting a person’s mental health, it can also cause physical symptoms like chronic pain, shortness of breath, muscle tension, a racing heart, sleep disruption, and fatigue.
Trauma Treatment Methods
Though difficult to fight, trauma-informed care is available. Various mental health therapy methods have been developed, as follows:
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR Therapy)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma therapy developed by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987, which helps clients process and release traumatic memories through eye movements. EMDR therapy follows eight phases, including history taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation, focusing on building coping skills before processing traumatic memories.
This therapy is built on the theory that trauma exists because the brain never fully processed the trauma memory. It requires patients to recall traumatic events while experiencing bilateral stimulation, typically guided eye movements, to allow the brain to process the memory in a soothing state. With this approach, the memory becomes less traumatizing.
Recent advancements in EMDR include integrating techniques for early trauma exploration and affect regulation, which help address complex trauma and enhance the therapy’s effectiveness.
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
CBT operates on the principle that trauma rewires how a person thinks. It addresses irrational beliefs that stem from trauma, such as thinking you are permanently broken or ashamed, and teaches clients that these thought processes are unfounded. The therapy helps individuals develop coping mechanisms to manage emotions in a healthy way.
Somatic Therapy
Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-centered approach that treats trauma as a blockage in the nervous system, helping clients release stored “survival energy” through physical sensations. It helps clients understand and release intense emotions, improving mental health and relieving chronic pain by developing body awareness and grounding techniques, which help manage acute distress and anxiety by using the five senses to stay in the present moment. Recent advancements in somatic therapy include integrating neuroplasticity techniques, such as body-based exercises that target neural pathways and help clients regulate their nervous systems more efficiently.
Other Therapies Less Commonly Used
These additional mental health treatments include:
- CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy): Challenges trauma-related beliefs
- Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET): Constructing a coherent life narrative
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Informed trauma work to promote emotional regulation for complex trauma
- Prolonged Exposure (PE): The systematic reduction of avoidance behaviors
- Art and music therapy: Supports healing from trauma by allowing individuals to express emotions and process experiences through creative outlets.
- Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART): Recognized as an evidence-based treatment for trauma-related disorders, aiming to help clients reprogram how their brain stores traumatic memories in just a few sessions.
- The Container Method: Involves visualizing a container to store distressing memories or emotions until the individual is ready to process them safely.
How Therapists Choose the Right Techniques for Treating Trauma
Mental health professionals typically take a careful approach in assessing trauma-related symptoms to ensure effective, personalized treatment. They will assess the following factors:
- Trauma history: The therapist will consider what caused the traumatic event to determine the root of the condition.
- Trauma symptom profile: Treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms, including anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping, muscle tension, etc.
- Co-occurring conditions: Posttraumatic stress disorder and complex trauma may co-occur and may be tied to other conditions like anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. These can add complexity to the treatment approach, requiring a specialized approach.
- Stage-based treatment: Treatment typically follows a pattern that moves from stabilization to processing to integration. Therapists will ensure they meet clients where they’re at.
What to Expect in Trauma Therapy
You may wonder what the trauma therapy process involves. The following section offers an idea of what to expect:
- First Sessions: The first meetings include a thorough assessment of the person’s mental health issues, ensuring safety, and building a rapport between the individual and a qualified trauma therapist.
- Gradual Improvements, Not Always Linear: Clients can expect to see gradual improvements rather than traumatic breakthroughs, as therapists don’t want them to become overwhelmed or shut down. While progress may be experienced, including reduced triggers, better relationships, and improved sleep, setbacks often occur, and trauma can worsen before it improves.
- Duration: There is no set duration for treatment. Individuals with PTSD may feel better after 8-12 sessions, while complex trauma may require longer-term treatment. However, everyone is different.
Trauma Therapy at BlueCrest Counseling Services
BlueCrest Counseling is committed to helping trauma survivors lead fulfilling lives. We offer comprehensive assessments to ensure a personalized approach, and a wide range of treatments, that lead to long-term recovery. Our specialized dual diagnosis therapy addresses co-occurring disorders, such as substance abuse combined with trauma, leading to optimal wellness.
Contact us to learn more about our trauma-informed therapy.
FAQs
What is the most effective therapy for trauma?
While there is no single most effective therapy for trauma, a National Library of Health study reveals that CBT and EMDR typically rank among the top treatments in a trauma-informed approach. However, results can differ from person to person.
Can I do trauma therapy if I also struggle with addiction?
Yes, trauma is often tied to addiction, and you can absolutely get care for both simultaneously. Counselors will typically recommend detox to break the physical bonds of dependency issues. Then they wil apply trauma-informed treatment to address the underlying cause of drug abuse.
Can trauma therapy make things worse before they get better?
Yes, trauma therapy often makes things worse before they get better because they bring traumatic memories to the surface. However, over time, these memories become less overwhelming and are easier to deal with.
Sources
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.” https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
- World Health Organization. “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.” https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/post-traumatic-stress-disorder
- American Psychological Association. “Women who experience trauma are twice as likely as men to develop PTSD.” https://www.apa.org
- EMDR International Association. “Recent Research on EMDR Therapy.” https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/recent-research-about-emdr/
- National Center for PTSD, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.ptsd.va.gov
- NIH/PMC. “Efficacy of Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for Patients with PTSD: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4125321/
- NIH/PMC. “Adverse Childhood Experiences and Chiropractors: A Call to Awareness.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10426155/
- NIH/PMC. “How Does Trauma Make You Sick?” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10815910/
- OBM Neurobiology. “TF-CBT and Other Promising Practices in the Treatment of PTSD in Children and Adolescents.” https://www.lidsen.com/journals/neurobiology/neurobiology-06-04-146
- Psychiatric Services / APA Publishing. “Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children and Adolescents: Assessing the Evidence.” https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ps.201300255
- SAMHSA. 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). https://www.samhsa.gov/data/
