What Trauma Therapy is right for you?
By Jessica Anne Pressler LCSW
Trauma affects our mental health, our physical health, our relationships, our self-esteem, and how we perceive and react to the world around us. Trauma responses such as fight, flight, and freeze, are our body’s way to protect ourselves from danger and keep us safe. So, our bodies are acting the way they are supposed to when they feel danger. The problem is that our bodies may think they are in a dangerous situation when there is none. So instead of looking at our trauma responses as dysfunctional, I see them as potentially functional but at the wrong time. This can play out in many ways. In our relationships with others, we may find ourselves responding to them in a way that has nothing to do with them or the situation at hand, but everything to do with previous traumas, even ones we may not remember, like in our childhood. When we are triggered, we are initially feeling emotion, panic, for example, then our body responds to that emotion, often fight, flight, freeze, or fawn, and it is hard to think and reason when we are in that state of survival and the best therapy addresses this concept. It is important to learn to regulate one’s emotions and responses. For example, if a person is feeling anxious and is in a fight or flight mode, they may be taught breathing techniques or muscle tension techniques to get a person in a state where they can thinkand function in a healthy and productive manner.
All trauma therapies that I list strive to help trauma victims to process trauma, as well as the psychological and physical symptoms associated with trauma. This trauma can manifest from many sources such as interpersonal abuse, traumatic childhood, intergenerational trauma, medical trauma, natural disasters, physical and sexual abuse, war trauma, car accidents, and the death of a loved one. Trauma therapy can provide trauma survivors with the tools necessary for their healing journey and help improve their quality of life, relationships, and self-esteem. Listed below are several different types of trauma therapy that can be used to help individuals heal from trauma.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one type of trauma therapy that helps individuals recognize and change negative thoughts or behavior patterns that may be contributing to their trauma experience. CBT also focuses on helping individuals to develop healthy coping skills and gain insight into the trauma.
Somatic Experiencing (SE) is another form of trauma therapy that utilizes body awareness as a way for individuals to regulate physical responses such as an increased heart rate or excessive sweating to better manage their trauma experiences.
Somatic Trauma Healing with the guidance of a therapist or a Trauma Informed Therapist and Coach such as Caroline Strawson, a person can gain insight and heal trauma wounds, validate experience through mind, brain, and body using neuroscience, polyvagal theory, and nervous system regulation. I am attending her school and in the process of getting certified as an ICF and CPD Accredited Somatic Trauma Informed Coach.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is another type of trauma therapy that can be utilized in treatment plans. EMDR utilizes several techniques including cognitive restructuring, relaxation exercises, rapid eye movements, and positive imagery to help trauma survivors process traumatic experiences more easily. This treatment involves using a rhythmic left-right (bilateral) stimulation to help release emotions that have been repressed due to trauma.
Group therapy is also an option for those dealing with trauma, as it provides a supportive environment where individuals can discuss their traumatic experiences together while learning new coping skills from one another.
Art therapy is another form of trauma treatment that uses creative expression to help individuals better process trauma in a safe and therapeutic environment.
Exposure therapy and prolonged exposure therapy (PE) expose the client to their source of fear until they are no longer afraid of it. It is a behavioral treatment that targets learned behavior, usually avoidance, in response to situations or thoughts that cause anxiety or fear. An example can be a rape survivor who is afraid to date.
Exposure may be “in vivo exposure” which is in person, like visiting the place a person was assaulted, or going to a party if a person is afraid of crowds. Exposure may be imagined, where the person may imagine what they fear. Exposure may be “interceptive exposure” to help with a person’s bodily symptoms such as rapid heart rate when anxious, the therapist may try to induce the feared symptom in a controlled safe method and if a therapist is using prolonged exposure, they would expose a person by in vivo, interceptive or imagined for 8 to 15 session’s for about 90 minutes. (American Psychological Disorder: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Prolonged Exposure (PE))
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) CPT was developed by Patricia Resnick, PhD to help people who are “stuck” in their thoughts about the trauma(s) they experienced. The therapist will help their client confront their feared thoughts and memories that are associated with the traumatic event(s) and help change their maladaptive thoughts, for example “I am a bad person, so I deserve to be abused.
The techniques are structured; into 12 weekly sessions, that last around an hour. The sessions can be group, individual, in personor online. The client will be taught about PTSD and CPT, discuss symptoms, goals for treatment and how the client’s thoughts about their trauma impacts day to day experiences and emotions. The client is to become more aware of how they feel and think about their trauma and its effects. The client will be taught to question their thoughts and feelings and how they would like to think and feel about their trauma and then the therapist will discuss patterns and teach cognitive copings skills such as diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, self-monitoring to help the client become more aware and then attempt to regulate behavior, doing things that bring pleasure, and identifying negative thoughts and modify to see things in a more positive way.
Trauma focused cognitive behavior therapy (TF-CPT) This therapy is geared to help children and adolescents address and modify the false thoughts that guide them to unhealthy beliefs, and patterns of behaviors such as blaming themselves for being abused, and fear responses such as fight, flight, freeze and fawn. TF-CPT involves the parents or caregivers (that are not the abuser,) who participate in individual and joint therapy sessions.The parents and caregivers learn stress management, better communication, and healthy parenting and to address their feelings of the trauma the children and adolescents endured. The caregivers and children are both given education on the abuse and trauma, and taught relaxation techniques, emotional regulation, and better ways to cope with their thoughts. The therapist often has the children to create trauma narratives, creating exposure to the traumatic event(s), by writing, talking, drawing, and playing and the therapist helps the child and adolescence manage their fear responses and reduce avoidance behaviors. In the joint sessions, the parents/caregivers and children improve communication and discuss the trauma in a safe and healthy way. The therapist provides and safe place to discuss and guides them to provide safe situations to avoid abuseoutside of therapy.
Psychodynamic therapy examines the unconscious mind to make changes in the client’s behavior. Even painful thoughts and feelings that are associated with trauma that is repressed and can still affect their behavior. This therapy ideally will bring awareness to the client’s triggers, and emotional responses to triggers and learn new healthier ways to cope.
Hypnotherapy, Using hypnosis, the therapist guides the client into a deep state of relaxation and focused concentration and becomes more open to guided suggestions to reduce symptoms and assist in healing. Hypnotherapy is often used in conjunction with other therapies. Hypnotherapy can assist with relaxation, identifying triggers, reframing memories, and replacing painful triggers with feeling safe and in control.
No matter which type of trauma therapy is chosen for treatment plans, it is important for victims of trauma to seek out professional help to begin healing from their traumatic experiences. Trauma therapists are trained professionals who have experience helping trauma survivors work through their issues. With the right therapist, individuals can learn how best to manage their emotions related to the traumas they have experienced. By seeking out effective treatment options for processing traumatic experiences, individuals can begin the healing process and move forward with resilience. Support is key. NO judgment. Call 911 if there is an emergency. Call or text 988, which is the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Call National Suicidal Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 to talk to someone 24/7 if needed.
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The contents of this website; blog, video, articles, media, social media, book, and references, are ONLY for informational and entertainment purposes. It is NOT intended as a psychological service, diagnostic tool, medical treatment, personal advice, counseling, or determination of risk and should not be used as a substitute for treatment by psychological or medical services. Please seek consultation by an appropriate healthcare provider.
Call 911 if there is an emergency.
Call or text 988, which is the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline,
Call National Suicidal Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 to talk to someone 24/7 if needed. Call National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 to talk to someone 24/7 if needed.
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