Trauma Therapy

Trauma therapy is designed to assist individuals in managing the emotional aftermath of experiencing a traumatic event.

According to Kelly Workman, PsyD, a psychologist at Columbia University Medical Center with a focus on trauma treatment, more than half of the population will encounter at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Trauma encompasses a variety of experiences, including severe injury, sexual violence, life-threatening situations, prolonged abuse and neglect, experiencing bullying, and facing homelessness.

Types of Trauma Therapy

Several therapeutic approaches are available for treating trauma, according to Kelly Workman, PsyD, a psychologist specializing in trauma at Columbia University Medical Center. These therapies are designed to help individuals overcome trauma-related challenges and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD):

• Prolonged Exposure (PE): Involves gradual exposure to the fear source until the fear diminishes.
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): Aims to re-frame negative thoughts and beliefs stemming from the trauma, suitable for both individual and group sessions.
• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): Targets children and adolescents, addressing maladaptive beliefs and behaviours.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Uses bilateral stimulation to help process and release trauma-related emotions.

PE and CPT are considered highly effective first-choice treatments for trauma, with substantial research supporting their efficacy. These therapies can significantly reduce the duration of suffering associated with trauma, with potential completion within three to four months. They are effective both in-person and online.

CPT has the added benefit of being adaptable for individuals who may not recall their trauma or wish to discuss it. TF-CBT and EMDR also offer significant relief from PTSD symptoms, enhancing overall well-being and life quality.

Techniques

The methods for addressing trauma vary with each therapeutic approach, as highlighted by Kelly Workman. Here are some techniques therapists might use:

• Imaginal Exposure: Involves visualizing the traumatic event and narrating it to your therapist, aimed at those who avoid thoughts or memories of their trauma.
• In Vivo Exposure: Another form of exposure therapy that takes place in real-world settings, designed to encourage you to face everyday situations you've been avoiding due to trauma.
• Written Account: You might be asked to write a detailed narrative of your traumatic experience.
• Impact Statement: A technique used in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), where you write a statement detailing your thoughts on the causes and effects of the trauma on your life.
• Cognitive Restructuring Strategies: Part of CPT, this involves altering negative thoughts into more positive, constructive ones.
  
  

What Trauma Therapy can help with?

Trauma therapy is designed to aid individuals in managing the effects of trauma, which can stem from singular events or prolonged situations. It's crucial to recognize that trauma encompasses any incident or experience that leads to emotional or psychological distress.

Here are several common types of trauma that therapy can help address, though it's important to remember that trauma can arise from a wide range of experiences:

• Abuse
• Abandonment
• Accidents
• Bullying
• Crime
• Death of a loved one
• Divorce
• Domestic abuse or violence
• Homelessness
• Illness
• Imprisonment
• Injury
• Job loss
• Life-threatening situations
• Natural disasters
• Near-death experiences
• Neglect
• Racism
• Sexual assault
• Terrorism
• Violence
• Witnessing traumatic events such as accidents, death, or violence

Benefits of Trauma Therapy 

Trauma therapy offers a pathway to process and heal from traumatic experiences, providing various benefits for emotional and mental well-being. Here are some key advantages of engaging in trauma therapy:

• Reduce Fear and Avoidance: Trauma often leads to fear and avoidance of reminders of the traumatic event, hindering daily functioning. For example, someone involved in a car accident might avoid driving or feel scared to be in cars. Therapy helps confront these memories and reduce fears.
  
  
• Improve Coping Skills: Trauma therapy can bolster your coping mechanisms. Workman notes that trauma and PTSD symptoms can persist due to beliefs like feeling incapable of handling the situation. Therapy aims to build confidence and provide effective coping strategies.
  
  
• Build Trust: Traumatic events can erode your sense of safety and trust in others. Therapy assists in overcoming generalized distrust, encouraging a more nuanced view of trust and safety based on current experiences rather than past traumas.
  
  
• Challenge Problematic Beliefs: Therapy offers a space to address and reframe harmful thought patterns about oneself and the world. By examining and questioning these beliefs, individuals can adopt a more balanced perspective, reducing feelings of shame and guilt associated with the trauma.
  
  
• Offer Validation: For those whose trauma has been minimized or dismissed, therapy provides a validating environment that acknowledges and accepts their experiences. This acceptance is crucial for beginning the healing process and moving towards recovery

Through these therapeutic benefits, individuals can navigate the complexities of their trauma, enabling them to lead more fulfilling and functional lives.

Effectiveness

Research supports the efficacy of trauma-focused therapies such as Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A 2018 study highlighted that therapies addressing the memories, thoughts, and emotions linked to traumatic events can effectively manage PTSD symptoms. Additionally, a 2017 study observed significant improvements in PTSD symptoms among veterans undergoing trauma management therapy, with reductions in anger, guilt, depression, sleep difficulties, and social withdrawal, lasting even six months post-treatment.

Things to Consider

When considering trauma therapy, Workman points out several factors to evaluate a person's readiness:

• Commitment Level: A full commitment to undergo and complete the therapy is crucial, as discontinuing prematurely may worsen PTSD symptoms and reinforce negative patterns.
  
  
• Suicide Risk: Individuals should have no history of suicide attempts or self-harm in the recent two months. For those at high risk, combining PE with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is recommended, prioritizing safety and addressing suicidal or self-harm tendencies before tackling trauma directly.
  
  
• Coping Skills: Effective management of intense emotions during therapy requires robust coping skills, crucial for navigating exposure therapy without resorting to unhealthy mechanisms like substance abuse or withdrawal.

How to Get Started?

To begin treatment for trauma, seek a healthcare professional—such as a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist—who has expertise in trauma therapy.

If you're already under the care of a mental health professional, they can often refer you to a trauma specialist. Veterans may find specific resources and therapy options through local and national organizations dedicated to trauma and PTSD. When contacting a trauma treatment specialist, be prepared to discuss your medical history, current medications, and insurance details. They will evaluate your situation to decide if trauma therapy suits you and identify the most effective treatment approach.

Together with your mental healthcare provider, you can set therapy goals and develop a personalized treatment plan.

A Word From EaseCARE

Feeling shocked or in denial after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event is common, along with physical symptoms like headaches and nausea, or emotional responses such as flashbacks and mood swings.

If these symptoms overwhelm you or impair your daily life, consider trauma therapy. It offers a path to process your experiences, confront fears, and learn coping mechanisms, enabling you to lead a fulfilling life despite past trauma.