Struggling with trauma can take a toll on one’s life, leading to a number of mental and physical health problems. Fortunately, there are a number of treatments that are designed to heal the root of trauma.
There is no one single approach that makes the best treatment for trauma. However, most trauma therapies focus on processing the emotional distress related to the trauma and share similar treatment goals.
What Makes Trauma Therapy Special?
Trauma therapy focuses on the unique experiences and triggers of each patient. A good trauma therapist will learn the client’s story to help them build resilience. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for trauma because everyone may have different triggers or events that brought them to where they are.
Unlike typical talk therapies, trauma therapy may also incorporate somatic work to help process trauma stored in the body. This could include brain spotting, art therapy, yoga, or massage.
Types of Trauma Therapy
Therapies designed specifically for the treatment of trauma include Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).
EMDR
During EMDR, the licensed therapist will use bilateral stimulation of the brain through visual cues, sounds or tapping to make it easier to process the emotional distress. Patients in EMDR will use memory recall while making horizontal eye movements, this is thought to desensitize the negative stress associated with the traumatic memory.
ART
Accelerated Resolution also uses bilateral stimulation of the brain to work through trauma. Unlike EMDR, ART uses visualization rather than memory recall. It also focuses on implementing a positive memory to replace the negative one.
DBT
DBT focuses on five main skills to help patients overcome and manage their symptoms of trauma. These include being mindful, tolerating stress, regulating emotions, dialectical thinking, and managing relationships.
TF-CBT
Trauma-focused CBT is similar to standard CBT with a focus on helping the patient develop a sense of safety, trust and security after experiencing trauma. During trauma-focused CBT patients will learn to break negative thinking patterns that drive feelings of shame and guilt, relaxation exercises to decrease stress, and cognitive processing to help regulate emotions.
Goals of Trauma Therapy
Although trauma therapy is tailored to the unique needs of each patient, there are some general goals a trauma therapist may help patients achieve. Among these are:
Develop Positive Coping Skills
Building healthy coping skills is a key part of trauma therapy. Coping skills may look different for each person, but some common ones taught in trauma therapy could include:
- Deep breathing exercises
- Yoga
- Journaling
- Meditation
Recognizing Triggers
Identifying triggers is a core piece of trauma therapy. Triggers are anything that brings back memories of the trauma. They could be sights, smells, sounds, people, places, etc.
Regulate Emotions
Patients with trauma struggle with regulating emotions. During therapy, they will learn emotional awareness and relaxation exercises so their emotions don’t control their lives.
Improve Relationships
Patients with trauma may struggle with forming connections and maintaining healthy relationships. Trauma therapy will help individuals build back their sense of safety, trust and teach them how to navigate conflicts in relationships in a mature and healthy way.
How To Identify A Good Trauma Therapy Program?
Identifying a good trauma therapy program can feel overwhelming with all of the options that exist. Here are some things to look for in a good trauma therapy program:
- Develop and identify the client goals
- Psychoeducation and understanding the impact of trauma
- Stabilization and creating a safety plan for times of crisis
- Building healthy coping skills
- Trauma resolution
When To Seek Help
It’s important to seek help from a mental health professional if you have experienced trauma and are struggling to function. Maple Mountain Mental Health & Wellness Center has a compassionate team of trauma-informed therapists that are here to provide comprehensive support.
We understand the complex nature of trauma and offer trauma therapies such as EMDR, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, and Trauma- Focused CBT. Reach out to our Admissions team now.
