Trauma Therapy
What is trauma?
A common definition of trauma is “when we experience very stressful, frightening or distressing events that are difficult to cope with or out of our control. It could be one incident, or an ongoing event that happens over a long period of time.” There is what is called big “T” and little “t” trauma. Big “T” trauma includes what is stereotypically considered trauma, such as major life threatening events, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, experiencing a natural disaster, war, or experiencing or witnessing a violent crime. Little “t” trauma are not the things that are typically thought of when we think of trauma, but still have a negative impact such as chronic stress, bullying, emotional neglect, or witnessing a car accident. Both little and big trauma have a negative impact on one’s wellbeing. But some key differences include severity and impact. Big “T” are often life threatening and more severe. The impact is also more immediate and more symptoms.
How does someone respond to trauma?
There are many responses to trauma. Some emotional reactions include, anxiety including panic attacks, fear, numbness, dissociation, detachment, anger, irritation, rage, guilt, shame, self-blame, sadness, grief, and/or depression. Some physical reactions include hypervigilance or heightened sensitivity to stimuli, difficulty sleeping or nightmares, changes in appetite or weight, physical pain or aches, and/or fatigue or exhaustion. Some cognitive or mental reactions include confusion or difficulty concentrating, memory problems or flashbacks, difficulty making decisions or taking action, avoidance of thoughts or feelings related to the trauma, and/or intrusive thoughts or images. Some behavioral reactions include withdrawal from social activities or relationships, substance use or other unhealthy coping mechanisms, changes in sleeping or eating patterns, difficulty trusting others or forming new relationships, and/or increased aggression or impulsivity. These responses vary on the person and situation. Depending on the responses and mental health disorder could develop including but not limited to depression, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Just because one experiences some of these responses after a traumatic event, it doesn’t mean it will develop into a mental health disorder.
What is trauma therapy?
Trauma-informed therapy is a type of psychotherapy that recognizes and responds to the impact of trauma on an individual's life. It is based on the understanding that traumatic experiences can have profound and lasting effects on a person's mental, emotional, and physical well-being. So what does that mean? Short answer…it means therapy that takes into account the trauma someone has experienced. Long answer…it includes a deep understanding of trauma on the individual, family, couple, and societal level. It creates a safe and supportive environment for healing to take place while empowering the client. It focuses on strengths and resilience of the client while avoiding re-traumatization.
Types of Trauma Therapy
There are many times of trauma therapy. Some include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Focuses on identifying and changing negative thoughts and behaviors associated with trauma.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Uses eye movements or other bilateral stimulation to help process and desensitize traumatic memories.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PET): Involves gradually exposing individuals to trauma-related stimuli in a safe and controlled environment.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Teaches skills for managing emotions, improving interpersonal relationships, and developing distress tolerance.
Somatic Therapy: Focuses on the body's experience of trauma and uses techniques such as mindfulness and movement to facilitate healing.
Internal Family Systems (IFS): Views the individual as a system of different parts, and helps them integrate the traumatized parts into a more cohesive self.
Narrative Therapy: Helps individuals make sense of their trauma by constructing a narrative that gives meaning to their experiences.
Psychodynamic Therapy: Explores the unconscious motivations and conflicts underlying trauma and helps individuals resolve them.
Brainspotting: It is based on the premise that the brain stores traumatic memories in specific eye positions
Other Therapies: Hypnotherapy, acupuncture, yoga, and other complementary therapies may be used in conjunction with traditional trauma therapies.
*This is not an exhaustive list, but gives a general overview.
My Approach to Trauma Therapy
I take things slow when it comes to trauma therapy. First, focusing on building the therapeutic relationship, because if you can’t trust me there’s no way you’ll feel comfortable processing through your trauma with me. I meet you where you are. I also will not make you tell me your trauma as I believe that we can work on trauma without you telling your story and re-living the traumatic experience over again.
I conceptualize cases through a CBT lens so there’s lots of CBT interventions but will borrow interventions from different theories and modalities as needed to meet my clients’ needs. For example, I might utilize mindfulness or narrative therapies if I think it would be beneficial for the client. I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) so I have the training to treat trauma clients.
Please reach out with additional questions regarding my therapeutic style and approach to trauma therapy. Take advantage of the free 15 minute consultation!