How Trauma Therapy Works

Encountering trauma is a widespread occurrence; approximately 60% of men and 50% of women undergo at least one traumatic event in their lifetimes. When the impact of trauma starts interfering with daily functioning, trauma therapy, a variant of talk therapy, can offer significant benefits.

When contemplating trauma therapy, it’s essential to understand its applicability to various types of trauma, what to anticipate from sessions with a trauma-informed therapist, and how to locate a properly trained practitioner. Moreover, not everyone who experiences trauma necessarily requires therapy, so it’s crucial to recognize signs indicating potential benefit from seeking help.

Above all, it’s vital to recognize that support is available. If past experiences are impeding your ability to lead a fulfilling life, trauma therapy has the potential to be transformative.

Trauma therapy, a subset of psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy), is specifically tailored to address the repercussions of traumatic events on individuals’ lives. Often referred to as trauma-focused therapy or trauma-informed care, it aids individuals in navigating and processing abusive, hazardous, frightening, or life-threatening experiences.

The witnessing or experiencing of trauma can have lasting effects on a person’s psychological and emotional well-being, potentially resulting in conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).1 Evidence-based treatment approaches encompass cognitive processing and behavioral therapies, prolonged and narrative exposure therapies, as well as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).

What Is Trauma Therapy?

Trauma therapy is dedicated to assisting individuals who have undergone past traumatic experiences or have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in managing and coping with their trauma.

When an individual experiences trauma, it activates heightened activity in a region of the brain known as the amygdala, which plays a crucial role in regulating emotions and processing memories. Research indicates that the amygdala may take longer to recover from intense trauma, resulting in heightened reactions to ordinary stimuli, even among individuals who appear to have recovered and do not develop PTSD.

Trauma therapists undergo specialized training in trauma and employ techniques and strategies aimed at helping individuals overcome the effects of traumatic events without causing further trauma.

Through trauma therapy, individuals can process their emotions surrounding traumatic events, learn to prioritize self-care, cultivate patience with themselves, and rediscover sources of enjoyment and fulfillment in life.

Feature Image by Holger Langmaier from Pixabay