Living means experiencing the good, bad, and everything in between. When good things happen, the natural response is happiness, gratitude, and fulfillment. When bad things the natural response is a swirl of negative emotions that can be severe and long-lasting and even traumatic in some cases. Anything from the loss of a loved one, partner violence, a car accident, or a natural disaster can be a distressing event. These events CAN cause trauma — an emotional response to bad events that can severely distort one’s mental health. We may feel isolated, irritable, deserted, and out of touch with life. When that happens consistently for more than one month, a therapist may diagnose PTSD, depending on the severity and frequency of your symptoms. Unfortunately, even though a traumatic incident may have occurred in the past, you may still feel or see the dark clouds on your horizon, no matter where you look. If this is the case, it may be time to consider trauma therapy and begin working with a trained trauma therapist.
Types of trauma therapy
There are different types and techniques of trauma therapy, each with its unique approach and training process that will be discussed here. They are Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT); Traumatic-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT); Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT); and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Your mental health provider will help you decide which trauma treatment plan is the most suitable. Sometimes, a combination of two trauma therapy types may make more sense, considering trauma exposure and the strength of symptoms.
If your mental health provider is not trained in any trauma therapy techniques, ask whether they use a trauma-informed lens in their treatment of your condition can be a good placeholder while you find a provider who does have training. That said, a trauma-informed lens does not replace trauma therapy, nor is it as effective as trauma training and facilitation of trauma treatment.
Is trauma therapy helpful?
The short answer is yes. studies like this one show the success rate of trauma therapy to be effective between 77% — 100%. But for trauma therapy, many would have lost out on living a regular, happy life. Trauma therapy offers a potent path to healing and reclaiming life again. Now, you may have heard this myth:
Trauma therapy is about dwelling on the past with no way forward.
That’s false. Because trauma therapy is about bravely processing a traumatic event, it can trigger the body’s ability to heal and cope in a way that almost nothing else does. Trauma therapy is treatment aimed at eliminating traumatization — and it works.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
CPT is a powerful tool that helps you identify negative beliefs and empowers you to move past them delivered over 12 sessions.
Here’s a breakdown of how CPT works (techniques):
-
Identifying Core Beliefs
Following a trauma, it’s natural to develop negative beliefs about what happened. These beliefs might sound like “I’m weak for allowing this to happen,” “The world is a dangerous place,” or “I’ll never feel safe again.” In CPT, your therapist will work collaboratively with you to identify these underlying beliefs.
-
Examining Negative Thoughts
Once you’ve identified your beliefs, the therapist will guide you in critically examining their accuracy and logic. For example, suppose you believe the assault was your fault because of your clothing. In that case, your therapist will assist you in exploring the reality of the situation – that the perpetrator is ultimately responsible for their actions.
-
Developing More Adaptive Beliefs
You can gradually develop more realistic and empowering beliefs by challenging unhelpful beliefs. For instance, you might replace “I’m weak” with “I’m a survivor,” or “The world is dangerous” with “I can take steps to stay safe.” This shift in perspective empowers you to take control of your life and rebuild your sense of safety.
CPT is a very collaborative process, meaning you and your therapist work together to understand your trauma and develop healthier coping mechanisms. CPT is generally delivered over 12 sessions and may last about three months. You may feel some mild or moderate discomfort when communicating about traumatic events. Don’t worry; those feelings do not linger, and you’ll likely get good at dealing with them.
Traumatic-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT)
Trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy is for children and adolescents. This therapy type has many of the same core elements as the adult one, including identifying trauma-related beliefs, challenging them, and encouraging the child to confront the event. Parents are also part of this process, learning and receiving actionable advice from the therapist that can help the child cope and heal from the trauma.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a widely used therapeutic approach for trauma recovery, focusing on identifying and challenging maladaptive thought patterns and behaviors. Through cognitive restructuring and exposure techniques, CBT helps individuals develop coping skills, regulate emotions, and reframe negative beliefs associated with trauma.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR):
EMDR is primarily an individual experience under the guidance of a trained therapist. Some people feel much better after a few sessions, while others may require more time. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (rapid eye movements, tapping) to help process and release the emotional burden associated with traumatic memories. During EMDR, you’ll metaphorically keep one foot in the room and one foot in the past, present, or future—where the trauma is. The bilateral stimulation is a mechanism to facilitate this. While researchers and therapists are not 100% sure how EMDR works, bilateral stimulation does facilitate the detaching from intense negative emotions and creation of a more neutral, or even positive perspective on the event.
Both trained and certified—people who have pursued advanced training beyond the basic training course—EMDR therapists will guide you throughout the process.
-
Targeting the Memory
During EMDR sessions, you’ll collaborate with your therapist to identify a specific traumatic memory and the associated emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations.
-
Bilateral Stimulation
This is the linchpin of EMDR. While focusing on the memory, your therapist will guide you through bilateral stimulation techniques. Bilateral stimulation activates both sides of the brain and allows you to process memories and emotions ‘stuck’ in the brain. This might involve following their visual cues (rapid eye movements), feeling taps on your hands (bilateral tapping), or auditory bilateral stimulation (EMDR music).
-
Processing and Integration
The bilateral stimulation is believed to activate a process similar to REM sleep, a stage of sleep where the brain consolidates memories and emotions. This can lead to the memory becoming less vivid and emotionally troublesome. As you process the memory, your therapist will help you develop more adaptive thoughts and beliefs about the experience.
What to Expect During Trauma Therapy
Most trauma treatment is done within 10-15 weeks through multiple sessions. The road to healing from trauma is a journey—an eventful one littered with intense emotions and a couple of setbacks to test your patience.
As a therapist who’s helped many on this journey, I always recommend two things:
● One, keep an open mind mind. Be willing to explore your traumatic experiences. Although it feels challenging at first, it certainly gets more manageable.
● Two, trust your therapist. They are there to guide you, and you must trust and accept that guidance for it to work. Never hesitate to ask your therapist questions.
Emdr therapy Austin
My life’s work is centered around treating trauma and anxiety. No matter where you live in Austin, Texas, you can receive therapy online. I have been trained in and am pursuing certification in EMDR, primarily due to the positive effects that have transpired when people use this treatment approach with me. Through EMDR, I have helped people reclaim hope and optimism, as well as peace.
If you or a family member is experiencing chronic trauma, please feel free to reach out here for a free consultation.
