ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TRAUMA THERAPY
Experiencing trauma is uncommon. An estimated 60% of men and 50% of women experience at least one trauma in their lives - a big financial loss, loss of a loved one, life-threatening incident, abuse, sexual abuse, child abuse, homelessness, or other terrorizing events. Some people cope with their traumas over time and do their best to get back to their normal life, but many find it difficult to get pass that hurdle.
What Are the Symptoms of Trauma?
Everyone has a different response to a traumatic event. Some may show emotional signs such as sadness, denial, anger, shame, or fear. Physical symptoms like nausea, dizziness, changed sleep patterns, headaches, loss or increase of appetite, and gastrointestinal issues are also signs and symptoms of trauma.
While it’s considered normal to experience distress, trouble sleeping and mood changes directly after a traumatic event, if these symptoms persist longer than one month, trauma therapy should be considered.
What Is Trauma Counseling?
Trauma counseling is a form of therapy specifically focused on helping someone cope with the emotional response cause by a traumatic experience. Trauma therapy often aims to break through avoidance. Breaking through avoidance is important because many who have experienced trauma try not to think about what happened by pushing it out of their system. However, the more you push down a trauma, the less likely you will be able to tolerate your feelings associated with it when those memories surface. Revisiting the traumatic experience with a trained professional is a key part of trauma therapy.
There are different types of trauma therapy. The therapist will first assess your condition and cause of distress and then decide on a suitable type of trauma therapy for the treatment.
Types Of Trauma Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT often deals with patients that show certain behavioral issues because of the trauma. CBT is a talk therapy in which the therapist identifies the thought patterns that lead to negative behaviour and actions, and how they can correct their behaviour and thought process.
CBT deals with your current problem rather than focussing on issues from the past. It breaks down the problem into smaller parts and looks at practical ways to improve your condition.
Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)
NET is popularly used for patients with complex trauma (CPTSD). It was mainly developed to help refugees and torture survivors in 2005. While NET is mainly used in group sessions but therapists might also opt to use it on an individual basis. NET helps patients to fill in the missing puzzles in their stories and contextualize their stories more positively.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
PE is suitable who have been exposed to certain life-threatening trauma that has caused them extreme anxiety and fear when exposed to a similar situation. There are two aspects of prolonged exposure therapy. First, the patient is asked to discuss or explain the traumatic experience in as much detail as possible. The second is patient is slowly and gradually exposed to situations that trigger trauma and make them overcome their fear.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
CPT is a successful treatment method for reducing PTSD symptoms. Trauma patients usually believe that the trauma occurred because of their fault. The therapy helps the patient process their beliefs about why the trauma happened and how it contributes to these beliefs. The therapist will guide the patient on ways to take control of their thoughts and challenge their beliefs with the help of logical reasoning or proofs. CPT sessions are also conducted in group or individual sessions.
Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy (EMDR)
EMDR is a successful treatment method for Post Trauma Syndrome (PTSD). In EMDR, the patient revisits the trauma while being visually stimulated through a repetitive left and right eye movement or tapping sound. The primary goal of EMDR is to change the way the memories of the traumatic event are stored in memory and replace the negative emotions associated with the memory with positive ones.
How Does Trauma Therapy help?
Trauma instills fear which triggers when you are exposed to a similar situation. Therapy helps patients overcome their fears.
Therapy helps you gain confidence in yourself and gives you the belief that you can cope with certain situations.
Trauma affects your sense of safety and you feel that you are not safe around people. Therapy will reduce fear and improve your sense of safety.
Trauma alters your beliefs. Therapy helps challenge problematic thoughts.
Trauma therapy helps you validate your problematic feelings and give you the acceptance and understanding needed for healing.
How Can We Help?
Soul Space Therapy is a team of qualified and experienced mental health professionals. Specializing in different fields of mental health services, our team is driven by core values of integrity, compassion, and respect that is essential for mental healing. Feel free to explore our team of experts or contact us for more information.