Types of Trauma Treatment

When a person is scared or feels threatened by something they have seen or been involved in, refer to that as a trauma and our reactions to trauma may include unstable emotions and behaviour, nightmares, headaches, feeling unsafe and social withdrawal, all of which may impact out daily functioning.

As much as we would like to forget a particular traumatic event, the purpose of all trauma therapy is to integrate the traumatic event into your life, in that, when remembering the event, we can recall it like any other event (EG, your first day of school, a last family vacation or your first day at work) and not be overwhelmed by the memory.

Although there are various means to achieve this, here are the more common forms of trauma therapy. This list is certainly not exhaustive, but gives a good indication of the types to therapies you can expect. Each approach is described in its most pure form, but keep in mind that many therapists combine the different types of therapies.

Exposure THERAPY

In exposure therapy, one gradually faces one’s fears–for example, the memories of a traumatic event–without the feared consequence occurring. Often, this exposure results in the individual learning that the fear or negative emotion is unwarranted, which in turn allows the fear to decrease.

Exposure therapy has been found to reduce anxiety and depression, improve social adjustment, and organize the trauma memory. There are various forms of exposure therapy:

Imaginal exposure: This is an exposure technique where you imagine the trauma and describe it out loud. If you have been avoiding thoughts or memories related to the trauma you faced, this technique helps you confront them.

In vivo exposure:  It occurs outside the therapy session, in real-life situations. It is intended to help you gradually approach day-to-day situations you may avoid because of the trauma associated with them.

Systematic desensitization: The individual is exposed to successively more fear-inducing situations. This exposure is paired with relaxation techniques.

SOMATIC THERAPY

Traumatic memories are held in the body as well as the mind. Somatic therapy focuses on how the event physically impacts the body after the event. These physical reactions can resurface suddenly if you encounter a trigger or something that reminds you of a trauma.

Somatic therapy aims to “release” the trauma from the body by engaging in various physical movements or actions until the physical reaction no longer occurs. This technique helps to develop body awareness and grounding in your body.

PSYCHOTHERAPY

Also referred to as talk therapy, psychotherapy gives the patient an opportunity to speak about their trauma and work through the healing process. These include

Narrative therapy
Cognitive Processing Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Psycho-dynamic Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Schema Therapy

Strategies include; providing a written statement about the event, talking about why you are feeling the way you do, exploring your thoughts regarding the event, how it fits in or how it has changed your values, outlook, relationships and your thinking processes, insight into how childhood experiences or or your sub-conscious may view the events. The main aim in all of these is to gain insight and understanding into how your view the event and changing less helpful thoughts about it and implementing better thoughts, strategies and insights of how you view and react to the event.

Although some may question how talking about a traumatic event may help, research shows consistent evidence that not only helps people feel better, but it also helps modulate critical underlying biological processes, which basically means, the brain literally changes its structure to help with recovery and to function better.

EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING (EMDR)

An EMDR session follows a preset sequence or phases. Treatment involves the person mentally focusing on the traumatic experience or negative thought while visually tracking a moving light or the therapist’s moving finger. Auditory tones may also be used in some cases.

Debate regarding whether the eye movement is truly necessary but the treatment has been shown to be highly effective for the alleviation of symptoms of trauma and other distress.

HYPNOTHERAPY

There is no one guiding principal for hypnotherapy. In general, a hypnotherapist guides the individual in therapy into a hypnotic state, then engages the person in conversation or speaks to the person about certain key issue.

As stated previously, when dealing with trauma, psychologists often use various techniques to help aid recovery. So if you or someone you know has been struggling after experiencing a trauma, please contact us here at Prosper to start getting your life back on track.

PHARMACOTHERAPY

Pharmacotherapy is the use of medications to manage disruptive trauma reactions.

Taking medication does not make one’s trauma reactions and pain evaporate. Medications can only help make the symptoms less intense and more manageable. Research has shown that medications are most effective when individuals pursue other therapies concurrently.

The team at Prosper Health Collective are trained in many of the apporaches listed. If youa re looking for trauma treatment, contact us to find out more and get help today.