Trauma can be a difficult experience to process and heal from. Fortunately, there are a variety of therapies available to help people address their trauma and move forward in their lives. Talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy, is the most common form of therapy used to address trauma. This type of therapy provides patients with an opportunity to talk about their trauma and advance the healing process.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy that focuses on recognizing and changing problematic thought patterns in order to change behavior patterns. CBT typically requires a person to attend weekly appointments to learn skills that can be used to control their symptoms. In addition, they will practice these skills outside of sessions. Standard CBT normally takes 12 to 16 weeks. For children and adolescents, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is one of the most effective trauma therapy methods available.
This treatment lasts between 8 and 25 sessions and involves both the child and a trusted caregiver or adult. TF-CBT works to improve a variety of trauma-related outcomes in children, such as anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems. It also helps the caregiver or trusted adult ease their distress over the child's traumatic event and learn effective parenting skills. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is another type of therapy used to address trauma. Unlike other therapies, EMDR does not require a person to explain their trauma in detail.
Instead, the person will make eye movements or touch with their eyes while focusing on an image related to the trauma. EMDR helps a person quickly resolve traumatic memories and does not focus on changing trauma-related emotions, thoughts, or behaviors. Often, EMDR therapy can be completed in far fewer sessions than other talk therapies. In addition to talk therapy, there are other forms of therapy that can be used to address trauma. Writing therapy is one such option that can help shorten treatment time when combined with other therapies.
Trauma-centered therapy helps children redevelop their internal (emotional, psychological, relational) and physical (touch, environment) senses of safety through activities and discussions that focus on these areas. Meditation and yoga are also useful complementary therapies for people with PTSD. Rhythmical Entrainment Intervention (REI) is another form of therapy that can help people process traumatic events. In a series of 4 to 10 sessions, a trained therapist can teach you how to play certain rhythms in your hands, head, face and clavicles while actively reformulating your memories of a traumatic event. If you have suffered any type of trauma and want to seek treatment, it is important to find a therapist who specializes in this form of therapy. Working with a therapist who is specifically trained or certified in one of these methods can help you resolve your trauma.
For BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people, it is especially important to work with a therapist who is well-versed in the effects of discrimination, oppression, and inequality. These are some common forms of trauma that therapy can address; however, it's important to note that trauma can include any event or experience that causes emotional or psychological harm. As part of the therapy process, therapists can use creative strategies and activities to address the memories, emotions, or problem behaviors associated with traumatic experiences.
