Trauma can be a difficult experience to process and overcome. It can leave lasting effects on a person's mental health and wellbeing. Fortunately, there are a variety of therapies available to help people recover from trauma. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most common treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
It focuses on recognizing and changing problematic thought patterns, which can help change behavior patterns. Standard CBT normally takes 12 to 16 weeks. Designed for children and adolescents, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) works to improve a variety of trauma-related outcomes in young people. This treatment lasts between 8 and 25 sessions and involves both the child and a trusted caregiver or adult.
TF-CBT is one of the most effective trauma therapy methods available to help young people recover from PTSD. It also addresses other trauma-related challenges, such as anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is different from most talk therapies. It doesn't 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 therapy helps a person to “unwind” so their brain can go through its natural healing process. It is designed to help a person quickly resolve traumatic memories, and often can be completed in far fewer sessions than other talk therapies. Exposure therapy is another highly effective treatment for PTSD. In this type of therapy, mental health professionals will guide the patient as they talk about their problems, trauma, memory, and thoughts to help with a wide range of mental illnesses and emotional difficulties.
In addition to these more traditional therapies, there are also other subsets that may work better with certain types of trauma or problems than with others. Expressive arts therapy is one such approach that uses creative activities such as art, music, dance, or writing to help people process their emotions related to traumatic events. Trauma-based psychotherapy is another type of therapy that focuses on helping survivors recover from the effects of trauma. When seeking out a therapist for trauma recovery, it's important to find someone who will empower you and collaborate with you in your treatment rather than trying to impose control. Additionally, it's important to consider factors such as the patient's age, gender, developmental environment, medications, diversity, socioeconomic conditions, and more when determining which type of trauma-focused therapy is most appropriate for their traumatic symptoms. Behavioral health doctors may see an increase in demand for trauma-related therapies in the wake of COVID-19. Working with a therapist who is specifically trained or certified in one of these methods can help you resolve your trauma.
