Traumatic events evoke emotions like shock, flashbacks, and denial. Trauma therapy helps heal and cope with these emotions. Seeking professional support is crucial, as about 70% of adults experience trauma. It can result from abuse, accidents, disasters, grief, conflict, or witnessing violence. Trauma therapy, including cognitive-behavioral and EMDR therapy, offers hope and possibilities for healing. Therapists explain its benefits and considerations.
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Trauma: What Is It?
Trauma is a robust emotional response to a horrific event that can have lasting adverse effects on thoughts and daily functioning. It can result from abuse, combat, crime, accidents, or other impactful experiences. While not all trauma meets the criteria for diagnosable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), flashbacks and cortisol spikes often accompany unprocessed traumatic experiences.
Trauma Therapy: What Are They?
Trauma-focused therapy delves into a specific traumatic experience, examines its impact, and facilitates healing, according to Alfred Tabaks, L.P.C., a trauma specialist at Thriveworks in Arlington, Texas. Healing is unique to each individual, with trauma serving as a wound that eventually forms a scar. While the trauma may not wholly disappear, its influence diminishes over time as we learn to manage it. In cases of abuse or trauma caused by others, the focus may be on personal forgiveness rather than reconciliation, freeing oneself from pain. Therapy for trauma related to specific events may emphasize acceptance, recognizing that trauma can rewire the brain.
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Benefits Of Trauma Therapy
Individuals respond differently to trauma therapy. The goal is to promote safety, grounding, and relaxation by emphasizing breath, present focus, and body retraining (Klein). Trauma therapy helps process and cope with traumatic events, allowing individuals to confront them without overwhelming emotional reactions (Francis). The primary objective is to support healing, reduce stress levels, and minimize the impact of the trauma by aiding in the recovery process (Tabaks). Furthermore, the therapy equips individuals with coping skills to manage trauma-related emotions.