What Can Adults Expect From Trauma Therapy?

Uncovering trauma is one of the hardest things to do, but it’s the first step to healing. Repressed childhood trauma can affect people well into their adulthood. This often manifests in the form of depression, anxiety, or unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Fortunately, there is a way to resolve trauma, and that’s through therapy. Trauma therapy is a form of psychotherapy designed to help people process traumatic events. With the right person, it can also help you manage the effects on your daily life.

Therapy can be different for everyone, but professionals go through the same steps. Here’s what to expect when you start working with a trauma therapist. Read on to find out more.

Find the Best Treatment Method

There are different types of therapy treatments under trauma therapy. Here are a few of them.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is a research backed, effective treatment for treating trauma and PTSD.  The method involves recalling a traumatic memory while moving your eyes back and forth or holding tappers.  This therapy helps desensitize traumatic memories and change negative beliefs and emotions related to them.

The goal of EMDR to help clients heal from traumatic events and find relief from symptoms. EMDR can be effective in as little as 6-10 sessions and is a powerful tool backed by research and approved by the department of Veteran Affairs.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy

Patients with PTSD  can benefit from Accelerated Resolution Therapy or ART.  After a traumatic event, you may develop automatic responses or physical symptoms.  iFor example, a patient may have nightmares or panic attacks when trauma is triggered.  

ART helps patients remove negative physical sensations related to traumatic events and re-conceptualize the event to heal and move on. Patients may experience relief in as little as 3 sessions. ART is a recognized and approved treatment by the Department of Veteran Affairs for PTSD.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

CBT helps patients identify attitudes and behaviors that may impact their lives after a traumatic event. Therapists help their patients learn positive attitudes to incorporate into their daily lives.

There are many more methods of trauma treatment. Your therapist will work with you to discover the treatment that is best suited for your needs.

Create a Safe Space

Trauma therapy can be difficult and painful. However, the beauty of therapy lies in that it can help you create a safe space to discuss your trauma. Before diving into the most painful memories of your life, your therapist will help you establish a sense of safety.

The goal is to help you regain a sense of control and confidence. Your therapist will also help you develop strategies and tools for building safe spaces outside of the office.

Cultivate Self-Care Skills

Therapy helps patients develop healthier habits to aid in their journey. People who have undergone trauma will have triggers. This can happen at any time and lead the patient to break down or take up unhealthy coping mechanisms.

With a trauma therapist, you can develop new self-care skills. Therapy can also teach you how to set healthy boundaries and when to take a break.

Uncover Trauma at Your Own Pace

Each patient has a treatment plan, but trauma therapy allows you to set the pace. Everyone’s journey is different, and many patients will feel like they’re back at square one.

If you’re not ready to talk about an experience, you don’t have to. You can even learn new skills and get emotional relief without processing trauma.

Trauma Therapy for Adults

Everyone deserves the chance at a better life. For some, it means healing from past traumas and building healthier habits and behaviors around them.

Our team can help you develop a custom trauma-focused therapy plan. Contact us today to learn more.