3 Ways to Overcome Trauma
There are a variety of ways a therapist can help you overcome the hardest parts of trauma. Research supports each option in differing ways. Keep reading to see if one of these options sounds right for you.
Trauma Focused- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for children and adolescents
TF-CBT has five core elements: psychoeducation, coping strategies, gradual exposure, cognitive processing, and caregiver participation (parent training/conjoint sessions). The central focus is to help children and adolescents better manage trauma-related distress and emotional reactions. Gradual exposure may include creating a trauma narrative, which is intended to reduce distress and resolve unhelpful thoughts. Incorporating a parent/guardian (or other safe adult) can help the child feel even more supported, safe, and increase their overall well-being.
Learn more about how TF-CBT works and helps here.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for children, adolescents, and adults
Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy, you can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. EMDR is an eight-phase treatment that helps you access the traumatic memory network so that information is enhanced while creating new, more adaptive associations. These new associations help eliminate emotional distress and develop adaptive insight.
Tappers, a light bar, or eye movements are used during parts of the session for bilateral stimulation.
In successful EMDR therapy, the meaning of painful events is transformed on an emotional level. For instance, you may shift from feeling horror and self-disgust to holding the firm belief that, “I survived it and I am strong.” The insights clients gain in EMDR therapy result from the client’s own accelerated intellectual and emotional processes.
The result of EMDR is feeling empowered by the very experiences that once shook you. The wounds haven’t only closed, but they’ve transformed. This transformation leads to your positive mental health- all without speaking in detail about your trauma(s) or doing homework used in other therapies.
Learn more about each of the 8 phases here.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for adolescents and adults
CPT is generally delivered over 12 sessions and helps you learn how to challenge and modify unhelpful beliefs related to the trauma. Treatment begins with education about the relationship between thoughts and emotions, how to identify automatic thoughts, and writing an impact statement.
Next, you’ll write a detailed account of the worst traumatic experience, which you’ll read in the next session to try and break the pattern of avoiding thoughts and feelings associated with the trauma. The therapist uses strategies to help you question unhelpful thoughts about the trauma (e.g., self-blaming thoughts) to create a more accurate understanding of blame/responsibility and to foster healing.
Processing can include focusing on safety, trust, power, control, esteem, and intimacy, as these are areas commonly affected by traumatic experiences.
In between sessions, “homework” is assigned to continue helping you practice using the skills taught to modify beliefs related to the traumatic event(s).
Find out more about what to expect with CPT here.
Conclusion
Alexis has been trained in each of these ways to process and overcome trauma and can implement them with children, adolescents, and adults. Schedule a free 15-minute virtual consultation to see how I can help.
