Trauma Psychotherapy and Recovery

These days an ecological approach to trauma has moved beyond war veterans and refugees - as Bessel Van Der Kolk (2014) states, “Trauma happens to us, our friends, our families and our neighbours.” The symptoms of trauma can be diverse, and are often diverse and overwhelming. Some people may experience intrusive flashbacks and vivid nightmares, high anxiety, or panic attacks. Others may have difficulty concentrating, rapidly changing and intense emotions, strong anger or rage. It is common to experience the extremes of either vigilance, or numbness, as well as difficulties with sleeping or eating. Substance abuse, compulsive self-harming behaviours, and dissociation can also occur.

Those with a history of early or prolonged trauma may have additional difficulties: trust and intimacy, a distorted sense of self, body image issues, intense guilt and shame, troubled relationships, and general difficulties finding meaning in life.

People who are experiencing traumatic symptoms following a traumatic event, or have a history of early trauma usually benefit from trauma therapy. 

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How Trauma Therapy Works

Trauma therapy is a three-stage process that aims to resolve the effects of trauma. These carefully paced treatment phases often follow a non-linear path; there may be overlaps as one progresses:

  1. Stabilizing and managing reactions: The client learns to manage flashbacks and intense emotions until they are confident in their ability to stay in control of their emotional state. At the same time, the client works on creating a strong support and resource network. At this point substance over-use, and self-harming behaviours begin to be addressed, as the client has developed healthier ways to manage their emotions

  2. Processing the traumatic memories: Once a sense of safety has been created, work can begin on processing the traumatic events, all the while maintaining a sense of and focus on the present life. At this stage one can re-establish an understanding of who was actually responsible for the trauma, of the issues related to boundaries, power, justice, and meaning. Work begins on building trust and improving relationships.

  3. Rebuilding and Reconnecting: In this stage clients work towards expanding their world, building new relationships, or reconnecting with old ones, trying out new ideas, building assertiveness skills, re-learning how to enjoy the newly found states of calm in their lives and incorporating joy, hope and optimism into their future.

Why a trauma therapist?

Trauma therapists are trained to recognize the specific effects that trauma has on the brain and its function, the ways it manifests through trauma symptoms, and the rationale for using specific interventions to deal with those symptoms.

For example, those who have experienced abuse as children, a trauma-informed approach illuminates how violence and neglect and the circumstances around it, affect child development and attachment. This can create challenges or patterns in one’s relationships and ways of coping with adversity or stress. Trauma therapy is a focused and effective approach to reversing the many effects of trauma, (such as the intrusive symptoms of PTSD, addictive behaviours, a damaged ability to trust and to enjoy intimacy). One of the main goals of trauma-informed practice is reducing these negative feelings through therapeutic empathy and fostering a sense of self-compassion.