When it comes to therapy for trauma there are different methods and approaches that can be utilized to help the patient process their trauma. Talk-therapy, also known as trauma-informed care, was created to help people process traumatic events and the events which may have followed them. It is the most widely used type of therapy and has a good success rate.
What is Trauma?
Any event which is considered abusive, life-threatening, frightening or dangerous to the person experiencing these things is considered trauma. These events don’t necessarily have to happen to the person directly. Being a witness to these events is traumatic as well.
How Does Trauma Manifest?
The person suffering trauma can often seem alright at first but over time the trauma weighs heavy. They can suffer flashbacks, anxiety attacks, nightmares, insomnia, and a desire to be isolated from others.
PTSD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is when the person who experienced the trauma suffers the symptoms mentioned above for well over a month. PTSD can last years if not treated. If a person does not deal with their trauma it can eventually lead to PTSD but that is not always the case.
Therapy Types
There are multiple methods used to treat trauma and PTSD. The following is a list of some of those methods:
- Prolonged Exposure Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Cognitive Processing Therapy
- Eye Movement Processing and Desensitization
- Narrative Exposure Therapy
There are also other types of therapy that can help:
- Somatic Therapy
- Acupuncture
- Hypnosis
Finding What Works
If you visit a therapist in your area, say a trauma therapist in Tampa FL for example, they can help decide which therapy is right for you. Don’t be afraid to mention the types of therapy you have researched and/or are interested in.
Google therapists in your area and visit their website. Spending an hour researching the therapist may save you many hundreds of dollars in the long run by avoiding therapists that you don’t think can help you.
Traumatic events can have an effect on a person’s relationships, life, and ability to function at work, school, and in social situations. Life quality can be improved by trauma therapy.
Although facing those traumatic events can be tough, with help and treatment, symptoms can gradually fade.
Additional advantages of trauma therapy include:
- Learn coping mechanisms to deal with skewed or unfavorable emotions.
- Make sense of the terrible event by reframing it.
- Bolster close connections and relationships with others.
- Reduce irritation, anger, and frustration while boosting mental calmness.
- Eliminate or lessen PTSD triggers and symptoms.
Is Therapy Right for You?
Unfortunately, there can be a stigma around seeking therapy. A recent poll stated that half of Americans believe that seeking therapy can be a sign of weakness. However, most people who receive therapy say that they benefit from it. Attitudes toward therapy are changing. Not that long ago, much more than half of Americans thought therapy was ineffective at best.
If you believe that therapy might be able to help you then you are a perfect candidate for it.
