Trauma Therapy

What is Trauma Therapy?

Trauma Therapy is a specialized form of treatment designed to help individuals process and recover from the effects of traumatic experiences.

Experiencing significant distress can deeply impact your life. Trauma Therapy sessions at Resilient Health focus on helping you heal from the inside out, targeting the core issues that may be holding you back.

While general counselling and other therapeutic approaches can provide support, only Trauma Therapy can address the unique needs that come with trauma and PTSD.

What is Trauma?

Trauma is defined as an experience that involves exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Trauma often leaves lasting effects, making it difficult for some to navigate daily life.

Trauma may be experienced through:

Personal Experience

A direct experience. You have experienced the traumatic event(s) yourself.

Witnessed Experience

A witnessed experience. You saw it happen to another person (in real life/real time).

Second-hand Experience

An event that happened to someone very close to you. You learned about it after the fact.

Trauma Symptoms

Effects of Trauma

Trauma can have a number of effects; in the case of PTSD, these symptoms include intrusion symptoms, avoidant behaviours, negative effects on thoughts and mood, and changes to arousal or reactivity.

Let’s explore these symptoms to better understand trauma disorder.

Intrusion Symptoms

These symptoms include nightmares, flashbacks, and intense unwanted memories that can enter your mind unexpectedly, causing significant distress. Individuals may feel overwhelmed by these intrusive thoughts, which can interfere with daily functioning.

Avoidant Behaviours

Avoidant behaviours involve steering clear of people, places, activities, and thoughts linked to the trauma. This is a common response to the distressing memories. However, while avoidance may provide temporary relief, it can trap individuals in a cycle of trauma, leading to increased isolation and diminished quality of life.

Negative Effects on Thoughts

People with trauma often experience persistent thoughts about being unsafe in various situations. These thoughts can manifest as a heightened sense of anxiety or an overwhelming sense of dread. The focus on feelings of danger can dominate one’s thinking patterns, making day-to-day life challenging.

Impact on Mood

Trauma can significantly affect mood, leading to feelings of anger, depression, and loneliness. When individuals struggle to trust others, they may isolate themselves further. This lack of social connection can exacerbate negative emotions, creating a challenging cycle that is hard to break without support.

Group Therapy Available

Our group-based program, Cognitive Processing Group Therapy for PTSD, provides a supportive environment where individuals can share their experiences and learn from one another. Through group therapy, individuals gain insight, support, and coping strategies that can enhance their healing journey.

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How It Works

Ways Trauma Therapy Helps

Trauma therapy offers supportive guidance to help you navigate your experiences and promotes healing in several important areas.

Emotional Processing and Understanding Triggers

Trauma therapy emphasises emotional healing and trigger identification. Processing emotions like anger and fear is vital for understanding trauma's effects. Recognising triggers boosts self-awareness, helping clients manage reactions and navigate emotions confidently, leading to meaningful healing.

Coping Strategies and Mindfulness Techniques

Coping strategies are essential for managing anxiety and depression. Trauma therapy focuses on mindfulness and grounding techniques to help clients stay present. These practices foster calmness and provide tools for future challenges, enhancing emotional resilience.

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Building Relationships and Self-Esteem

Trauma affects relationships and self-image. Therapy addresses these influences, aiming to rebuild self-worth and confidence. By fostering healthier connections, individuals improve their quality of life and engage from a position of strength, creating a supportive healing network.

Trauma Therapy FAQs

View all FAQs

What types of trauma can be addressed in therapy?

Trauma therapy can help with various types of trauma, including all types of childhood abuse (trauma therapy can help people of all ages who experienced abuse in childhood, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or combinations of these different types of abuse), violence, sexual assault (including rape, sexual harassment, sexual bullying, and sexually coercive or threatening circumstances), accidents, military combat, natural disasters, and more.
Does trauma therapy only help if I personally experienced the traumatic event?

No. People can be deeply affected by trauma even if they didn’t experience it first-hand. Learning about a traumatic event that happened to someone you love, witnessing it, or supporting a loved one afterwards can lead to symptoms such as anxiety, intrusive thoughts, sleep problems, guilt, or feeling on edge. Trauma therapy can help with secondary or vicarious trauma, as well as trauma from witnessing events. If you’re experiencing distress related to someone else’s trauma, you still deserve support.
How long does trauma therapy typically last?

The duration of therapy varies depending on a significant number of factors, including the client’s temperament, motivation level, goals, frequency of therapy sessions, etc. Some may find relief in a few sessions, while others may benefit from longer-term support.
Is trauma therapy suitable for children and adolescents?

Yes, trauma therapy can be adapted for younger clients. Specific techniques and approaches are used to help children and adolescents process their experiences.
Are there specific techniques used in trauma therapy?

Therapists may utilize various techniques, including cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to support healing.
Can trauma therapy help with anxiety and depression?

Yes, many individuals experience anxiety and depression as a result of trauma. Therapy can provide coping strategies and tools to help manage depression, anxiety and the other emotional symptoms that can accompany post-traumatic stress.