Even decades can pass before we forget a traumatic experience. It doesn’t matter how long ago an event was traumatic, but it can still have a profound impact on our lives, our relationships, our self-esteem and our everyday activities. Many people require the assistance of a therapist in order to deal with the traumas of the past. A therapist will help guide you in releasing any guilt that you may feel and provide you with tools and resources for when the trauma of your past comes back to haunt.
Talk therapy is what we usually think of when we consider therapy. Talk therapy is a tool that can be used to learn healthy ways to deal with trauma.
EMDR
EMDR therapy, also known as Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), was developed in 1987. It has proven to be effective at helping clients recover from traumas caused by past experiences. The therapy uses eye movements, tapping, and tones along with imagery to help the two halves of the brain to work together and process the trauma and pain without having to relive the disturbing events.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral treatment is a short-term therapy that teaches you how to change your attitude and thoughts. Working closely with a therapist can help you become aware of harmful thoughts and learn techniques to view situations in a more positive way.
Stress Inoculation Training
SIT (Stress inoculation Training) is a type of cognitive-behavioral treatment in which you work with a therapist to learn how to cope with anxiety and stress brought on by trauma. This type of therapy gives you tools to manage your stress in a healthy manner.
Cognitive Processing Therapy
This type of therapy is very effective in treating Post Traumatic Stress disorder. Cognitive Processing Therapy, a type of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, uses a patient’s written statement to analyze how trauma affected the patient. The therapist and patient work together to determine how trauma affects thinking patterns.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy
It is a form of behavioral therapy that aims to help the patient overcome their fears through exposure. A therapist will guide the patient in this process. A patient might go with her therapist back to a place where a traumatic event occurred, or a person with a fear for public speaking could practice giving a speech. You can work through fears by visualizing the situation and addressing bodily reactions such as hyperventilation.
Trauma comes in many different forms and can affect each person differently. There are several types of therapy. If you or someone close to you is suffering the effects of trauma, seek the advice of a professional therapist.