Trauma Therapy: How to Improve Mental Health With Trauma Treatment

Understanding Trauma 

What Causes Trauma?

Trauma is caused by distressing, stressful, or frightening events. 

Trauma occurs when the nervous system is overwhelmed, causing the brain to remain in a state of fight-or-flight. Common causes of trauma include neglect, abuse, violence, life-threatening events, natural disasters, or accidents.

At Wellbridge, we understand that this shift in the nervous system requires care, and we offer a peaceful and tranquil facility geared towards healing from trauma and addiction.

What Qualifies as Trauma?

Trauma is qualified by the manner in which it impacts an individual. 

The effect of trauma causes feelings of helplessness, horror, and intense fear. Therefore, traumatic experiences are those that cause an individual to feel these intense emotions.

Anyone can experience trauma, and what may constitute trauma to one person may not to another. However, first responders, healthcare workers, and military personnel commonly experience trauma as a part of their work life.

Is Trauma the Same as PTSD?

No. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that occurs as a result of trauma.

Trauma is the experience of a distressing event that causes shock, fear, and sadness. PTSD is a diagnosed mental health disorder where symptoms of trauma become chronic and impact an individual’s well-being.

Not every individual who has a traumatic experience will end up with PTSD, and those who do require mental health interventions.

Can Substance Use Worsen Trauma?

Yes. The use of substances exacerbates, complicates, and amplifies symptoms of trauma, frequently establishing a self-reinforcing loop of addiction and psychological suffering.

Although they may provide short-term relief, substances like alcohol and drugs typically worsen trauma and PTSD symptoms – like hyperarousal and flashbacks – once their effects fade.

Additionally, substances inhibit judgment and increase involvement in risky behaviors, which can lead to further trauma.

Trauma Therapy & Sessions

What Is Trauma Therapy?

Trauma therapy is a type of therapeutic intervention that focuses on helping individuals heal from trauma. 

There are many types of trauma therapy, including talk therapy, that help individuals understand the impact of their trauma and develop coping skills to heal.

At Wellbridge, we offer trauma therapy as part of our treatment program. We understand that when patients experience trauma, structured trauma therapy helps them take steps towards healing their mental and physical health, leading to long-term recovery from addiction.

​Is Trauma Therapy the Same as Trauma-Informed Therapy?

No. Trauma therapy directly addresses trauma, while trauma-informed therapy is an approach that helps to address trauma. 

Trauma therapy involves targeted, evidence-based methods that aim to address particular symptoms associated with trauma. On the other hand, trauma-informed therapy serves as a preventive model that prioritizes safety, fosters trust, and works to prevent retraumatization, and can be applied to various therapeutic methods.

What Is Done in Trauma Therapy?

Trauma therapy is a process that helps patients address their trauma and the impacts it has had on their lives. 

Through trauma therapy, patients work with a clinician to understand the impact of their trauma. Therapists delve into the trauma symptoms patients are having, including thought patterns, negative beliefs, and more. Depending on the patient’s needs, they may delve into the trauma memory to gain more clarity.

Additionally, through trauma therapy, clinicians help patients build coping skills to support the healing process.

How Do You Talk About Trauma in Therapy?

There are many helpful ways to discuss trauma in therapy; however, it is best to work with clinicians who help patients learn helpful ways to address trauma. 

Certain forms of therapy incorporate structured discussion that addresses thought patterns, reactions to trauma, and other symptoms from past trauma. However, other forms of therapy are more open to different ways of talking about trauma.

The best way for patients to discuss trauma is by being open with their experiences, allowing themselves to be led through the healing process by a trauma therapist.

How Long Does Trauma Therapy Take?

The length of trauma therapy varies based on the type of trauma, prolonged exposure to trauma, and the impact of trauma on an individual’s mind and body. 

At Wellbridge, patients are provided with an individualized treatment plan to address past traumatic events. Effective treatment for trauma takes into account the patient as a whole person, while utilizing multiple evidence-based treatment modalities to address the initial traumatic event and the mental health challenges that occurred as a result.

Types of Trauma Treated

What Types of Traumas Are Treated?

Trauma therapy addresses a wide variety of trauma. 

Treatment for trauma takes into account the type of trauma experienced, the duration, and the specific nature of the trauma. Every traumatic event has an approach that best addresses its unique challenges. For example, an individual who experienced a natural disaster will need different treatment compared to a patient with a history of abuse.

What Is Complex Trauma?

Complex trauma stems from repeated or prolonged trauma, rather than a single event. 

Commonly, complex trauma and complex PTSD occur within personal relationships, such as childhood abuse, neglect, or domestic abuse. In these situations, patients often feel trapped and have no viable way of escape.

What Are “Little T” Traumas?

Little T traumas are non-life-threatening events that cause distress.

While they are not life-threatening, little traumas overwhelm an individual’s ability to cope, causing distress. For many patients, multiple Little T Traumas experienced cause a cumulative impact.

What Are “Big T” Traumas?

Big T Traumas are life-altering and life-threatening events. 

These events are generally acute and catastrophic, such as experiencing a natural disaster, a car accident, or witnessing a violent crime. Compared to Little T Traumas, Big T traumas are singular events that alter a patient’s life.

Types of Trauma Therapies

What Is Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy?

Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is a short-term treatment option, primarily for adolescents and children, and their adult caregivers. 

It is a type of therapy that is highly structured, helping patients learn relaxation, emotional regulation, and processing that helps them to work through their trauma.

Does Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Help Treat Trauma?

DBT can help treat trauma, especially those who are struggling with complex trauma or C-PTSD. 

In DBT, clients use a step-by-step process incorporating stabilization, exposure therapy, and reconnection. DBT helps improve self-esteem by validating thoughts, feelings, and actions that are experienced.

What Is Motivational Interviewing (MI)?

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a technique used in psychotherapy that helps patients gain clarity about and strengthen their motivation to change. 

MI is particularly helpful for patients who feel stuck. Instead of being a set program, MI is a way of being with patients that helps them to open up, get curious, and discover why they desire to heal.

What Is Art Therapy for Trauma?

Art therapy for trauma is a therapeutic intervention that helps patients process trauma non-verbally. 

At Wellbridge, we offer art therapy for trauma as a way for patients to connect, feel, and work through traumatic events that are too painful or not helpful to discuss in psychotherapy. It is helpful to process memories that are stored non-verbally, or painful memories that patients are struggling to unlock.

What Is Somatic Therapy for Trauma?

Somatic therapy is based on the theory that the body holds trauma, and by being felt in the body, trauma can be processed. 

While psychotherapy starts with thinking, somatic therapy begins with feeling into the body. Through somatic therapy, patients begin to feel how trauma has impacted their bodies and allow themselves to process past trauma by releasing the memories and emotions stored in the body.

What Is EMDR Therapy Used For?

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy used to treat trauma. 

The eyes are a pathway to the brain, and through bilateral stimulation in EMDR, patients address painful and traumatic memories. EMDR helps reduce the neurological reaction to a traumatic memory, making it less painful and more accessible for patients.

Can Medication Help Treat Trauma?

Medication can help treat trauma and the other mental health impacts that trauma can have. 

At Wellbridge, we help patients through psychology and psychiatry. We offer medication management as part of our treatment programs. For those struggling with trauma, medications can help bridge the gap between poor mental health and improved well-being.

Are There Holistic Therapies for Treating Trauma?

Holistic therapies are very useful in treating trauma, and at Wellbridge, we offer the ability to combine evidence-based treatments with holistic care. 

As a result of trauma impacting the brain and body, holistic therapies that help to reduce stress in the nervous system are highly impactful. Yoga and other health and fitness methodologies help patients to reduce overall stress and re-regulate. Other holistic therapies, such as art or music, can also be impactful on patients’ healing process from trauma.

Benefits of Trauma Treatment

​What Are the Benefits of Trauma Therapy?

Trauma therapy helps patients process past trauma, impacting their overall mental and physical health. 

Many patients with a history of trauma struggle with its effects long after the event or events. Trauma therapy is an option for patients who are seeking change.

At Wellbridge, we understand that trauma impacts health. Therefore, we offer trauma-informed care and trauma therapy that addresses trauma itself and co-occurring disorders such as anxiety disorders.

Will Trauma Treatment Help Me With Self-Awareness?

Trauma treatment relies on improving self-awareness and, therefore, will increase overall awareness levels. 

In trauma treatment, patients are asked to look at their own experiences and how they impacted their lives. This helps patients improve self-awareness, which is important in healing from trauma. However, an increase in awareness also positively impacts mental health and overall quality of life.

Can Trauma Therapy Improve My Relationships?

Trauma therapy helps address patterns, such as negative thoughts, that cause challenges in relationships. 

Therefore, while trauma therapy is focused on helping patients heal from trauma, it has a positive impact on an individual’s relationships as it helps to improve their overall mental health.

Can Trauma Therapy Help Me Identify Triggers?

Yes. One of the primary goals in trauma therapy is to understand triggers from past trauma and build improved coping skills. 

Trauma therapy helps patients delve into their past traumas. However, it also helps patients build coping skills to manage flashbacks and memories in the future. Identifying triggers is a significant aspect of this process.

Can I Heal Unresolved Trauma From Childhood?

Yes. It is possible to heal from unresolved trauma from childhood. 

However, the process of healing looks different for each individual. Unresolved trauma from childhood is often dispersed into many beliefs, thoughts, and patterns. Healing from these traumas takes time and work, but it is possible to heal and recover.

When It’s Time to Seek Professional Help

What Are Some Signs I Need Professional Trauma Treatment?

When an individual has experienced trauma or complex trauma, and it is impacting their well-being, it is time to seek help. 

Everyone’s experience of trauma is unique. However, symptoms of PTSD and trauma commonly include hypervigilance, anxiety, depression, and more. These symptoms have a significant impact on daily life, and it is time to seek help when daily life and well-being are compromised as a result of trauma.

What Does Unresolved Trauma Look Like in Adults?

Unresolved trauma looks different for each person, but commonly includes hypervigilance, dysregulation, low self-worth, and thoughts of self-harm. 

When an individual has unresolved trauma, they commonly present with a variety of symptoms, including psychological symptoms, physical symptoms, and unhealthy patterns. At Wellbridge, we build treatment programs around each individual’s unique needs as they relate to unresolved trauma, addiction, and mental health.

Which Therapy Tool Screens for Trauma?

Common therapy tools for screening for trauma and PTSD include the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5), Trauma Screening Questionnaire (TSQ), and Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5).

Screening tools help to identify trauma, diagnose PTSD, and understand the symptoms that a patient is experiencing as they relate to trauma.

Is Trauma-Informed Therapy Right for Me?

Trauma-informed therapy is ideal for patients who have a history of trauma that is impacting their mental health and well-being. 

At Wellbridge, we offer trauma-informed therapy that helps patients by addressing trauma, mental health challenges, and addiction in a unified treatment program.

FAQs

Why is it important to resolve trauma?

Unresolved trauma has a significant impact on the brain, body, and relationships. 

If an individual or their loved one is struggling with mental health challenges or addiction, resolving trauma helps them take the next steps towards healing. By resolving trauma, patients take an important step towards improved well-being.

Is it good to relive trauma?

Reliving trauma is helpful in certain situations for some people. 

In in-person psychotherapy, it can be helpful to relive trauma with a structured plan from a clinician. However, continuously reliving trauma can cause patients to become stuck and not allow for healing.

Can you truly heal from trauma?

Yes, healing from trauma is possible.

While patients cannot get rid of the trauma they have experienced, they can work through the experiences and heal from the effects of trauma. By working with a mental health clinician, it is possible to heal from trauma and move forward.

Do all psychological treatments really work the same for post-traumatic stress disorder?

No. PTSD is a mental health disorder that requires different psychological treatments for each patient. 

At Wellbridge, we provide individualized care for patients with PTSD and a history of trauma. The most effective treatment is individually suited for the patient’s unique needs.

Do you stay away from certain people, places, or situations that remind you of a traumatic experience?

Avoiding triggering locations, situations, or individuals can be helpful for some individuals on their path to healing. 

However, there is no one-size-fits-all answer because healing from trauma is a process. At certain points in the process, avoiding can be helpful, but through healing, patients often will be more tolerant of these triggering locations, people, or situations.

What is therapy for generational trauma?

Generational trauma, trauma carried through generations, requires psychotherapy that addresses the familial patterns and how they have manifested in an individual. 

Similar to complex trauma, generational trauma is more complicated when compared to an individual event. By working with a counselor, patients learn to identify generational trauma and how it has impacted their own lives. Then, they build skills and work through this trauma in order to heal.