Treatments for Trauma
There are a variety of treatments available for those who suffer from trauma. The three most common treatments are therapy, medications and holistic treatments. Forms of therapy can include cognitive behavior therapy, exposure therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Medication can include anxiety medications, anti-depressants, and mood stabilizing medications. Some holistic treatments for someone who has experienced trauma can include meditation, yoga, acupuncture and other forms of physical activity.
While some individuals may prefer medications to help them overcome a past trauma, others may choose a form of therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological treatment that has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of problems including depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug use problems, and mental illnesses. CBT is conducted by repeatedly exposing patients to the stimulus they fear without bad things actually happening. Over time the patient will gradually become less upset or fearful, and the bad memories will then be associated with “corrective” information of being safe (van der kolk, 2015). In Professor Rousseau’s lecture she discusses how CBT helps patients unlearn their negative reactions to thoughts and replacing them with new emotional and behavioral responses in situations they find challenging (Rousseau, 2020). The goal of cognitive behavior therapy is to teach people that while they cannot control every aspect of the world around them, they can take control of how they interpret and deal with things in their environment.
Exposure therapy is great option for veterans or sexual abuse survivors. This form of therapy helps victims overcome whatever fear or trauma they are experiencing. The four stages of exposure therapy are: education, breathing, real world exposure and talking through the trauma. I believe each stage serves a different purpose and allows the patient to not only talk through their trauma, but also learn techniques on how to overcome their trauma (Rousseau, 2020). Although being exposed to their fear or trauma can be very challenging, it is done in a safe and controlled environment, to allow the patient to feel as comfortable as possible, but also getting them outside of their comfort zone, and become comfortable with being uncomfortable.
The last therapeutic approach that can help with trauma is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR is a form of psychotherapy that is often used to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It incorporates methods from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in addition to adding bilateral stimulation through Rapid Eye Movements (REM) (Roussea, 2020). When REM is incorporated into therapy, the patient will bring forth the traumatic memory as they recall how they are feeling. EMDR’s focus is to regulate the memory but also restore the memory throughout the patient’s body and mind (van der Kolk, 2014, pp 258). EMDR consists of eight different phases including history taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, and reevaluation (Rousseau, 2020). Without discussing each of these phases in detail, the individual ultimately brings up the negative memory and discusses surrounding emotions, senses, and negative beliefs that they experienced.
Many studies have found that both CBT and EMDR therapy are the most effective therapies for treating patients with PTSD associated trauma. I believe that EMDR is a great option for many patients who have been exposed to trauma because I believe that its eight-phase system is well thought out and each phase holds a specific purpose. While a form of therapy may not be the best option for you, there are many other ways to help assist you overcome trauma.
Rousseau, D. (2020). Module 4.6. [Lecture Notes]. Boston University. https://onlinecampus.bu.edu/ultra/courses/_65989_1/cl/outline
Van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score. Penguin Books.