Understanding Trauma: How It Works, What Therapy Can Do, and Evidence-Based Approaches for Healing

Trauma is a word that is often used to describe overwhelming or deeply distressing experiences, yet its impact on mental and emotional well-being can be complex and multifaceted. Whether it’s a single traumatic event, ongoing chronic stress, or long-term abuse, trauma can leave lasting effects on a person’s life, relationships, and overall mental health. Understanding trauma, how it works, and how therapy can help is an important step in healing and recovery. In this blog, we’ll explore the nature of trauma, what happens in therapy, and the evidence-based approaches that are proven to help.

What Is Trauma?

Trauma occurs when a person experiences an event or series of events that overwhelm their ability to cope, leaving them feeling helpless, fearful, or unable to manage the emotions or physical reactions that arise from the experience. Trauma can be classified into two main types:

Acute Trauma: This type of trauma is typically the result of a single event, such as a car accident, physical assault, or natural disaster. The emotional and psychological aftermath can vary, but acute trauma can disrupt a person’s sense of safety and well-being.
Chronic Trauma: This involves repeated or prolonged exposure to traumatic events, such as ongoing abuse, neglect, or living in a dangerous environment. Chronic trauma can have a more profound impact, leading to long-term mental health challenges.

It’s important to note that trauma is subjective—what one person may experience as traumatic, another might not. Our ability to cope with trauma depends on many factors, including personal resilience, social support, and previous experiences.

How Trauma Affects the Brain and Body

When we experience a traumatic event, the brain and body react in ways that are designed to help us survive. The “fight or flight” response kicks in, releasing stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, preparing the body to either defend itself or escape the situation. In the short term, these reactions can be life-saving, but when trauma is overwhelming or prolonged, it can lead to changes in the brain and body that make it harder to recover.

Emotional and Cognitive Impact: Trauma can disrupt normal emotional regulation, leading to feelings of anxiety, depression, fear, and confusion. It may cause difficulties with memory, concentration, and decision-making.
Physical Responses: Trauma can also manifest in the body, leading to chronic pain, sleep disturbances, digestive issues, and other physical symptoms. This is often referred to as “somatic” trauma—where emotional trauma manifests as physical discomfort.
Long-Term Effects: If trauma is not processed or healed, it can lead to conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, depression, and difficulties in relationships. Over time, it can affect the person’s overall sense of self-worth, safety, and ability to trust others.

How Therapy Can Help with Trauma

Therapy plays a crucial role in helping individuals heal from trauma. It offers a safe, supportive space to process difficult emotions, make sense of overwhelming experiences, and learn coping strategies. Here’s how therapy can help:

Creating a Safe Environment: One of the first things therapy provides is safety—an environment where you can explore your feelings without judgment. Feeling safe is essential to healing from trauma, as it allows you to confront difficult memories and emotions.
Processing the Trauma: Talking about trauma in a therapeutic setting helps to process and make sense of what happened. This doesn’t mean reliving the trauma in a painful way, but rather helping you gain understanding, insight, and control over how the trauma affects your life.
Building Coping Skills: Therapy helps you develop healthy coping strategies to deal with stress, anxiety, or distressing memories. These skills can help you manage overwhelming emotions in a constructive way and avoid turning to unhealthy behaviors or avoidance.
Restoring a Sense of Control: Trauma often leaves individuals feeling helpless or out of control. Through therapy, you can regain control of your life, your emotions, and your responses to triggers.
Healing Relationships: Trauma can affect not only the individual but also their relationships. Therapy can help rebuild trust, communication, and emotional connection in relationships that have been impacted by trauma.

Evidence-Based Approaches for Healing from Trauma

There are several evidence-based therapies that have been shown to be effective in treating trauma. These therapeutic approaches are grounded in research and have helped countless individuals on their healing journeys.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is one of the most widely used therapies for trauma. It focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviours that contribute to emotional distress. By learning to reframe traumatic memories and shift unhelpful thought patterns, individuals can reduce anxiety and improve their emotional regulation.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT)
This is a specialised form of CBT that is specifically designed to help children, adolescents, and their families cope with the effects of trauma. TF-CBT focuses on processing trauma in a developmentally appropriate way and incorporates family involvement to create a supportive healing environment.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a therapeutic approach that uses guided eye movements to help process and reframe traumatic memories. It aims to reduce the emotional charge attached to traumatic memories and help individuals integrate these memories in a healthier way. It’s been shown to be particularly effective for individuals with PTSD.
Somatic Experiencing (SE)
Somatic Experiencing focuses on the body’s physical responses to trauma. This approach emphasises awareness of bodily sensations to help release tension, stress, and trauma stored in the body. SE can be particularly beneficial for those who struggle with physical symptoms of trauma or those who have difficulty expressing their emotions verbally.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a form of therapy that helps individuals regulate intense emotions, develop mindfulness, and improve interpersonal skills. While originally developed for Borderline Personality Disorder, DBT is also effective for trauma survivors, particularly those who experience emotional dysregulation.
Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy focuses on the stories we tell ourselves about our lives. Trauma can alter the way we view ourselves and the world, but narrative therapy helps individuals reframe their personal stories and reclaim their sense of identity outside of the trauma.

Healing Is Possible: You’re Not Alone

Healing from trauma is a journey, and it’s important to remember that recovery is possible. Whether you’ve experienced a single traumatic event or ongoing, chronic trauma, therapy can provide the tools, support, and guidance needed to process, heal, and rebuild your life.

If you or someone you know is struggling with trauma, consider reaching out for professional help. Evidence-based therapies such as CBT, EMDR, and somatic experiencing can help you reclaim control, restore emotional balance, and begin the healing process. Remember, healing from trauma is not about forgetting—it’s about learning how to move forward with the strength and resilience you’ve built along the way.

If you’re ready to start your healing journey, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Reach out to our practice to schedule an appointment and begin your path toward recovery.