Trauma Treatment Explained: 10+ Options for Recovery

Have you heard about trauma treatment? Not yet? Let’s explore this topic with Revive Health Recovery in the blog below.

More than 50% of people go through at least one traumatic experience in their lives. Trauma can include serious injury, sexual violence, life-threatening events, long-term abuse, neglect, bullying, or even homelessness.

Children can also experience trauma in many forms, such as abuse, neglect, witnessing violence, natural disasters,… According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than two-thirds of children report going through a traumatic event by age 16.

With treatment, people can address the trauma’s root causes and find healthy ways to manage their symptoms. This blog covers different types of trauma, common symptoms, and available trauma treatment options.

What is trauma?

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines trauma as an emotional response to a terrible event, such as an accident, rape, or natural disaster. However, trauma can result from any experience that feels physically or emotionally harmful or threatening. Types of trauma include:

• Acute trauma: Caused by a single stressful or dangerous event.
• Chronic trauma: Stemming from repeated, long-term exposure to highly stressful events, like child abuse, bullying, or domestic violence.
• Complex trauma: Resulting from exposure to multiple traumatic events.
• Secondary or vicarious trauma: This occurs when a person develops trauma symptoms through close contact with someone who has experienced trauma.

What is childhood trauma?

“Child trauma” refers to a scary, dangerous, or life-threatening event experienced by a child (ages 0-18).  Sometimes, it may involve someone the child knows, and just seeing or hearing about this person being hurt can deeply affect the child. 

When these events occur, children may feel extremely overwhelmed, upset, or helpless. These experiences can happen to anyone at any age, but not all events will have a traumatic effect.

However, not all intense or life-threatening events are considered traumatic. Children interpret experiences in their own way, so an event that feels traumatic for one child might not feel the same for another.

Signs and symptoms of trauma

Trauma symptoms can vary from mild to severe, influenced by several factors, including:

• Personal characteristics
• Existing mental health conditions
• Past exposure to trauma
• The type and nature of the event(s)
• Individual background and emotional coping style

If symptoms persist and don’t lessen over time, it may indicate that the trauma has developed into a mental health condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Emotional and psychological symptoms of trauma

• Denial
• Anger
• Fear
• Sadness
• Shame
• Confusion
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Numbness
• Guilt
• Hopelessness
• Irritability
• Difficulty concentrating

They may have emotional outbursts, struggle to cope with their feelings, or withdraw from others. Flashbacks, where the person mentally relives the traumatic event, and nightmares are also common.

Trauma victims may channel their overwhelming emotions toward others, like friends or family members, making it challenging for loved ones as well. Supporting someone who pushes you away can be tough, but understanding the emotional effects of trauma can help make the process easier.

Physical symptoms of trauma

In addition to emotional reactions, trauma can lead to physical symptoms, such as:

• Headaches
• Digestive issues
• Fatigue
• Rapid heartbeat
• Sweating
• Feeling easily startled or on edge
• Paleness
• Difficulty concentrating

Trauma’s physical symptoms can feel just as real and concerning as those of a physical injury or illness, so it’s important to manage stress levels carefully after a traumatic event.

Benefits of trauma treatment

Trauma treatment can help you work through the traumatic event and understand your feelings. It gives you a safe space to face your fears and learn coping skills that make daily life easier.

Reduce fear and avoidance

Trauma can create fear and make you avoid people, places, or things that remind you of what happened, making it hard to function. For example, someone in a car accident on the freeway might avoid driving on freeways or even fear getting in a car. Treatment can help you face the trauma and work through your fears.

Strengthen coping skills

PTSD and trauma-related issues often stem from beliefs like, “I can’t handle this.” Trauma therapy helps build confidence and provides coping skills to support daily life.

Build trust

Traumatic events can shake your sense of safety and make it hard to trust others. Through treatment, someone who believes “It’s not safe to trust anyone” might begin to think, “Even though I was hurt before, most people are kind and trustworthy, and it’s okay to give people a chance.”

Challenge unhelpful beliefs

Trauma treatment can help you challenge negative thoughts about yourself and the world that may have formed after a traumatic event. For example, someone who thinks, “I must be a bad person because bad things don’t happen to good people,” might start to believe, “Sometimes bad things happen to good people who did nothing wrong. I am still a good person, even though something bad happened to me.”

With treatment, they can change these beliefs, offer a new perspective on the trauma, and lessen strong feelings like shame and guilt.

Provide validation

People who have gone through trauma and been told that their experiences, feelings, or reactions are “unreasonable” or “wrong” may struggle even more and develop long-term issues. Treatment can provide validation, helping you feel understood and accepted, which is essential for starting the healing process.

What are effective trauma treatments?

There are several types of trauma treatment to help people manage their symptoms and enhance their quality of life. 

Keep in mind that everyone responds to trauma differently, and not everyone will feel they need treatment. If you’re seeking help, the options available will depend on your symptoms, diagnosis, personal needs, and the services in your area.

Here are a few trauma treatment professionals might offer to you:

• Therapy
• Medications
• Self-care

Therapy

Therapy is a primary treatment for trauma, and ideally, individuals should work with a trauma-informed or trauma-focused therapist.

Types of therapy that may help someone with trauma include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)
• Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Prolonged exposure therapy (PE therapy)
• Play therapy
• Art therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT helps people break the link between difficult thoughts or situations and their usual reactions to them. It teaches them how certain thought patterns can lead to anxiety, depression, or anger by distorting their view of reality. 

Trauma can block emotional healing because it clashes with a person’s existing beliefs or understanding of the world, causing inner conflict, or cognitive dissonance. To find relief, they work to integrate new information from the trauma with their past understanding until it aligns, helping them achieve mental balance.

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)

CPT is a form of CBT that helps people challenge and change unhelpful beliefs formed after trauma. CPT usually takes about 12 sessions, where a therapist guides the person in managing upsetting thoughts related to the trauma. Through CPT, individuals learn skills to rethink the trauma, which can help change their feelings and improve their emotional well-being.

Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)

TF-CBT is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy designed for children who have gone through a traumatic event or series of events. It includes safe involvement from a parent or caregiver. At first, children and caregivers attend separate sessions, then meet together later on. 

Typically, TF-CBT sessions include 30 minutes with the child and a separate 30 minutes with the parent. Later, joint sessions may be held to strengthen communication between the parent and child.

Though TF-CBT was originally created for children, it can also help adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is a structured therapy where a person briefly focuses on their trauma while the therapist guides their eye movements. The goal of EMDR is to help people process and integrate traumatic memories, making the memories feel less intense and reducing the strong emotions connected to them.

Prolonged exposure therapy (PE therapy)

PE therapy helps a person gradually face memories, feelings, and situations related to their trauma. The idea is that by facing these challenges, they can reduce the problems caused by trauma and symptoms of PTSD if present.

Many people who have experienced trauma try to avoid certain memories, feelings, or situations. However, avoiding these can make recovery harder. PE therapy supports individuals in facing their fears, which can help reduce symptoms over time.

Play therapy

Play is an important part of a child’s growth and how they express themselves. That’s why play therapy is often used to help children cope with challenges like trauma.

In play therapy, a trained mental health professional communicates in a way the child understands, often by getting on the floor to play alongside them. Through play, the child can work through social and emotional difficulties in a way that feels natural to them, allowing them to express themselves in their own way.

Art therapy

Art therapy is a type of therapy that uses the creative process to improve the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

A trained art therapist helps people of all ages express themselves in new ways, share their experiences, and feel more empowered. Art therapy can also boost self-esteem, self-awareness, and improve thinking and sensory skills.

Medications

Medication cannot cure trauma or PTSD on its own, but it can help manage symptoms like anxiety, depression, and sleep issues. It’s important to discuss options with a doctor.

Self-care

Practicing self-care can help individuals manage the emotional, psychological, and physical effects of trauma. Some self-care examples include:

• Practice mindfulness
• Connect with others
• Care for your body with respect and awareness
• Be kind to yourself
• Set healthy boundaries

Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness practices like meditation, deep breathing, and yoga can help you stay grounded in the present moment and are known to reduce anxiety and stress. Studies suggest that mindfulness-based approaches like these are effective for managing PTSD, either on their own or alongside other treatments.

Connect with others

Talking about your experiences with a friend, family member, or a trauma therapist, or joining a support group for trauma survivors, can be very helpful. Building social connections can be challenging after trauma but offers healing and a sense of connection.

You don’t have to talk about the trauma if it feels too difficult. Simply spending time with others can boost mood and well-being. However, some people find it helpful to share their experience with trusted individuals.

Care for your body with respect and awareness

Do things that make you feel good, like moving in ways you enjoy, getting plenty of sleep, and eating regularly. You can also try relaxing activities like a warm bath, using a favorite scented lotion, cuddling with a weighted blanket, or enjoying aromatherapy.

Be kind to yourself

Be kind to yourself and let go of self-blame and shame. Healing takes time, so be patient as you move toward recovery. Self-compassion is a skill that grows with practice and intention.

Set healthy boundaries

Put your needs first and set boundaries with people or situations that might trigger you. This can mean saying no to things that aren’t helpful for you, taking breaks when needed, and choosing to spend time with supportive, caring people who are there for you.

Healing from trauma is a personal journey, and it looks different for everyone. It’s okay to ask for help, seek support, and make self-care a priority as you heal.

What are the best practices for trauma treatment (for healthcare providers)?

Trauma treatment is designed to prevent re-traumatizing individuals when they seek health care or social services. People who have experienced trauma may feel uncomfortable or triggered, for instance, if a doctor touches them without warning.

Best practices in trauma treatment aim to increase caregivers’ sensitivity and improve care. These guidelines help healthcare providers offer supportive and effective care for trauma survivors.

• Safety: Making clients feel safe both physically and emotionally is crucial. A warm, welcoming atmosphere and clear boundaries between clinicians and clients lay a strong foundation for treatment.
• Trustworthiness and transparency: Building trust is key. By being honest and involving clients in their treatment plans, providers help clients feel more secure and willing to engage in care.
• Peer support: Connecting clients with others who’ve had similar experiences creates a non-judgmental space where they can share their challenges and successes with people who understand.
• Collaboration: Care providers should work together to reduce client stress, sharing information and combining appointments when possible.
• Cultural, historical, and gender awareness: Providers should be mindful of their own biases and respect clients’ cultural or gender-specific needs.
• Empowerment: Trauma-informed care focuses on empowering clients, validating their experiences, and helping them feel more confident and engaged in their treatment.

Where to find a trauma treatment center in the U.S?

If you’ve experienced trauma and want treatment, look for a therapist, or who specializes in trauma therapy. Here are some good trauma treatment centers in the U.S you can consider:

Conclusion

Experiencing trauma is common and can deeply affect a person’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Healing from trauma involves understanding its causes, building coping skills, and sometimes getting professional help through therapy, self-care, or medication. Specialized trauma treatments like CBT, EMDR, or play therapy for children can help people face trauma, feel safe again, and build trust and resilience. 

Recovery is a gradual process, but with the right support, individuals can learn to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.