Trauma-Focused Therapy: Approaches and Techniques
Trauma during childhood can have lasting impacts, requiring mental health professionals to take a precise approach to therapy and treatment. Childhood trauma therapy is designed specifically to address the impact of physical abuse, sexual abuse, violence, or grief, giving children an opportunity to acknowledge their trauma, heal from its impacts and develop strategies that allow them to move forward in their lives.
Understanding Trauma-Focused Therapy
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy is a specific approach to cognitive behavioral therapy that aims to address the emotional and behavioral issues that arise from traumatic experiences during childhood. According to Psychology Today, this approach to therapy was first developed in the 1990s, when psychologists began to recognize the lasting impact that trauma could have on an individual's life.
What Is Trauma-Focused Therapy?
The Child Welfare Information Gateway defines trauma-focused therapy as an evidence-based approach to therapy that can be used to help children, caregivers, and family units overcome difficulties related to traumatic experiences. When therapists utilize specialized trauma therapy techniques, they can help their clients overcome distorted beliefs that they may hold because of the trauma they experienced, address behaviors that stem from traumatic experiences and learn new coping mechanisms and strategies for managing challenges in their lives today.
Types of Traumas That Require Focused Therapy
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy was first developed to help children overcome the impact of child sexual abuse. Since then, these techniques have been expanded to cover a wide range of traumatic experiences, including:
- Childhood abuse in all forms, including physical, sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse.
- Life-altering accidents that impact themselves or close family members.
- Deaths in the family.
- Witnessing violence or experiencing violence.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is one of the leading PTSD treatment options today, and it is widely used as part of trauma-focused therapy. As one of the leading therapy techniques for trauma, the EMDR process allows individuals to begin to separate their feelings and emotions from the memory of the traumatic experience.
Overview of EMDR Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a structured form of trauma therapy in which the affected individual focuses on the memory of their traumatic experience while making specific eye movements. When strategically applied over the course of trauma treatment, this technique can help reduce the vivid memories and emotional attachments to the event itself.
The EMDR Process
Eye movement therapy for trauma requires therapists to utilize a structured process that consists of eight phases, which are:
- Phase 1 — Recording the history of the patient.
- Phase 2 — Preparing the client for the therapy and explaining the process to the client.
- Phase 3 — Identifying and assessing the most profound memory of a traumatic experience.
- Phases 4-7 — Using EMDR techniques to process and resolve the memory.
- Phase 8 — Evaluating the results and determining if the patient has overcome the power of the memory.
In most cases, patients will undergo EMDR therapy once or twice per week for three or four weeks. Ultimately, the length and duration of the therapy will depend upon the client's traumatic experience and the effects of that experience on their life.
Benefits and Effectiveness of EMDR
Over time, psychologists and therapists have come to find that EMDR is one of the most effective ways to treat PTSD. While there are other trauma therapy techniques that focus on altering the emotions associated with a traumatic experience, there is no other treatment that focuses primarily on addressing the target memory from the incident. Through this structured approach, patients can greatly minimize the vividness of the memory itself, which can help them overcome some of the symptoms associated with PTSD.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is another highly effective treatment option for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Considered to be one of the leading trauma processing techniques, this treatment option is designed specifically to allow clients to talk through their traumatic experiences and the aftermath that followed.
Overview of Cognitive Processing Therapy
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a niche approach to cognitive behavioral therapy in which the individual is encouraged to talk through their experiences and the emotions associated with them. The goal of this talk-focused therapy is to help an affected individual change their thought process, both about the event itself and their lives moving forward.
The Steps of CPT
CPT is a structured approach to talk therapy, and it consists of 12 weekly sessions. The duration of the session may vary based on the therapist and the needs of the client, but most sessions last for between 60 and 90 minutes. The sessions are designed to help the individual work through and process their trauma, and clients typically complete worksheets or writing assignments that help them begin to process their experiences.
Effectiveness of CPT in Treating Trauma
Given the fact that CPT focuses primarily on talking through the traumatic experience and processing it, it's not surprising that it is considered to be one of the most effective PTSD treatment options. Many people who begin CPT find that they make progress within just a few sessions. However, the benefits of this treatment option can last for a lifetime.
Additional Trauma-Focused Approaches
The severity or frequency of a traumatic experience, as well as the age of the individual who experiences the trauma, can greatly impact the lasting effects of trauma. To provide clients with a personalized approach to trauma-focused therapy, therapists and counselors may use a variety of trauma-focused approaches.
Additional trauma therapy techniques include:
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
Prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD is a gradual approach to trauma-focused therapy in which the individual is encouraged to confront their fears associated with traumatic memories. Individuals who begin PE therapy will usually be put on a structured treatment plan that involves at least 8 to 15 weekly sessions that last for about 90 minutes.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is a short-term treatment option designed specifically for children who have experienced trauma or abuse. Treatment requires both the affected child and at least one caregiver to participate in 8 to 25 sessions. These sessions typically take place in outpatient settings, such as a mental health clinic, a school, or a doctor's office.
Integrating Trauma-Focused Approaches into Practice
Therapists frequently work with clients who have experienced trauma at some point in their lives, requiring them to be able to effectively implement trauma therapy techniques into their practice. Knowing which trauma therapy techniques are most effective and how to personalize your approach to cater to the individual needs of the patient is essential when creating a treatment plan for your client.
Choosing the Right Approach for Clients
Each client that you work with will be coping with their own individual struggles, requiring you to know how to select the right approach. Before you craft a treatment plan, you should have a consultation appointment with your client to better understand their needs, where they are at in their healing journey and what type of response they have had to their trauma. By aligning trauma therapy techniques with the needs and personal preferences of your client, you are more likely to provide them with the best possible results.
Combining Approaches for Comprehensive Care
In some cases, you may find that you need to combine approaches to childhood trauma therapy to provide your clients with a well-rounded therapeutic experience. If you decide to combine approaches, be sure to be as transparent as possible about the techniques you are using and why you chose those specific treatment options.
Trauma-Informed Care in the Therapy Setting
When dealing with destructive or disruptive behaviors, the natural reaction is to try to figure out why that individual is behaving in the way that they are. However, trauma-informed care aims to shift the mindset from "What is wrong with my client?" to "What could have happened to my client to make them behave in this way?"
The Principles of Trauma-Informed Care
The principles of trauma-informed care include:
- Prioritizing safety at all times.
- Building trust through transparency.
- Offering support through shared experiences.
- Collaborating with patients and other healthcare providers to create a well-rounded treatment plan.
- Empowering clients to adopt strategies and techniques that will help them heal.
- Acknowledging and addressing stereotypes and biases that may exist.
Building Trust and Safety with Trauma Clients
Individuals who have experienced trauma are less likely to trust others, as a result of their own traumatic experiences. Before you can begin utilizing trauma therapy techniques, you will need to build a sense of trust in your client so that they can feel safe with you. This foundation allows you to begin a journey together that results in deep and lasting healing for your client.
Learn the Leading Trauma Therapy Techniques at Indiana Wesleyan University
At Indiana Wesleyan University, we offer a wide range of programs in our Division of Counseling that allow students to explore the niche areas of this field. Those who are interested in trauma-focused therapy will have the opportunity to develop the leading skills required to implement trauma therapy techniques in their own practice. By providing students with a faith-based foundation, graduates from the Division of Counseling can launch a career rooted in trust, empathy and compassion.
Request more information about our degree programs today.
Sources
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/trauma-focused-cognitive-behavior-therapy
https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/eye-movement-reprocessing
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand_tx/cognitive_processing.asp
https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/prolonged-exposure
https://www.traumainformedcare.chcs.org/what-is-trauma-informed-care
