Which therapy is best to treat trauma?

Everyone’s reaction to trauma is unique. The course of treatment that is recommended for you will be determined by your specific symptoms, your diagnosis (if applicable), and your individual requirements. What is found helpful can vary from person to person and over time. It can be beneficial to keep an open mind and consider many solutions.

Talking therapy

There are various types of talking therapies, but they are all intended to provide you time and space to discuss challenging thoughts and feelings with a qualified expert.

There is no one tried-and-true method for treating trauma; instead, different people find different sorts of therapy useful. Regardless of the sort of therapy your therapist uses, research has shown that your relationship with them is extremely crucial.

Types of therapy which people find helpful:

• Body focused therapies: These address the effects that trauma has on the body as well as the mind.
• Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR): Involves making rhythmic eye movements whilst recalling a traumatic event. This form of therapy is popular for treating PTSD.
• Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy: An adapted form of CBT for PTSD.
• Cognitive analytic therapy (CAT): This looks at past events and relationships, and how these affect decision making and thoughts. CAT brings together ideas from a number of different therapies.

Creative Therapy

 

Treatments involving the use of artistic, musical, or dramatic endeavours in a therapeutic setting with the assistance of a qualified professional are known as arts and creative therapies. You don’t need any special abilities or knowledge to participate in these activities.

Some believe that the benefit of these therapies is that they offer verbal alternatives for dealing with uncomfortable emotions and traumatic experiences. Traumatic incidents may be a part of this.

Medication

 

Medication for mental health and trauma can be found helpful when struggling with overcoming issues from the past. Which type of medication is offered will depend on the symptoms and type of mental health problem.

Types of medication that may be offered include:

• Antidepressants
• Antipsychotics
• Sleeping pills / minor tranquillisers
• Lithium and other mood stabilisers

If you, someone in your family, or a friend are in need of treatment and support, here are some of the ways you can get help:

• Speaking to a GP: During your appointment, by explaining symptoms and feelings, the GP may be able to suggest the best options going forward, whether that be therapy or medication
• Specialists organisations: Organisations such as FRANK and ASSIST trauma care offer therapy services both remotely and in person
• Local trauma services: Some local organisations may offer free or low-cost trauma therapy locally.
• Private organisations: Choosing to go privately can often be quicker to access compared to the NHS. Therapy providers such as Meadows Psychology Service offer psychological assessments and trauma counselling and therapy for children, adolescents and families.

Which therapy is best to treat trauma?

Everyone’s reaction to trauma is unique. The course of treatment that is recommended for you will be determined by your specific symptoms, your diagnosis (if applicable), and your individual requirements. What is found helpful can vary from person to person and over time. It can be beneficial to keep an open mind and consider many solutions.

Talking therapy

There are various types of talking therapies, but they are all intended to provide you time and space to discuss challenging thoughts and feelings with a qualified expert.

There is no one tried-and-true method for treating trauma; instead, different people find different sorts of therapy useful. Regardless of the sort of therapy your therapist uses, research has shown that your relationship with them is extremely crucial.

Types of therapy which people find helpful:

• Body focused therapies: These address the effects that trauma has on the body as well as the mind.
• Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR): Involves making rhythmic eye movements whilst recalling a traumatic event. This form of therapy is popular for treating PTSD.
• Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy: An adapted form of CBT for PTSD.
• Cognitive analytic therapy (CAT): This looks at past events and relationships, and how these affect decision making and thoughts. CAT brings together ideas from a number of different therapies.

Creative Therapy

 

Treatments involving the use of artistic, musical, or dramatic endeavours in a therapeutic setting with the assistance of a qualified professional are known as arts and creative therapies. You don’t need any special abilities or knowledge to participate in these activities.

Some believe that the benefit of these therapies is that they offer verbal alternatives for dealing with uncomfortable emotions and traumatic experiences. Traumatic incidents may be a part of this.

Medication

 

Medication for mental health and trauma can be found helpful when struggling with overcoming issues from the past. Which type of medication is offered will depend on the symptoms and type of mental health problem.

Types of medication that may be offered include:

• Antidepressants
• Antipsychotics
• Sleeping pills / minor tranquillisers
• Lithium and other mood stabilisers

If you, someone in your family, or a friend are in need of treatment and support, here are some of the ways you can get help:

• Speaking to a GP: During your appointment, by explaining symptoms and feelings, the GP may be able to suggest the best options going forward, whether that be therapy or medication
• Specialists organisations: Organisations such as FRANK and ASSIST trauma care offer therapy services both remotely and in person
• Local trauma services: Some local organisations may offer free or low-cost trauma therapy locally.
• Private organisations: Choosing to go privately can often be quicker to access compared to the NHS. Therapy providers such as Meadows Psychology Service offer psychological assessments and trauma counselling and therapy for children, adolescents and families.