Why Is Trauma Therapy Important in SUD Treatment Programs?

Trauma therapy is a type of psychotherapy that helps people who are experiencing negative symptoms following a traumatic event. The goal of trauma therapy is to help relieve the pain and distress associated with the trauma and address any other mental health conditions caused by it. In this article, you can learn about trauma therapy, how it works, and why it’s important.

What is Trauma Therapy?

Trauma therapy entails a controlled and supported exposure to memories of a traumatic event, which helps sufferers overcome their post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The therapy aims not to destroy or block out these memories, but instead, it helps patients to manage and cope with the emotions tied to their recollections. Trauma therapy can also help people experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) find relief from distressing memories and thoughts, sleep disturbances, flashbacks, nightmares, angry outbursts, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating or managing emotions.

PTSD can happen to anyone. Trauma therapy was developed to treat combat veterans and victims of horrific crimes.  People suffering from PTSD will avoid activities or places where they may be reminded of their experiences. When this occurs, it can impact their life, causing them to experience flashbacks and nightmares, anxiety, irritability, and feelings of paranoia, and a lack of trust in others.

How Does Trauma Therapy Work?

Trauma therapy involves working with a team of health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and therapists. These professionals communicate with a patient to understand how they are dealing with and responding to traumatic experiences in their past to develop the most effective treatment for them.

Trauma therapy begins with a comprehensive screening by the trauma therapist for possible PTSD, SUD, and other related issues. The goal of the initial screening is to gain a sense of what kind of emotional wounds or anxieties are present and for how long. After the initial screening, the therapist works closely with the patient to develop a treatment plan tailored to their individual emotional problems. Finally, the trauma therapist will work with the patient to develop coping strategies that can help manage the patient’s anxiety and flashbacks.

The Trauma Therapist’s Role

Trauma therapists guide their patients to learn how to handle negative thoughts. For example, a trauma therapist may teach a patient to keep a journal that tracks thoughts and behaviors associated with their trauma. Then, the trauma therapists help patients navigate these traumatic events through various mental health strategies.

It is encouraged to use a therapist who has significant experience working with trauma and understands PTSD. They should also have strong interpersonal and communication skills. In addition, your therapist will want to develop a working relationship with you, which will help build trust and enable them to treat your symptoms with the most individualized care possible. A trauma therapist will provide evidence-based treatments, provide referrals to outside specialists, develop a treatment plan, and help you get additional treatment when needed.

Trauma Therapy Options

There are many forms of trauma therapy. Consider which one might be best for your circumstances. Restoration Recovery offers the most effective trauma therapies and services, including:

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for PTSD.  It deals with distorted or upsetting beliefs and attributions related to traumas. It provides a supportive environment in which people can talk about their traumas and learn skills to better cope with the trauma of everyday living.
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) teaches people how to manage traumatic memories, avoid unwanted flashbacks, express anxiety, and manage difficult emotions. It teaches people how to approach painful experiences more positively, shifting their beliefs and changing their emotional state. In addition, DBT teaches how to reinterpret painful situations. These skills can help a person become more resilient and cope with trauma without the negative impact it used to have on them.
• Gestalt therapy helps people resolve individual challenges and heal from issues in their past. This therapy uses interactive activities to help participants move forward with their lives. The goal is to bring awareness to the current moment, which can be achieved through interactive methods like the “empty chair.”
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction works by helping participants become more aware of their thoughts and of how they react to stress. It helps them learn how to control negative thoughts and their reactions to stressful situations. The therapy’s goal is to teach participants how to de-escalate, diffuse, and regulate negative emotions.
• Art therapy focuses on the creation of art in order to reduce the distress caused by trauma. It can be an enjoyable way to express and share thoughts about the traumatic event or deal with feelings related to the trauma. Art therapy often includes the use of drawing, painting, and sculpture.

If you or someone you love is dealing with the after-effects of a traumatic event, trauma therapy may help. Trauma therapy can relieve the pain and distress associated with a traumatic event and address any other associated mental health conditions. Trauma therapy can help people experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, other traumatic experiences, and/or SUD deal with distressing memories and thoughts to provide the best prognosis. Trauma can affect a person’s daily life, and Restoration Recovery Center can help. Our therapists provide personalized therapy to deal with this condition, including individual, group, and family therapy. Restoration Recovery Center offers a comprehensive treatment plan to help you on your spiritual journey to recovery. By avoiding using substances and choosing other ways to deal with stress, you can live a mentally and physically healthy life. Trauma therapy has helped many addicts recover because it allows them to process their emotions in a safe environment. For more information, call (888) 290-0925.