Trauma Therapy in Los Angeles & Houston

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a psychotherapy used in many trauma recovery treatment plans. This modality involves movement of the eyes in a specific way while processing traumatic memories. The goal of EMDR therapy is to help the individual heal from traumatic events or other distress.

The effects of trauma can be unbearable and leave the individual unable to cope with daily life In turn, the person may resort to abusing drugs and alcohol to “numb” the pain. This method of self-medication can quickly spiral out of control and result in an addiction.

When both an addiction and a mental health condition co-occur, this is known as a dual diagnosis.

What happens during a trauma therapy session depends on your specific situation and the type of therapy implemented. In some therapies, you will reprocess traumatic events. Other therapeutic modalities will involve self-expression. Others will incorporate self-talk.

No matter the type of therapy for trauma, you will work through the traumatic events and develop coping mechanisms to help you overcome the distress and duress experienced as a result of the trauma,

Everyone feels different after trauma therapy. Some people feel an immediate sense of relief, even after their first therapy session. Other people feel a sense of sadness, anxiety, or depression as they recount distressing events. Both of these are completely normal responses to your first experience in trauma therapy.

Trauma therapy is not a one-time fix. It takes time to work through trauma and develop the coping skills necessary to return to a normal disposition.

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is the result of a traumatic event. This is most commonly associated with the horrors of war. Before more was known about this condition, it was said that soldiers suffering psychological distress after returning home were “shell shocked,”

PSTD applies to other traumatic events as well, including sexual assault or rape, a serious accident, a sudden or the unexpected death of a loved one.

Signs and symptoms of PTSD include vivid flashbacks wherein the individual is reliving the trauma as if it were happening in the moment, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, sweating, pain, nausea, or trembling, or other intense distress when reminded of the trauma.

Both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (C-PTSD) are a result of experiencing extreme stress, but there are key differentiators in their root cause.

PTSD may be caused by a single traumatic event, while C-PTSD is a result of ongoing trauma that lasts for months or years. C-PTSD can be a result of chronic childhood abuse or neglect, an abusive romantic relationship, or a high-stress career surrounded by death and disease, such as that of a pediatric oncologist.

Both forms of PTSD require holistic, individualized treatment and the guidance of a trauma-informed therapist for the best chance at lifelong healing.

There is no one singular treatment that is the best therapy for PTSD. Everyone responds to trauma differently, as well as responds to trauma therapies differently. Some people will find that talk therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is most helpful while others will find adjunct therapies such as EMDR, Trauma-informed yoga, or Neurofeedback more helpful.

The best treatment for trauma is the one that works for you as an individual. At The Heights, your care team will create a treatment plan that fits your unique situation so that your therapies are as conducive to your recovery as possible.