All humans will encounter some form of trauma during their lives. It could be from intense, prolonged stress, the death of a loved one, living through a natural disaster, or any of a number of traumatic experiences. In many cases, trauma and the accompanying emotional and psychological responses far outlast the initial experience. That’s because trauma physically changes the brain in lasting ways. The brain can easily become stuck in a trauma response cycle and mental health disorders, personality changes, and other negative symptoms can appear.
Thankfully, trauma therapy provides a safe, evidence-based approach to processing trauma and moving forward. Reach out to AssuraSource by completing our online form or calling 972.233.1010 to find out how behavioral health therapy programs can benefit you or someone you love who is dealing with trauma.
Types and Symptoms of Trauma
Trauma therapy is able to tackle any type of trauma and its attendant symptoms. Before diving into the exact methods of trauma therapy, it is worth overviewing the three categories of trauma and some of the most common symptoms.
First, trauma is generally divided into three categories: acute, chronic, and complex. Acute refers to trauma stemming from a single incident. This could be a car accident, a natural disaster, or a severe injury. Chronic trauma is related to prolonged experience across months or even years. Typical examples in this category are combat experience, sexual or physical abuse, or domestic violence. And lastly, complex trauma is the term given to scenarios where someone experiences multiple different traumas over a period of time.
The potential symptoms related to any type of trauma include:
- Panic attacks
- Depression
- Anger
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Flashbacks
Trauma often results in the development of a mental health disorder and can put people at risk of developing an addiction. No matter the type of trauma, help and recovery are possible through a trauma therapy in Dallas, Texas, like the one offered by AssuraSource.
Trauma Therapy Options
Trauma therapy’s main goal is to support people in coming to grips with the reality of what occurred in ways that allow the mind to successfully process past trauma and move forward. The most common types of trauma therapy are modified versions of cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Each of these therapies is used across a range of mental health disorders and share certain elements that make them quality candidates for alleviating trauma. Trauma therapy options include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – CBT that targets trauma begins by helping patients understand their trauma and the impact it has had on their body and mind. CBT often helps people develop a coherent trauma narrative that centers on a healthy disposition about what happened. This could involve letting go of negative self-beliefs. For instance, many survivors of sexual or physical abuse blame themselves for what happened. CBT attempts to upend that belief and replace it with healthier thought patterns that support proper processing of past trauma.
- Psychodynamic therapy – Psychodynamic therapy is a type of trauma therapy that builds on past work in psychoanalysis to address the unconscious roadblocks that prevent healing from trauma. A major focus of this method is prolonged discussion between therapist and patient to unearth what is preventing a person from being able to process their trauma and move forward. This type of trauma therapy is most often used in cases where trauma occurred in childhood or some time in the past rather than as a more immediate intervention for cases where the trauma is readily identifiable such as combat experience or surviving a natural disaster.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) – Trauma therapy programs near Dallas, Texas typically offer EMDR therapy. This type of trauma therapy is relatively new in comparison to CBT and psychodynamic therapy. However, in many cases, it can be even more effective than the other two techniques. Its entire purpose is to remove the mental block stopping people from moving past their trauma. EMDR accomplishes this in a novel way by directing eye movements, repetitive tapping, or audio stimulation while guiding patients through recalling their trauma. Thus, EMDR helps the brain create new pathways that process trauma and allow a person to move forward.
Explore Trauma Therapy in Dallas, Texas, at AssuraSource
AssuraSource offers a comprehensive trauma therapy program in Dallas, Texas. Anyone can access high-quality mental health services from the comfort of their own home by taking advantage of AssuraSource’s in-home or virtual telehealth options. Trauma can derail people’s lives and isn’t something that just goes away with time. There is no shame in admitting you need professional help. Call 972.233.1010 or fill out our online form to get connected to trauma therapy options today. We are ready to help you verify your Medicare and Medicaid insurance so that you can get started as soon as possible.