As mental health professionals, we often encounter individuals who have experienced trauma in their lives, whether it be from childhood abuse, a car accident, or combat.

Trauma therapy, specifically designed to address the impact of traumatic experiences, plays a crucial role in helping individuals heal and regain control over their lives. But why is trauma therapy so hard? What sets it apart from other forms of therapy, and why do survivors often struggle with the process?

Let's delve deeper into these questions to gain a better understanding.

What is Trauma Therapy?

Before we explore why trauma therapy is challenging, let's define what it entails.

Trauma therapy is a specialized form of therapy aimed at helping individuals recover from traumatic experiences. Unlike traditional talk therapy, trauma therapy focuses specifically on addressing the psychological, emotional, and physical effects of trauma.

It often involves evidence-based techniques such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and somatic experiencing.

Why is Trauma Therapy So Hard?

Confronting and Processing Traumatic Memories

But isn’t therapy just sitting in a room and talking to someone? Why is trauma therapy so hard?

Trauma therapy involves confronting and processing traumatic memories, which can be incredibly challenging for survivors. Here's why:

• Fragmentation of memories: Traumatic memories are often fragmented, disjointed, and overwhelming, making them difficult to process. These memories may resurface in bits and pieces, making it hard for patients to even make sense of their experiences, let alone share them.

• Uncovering buried memories: Many trauma survivors have buried or repressed memories as a coping mechanism to protect themselves from overwhelming emotions. Addressing these buried memories in therapy sessions can be daunting and may require a delicate approach from the therapist.

• Emotional intensity and triggers: Revisiting traumatic experiences can evoke intense emotions like fear, anger, shame, and guilt. These emotions can act as triggers, leading to dissociation or emotional shutdown during therapy sessions.

Building Trust

Establishing a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship is essential in trauma therapy. However, trust-building can be challenging for trauma survivors because of past experiences of betrayal or violation.

This might be a big leap for some people learning how to talk about trauma in therapy– because they haven’t felt safe being trusting in their own lives.

Here's what makes building trust difficult for trauma patients:

• Past betrayals: Many trauma survivors have experienced betrayal or violation from trusted individuals, leading to profound trust issues. These past traumas can make it challenging for survivors to trust their therapist or open up about their experiences.

• Fear of vulnerability: Trauma survivors may fear being vulnerable or judged, making it difficult for them to disclose sensitive information or express their emotions. This fear stems from past experiences of being invalidated or dismissed.

• Need for safety: Trust is closely linked to feelings of safety and security. Trauma survivors need to feel safe and supported in therapy to gradually lower their defences and build trust with their therapist.

To overcome these challenges, therapists have to employ strategies to build rapport and create a secure environment for clients to open up. This could involve demonstrating empathy, validating survivors' experiences, and respecting their boundaries.

Being Patient With a Longer Process

Patience is crucial in trauma therapy, as healing often takes time.

However, it can be hard for anyone– whether they’re in trauma therapy or a different kind of therapy– to wait to see results.

Survivors may experience setbacks and challenges along the way, triggered by external stressors, unexpected triggers, or difficulties in therapy sessions.

They’ll also likely realize that healing is a nonlinear journey, with survivors experiencing ups and downs throughout the process. Therapists must acknowledge the unpredictable nature of trauma recovery and adapt their approach accordingly.

Principles of Trauma Therapy

When it comes to trauma therapy, it's important to understand that there isn't necessarily a strict set of principles carved in stone.

Instead, therapists and mental health professionals follow a general guideline, rooted in compassion and understanding, to help navigate the complexities of trauma recovery.

Safety

Creating a safe environment ensures that the therapy space is physically secure and free from any potential harm. Equally important is fostering emotional safety, where clients feel validated, respected, and supported.

In order to create a safe space, qualified therapists have to employ various techniques to cultivate a sense of safety in the therapeutic environment.

Some of these may include setting clear boundaries, providing psychoeducation about trauma responses, and practicing grounding exercises to help clients stay present and grounded during challenging moments.

Empowerment

In trauma therapy, a lot of empowerment comes from validating a patient’s experiences and strengths is crucial. This helps them reclaim a sense of agency and self-worth.

Additionally, a good trauma therapist will treat sessions as a collaborative journey, with clients actively participating in goal-setting and decision-making. This in and of itself brings autonomy and empowers a patient to drive their own healing journey.

Trust

Trust is cultivated through consistent support, empathy, and validation. Therapists create a safe space where clients feel heard, understood, and accepted without judgment.

Trauma survivors often experience a profound sense of vulnerability, having been betrayed or harmed by others in the past.

Trusting the therapist creates a safe space where they feel protected and supported. It also teaches them to regulate their emotions effectively during therapy sessions as they evoke more intense feelings and memories.

Ultimately, trust forms the foundation of the therapeutic relationship in trauma therapy. It creates a supportive environment where clients feel validated, understood, and empowered to confront and overcome their traumatic experiences.

Complex Trauma Therapy vs. Single-Incident Trauma

In the realm of trauma therapy, understanding the nuances between complex trauma and single-incident trauma is essential.

Single-incident trauma involves a one-time event, while complex trauma stems from prolonged exposure to multiple traumatic events, often occurring in interpersonal contexts such as childhood abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.

The cumulative impact of both types of trauma extends far beyond individual traumatic events. It infiltrates every aspect of an individual's life, influencing their sense of self, relationships, and worldview.

Addressing any kind of trauma requires a nuanced and holistic approach that acknowledges its multifaceted nature.

So if you’re asking “how long does trauma therapy take?” then you should know that it differs according to the patient, the therapist, the practice, and the approach they’re using.

Even after going through therapy for some time, you might still be wondering “Why is trauma therapy so hard?” The truth is that therapy is always going to be a little challenging.

As long as you continue showing up and doing the best work you can, you’re taking a step toward your long-term self-care.

Are You Looking for Trauma Therapy?

If you’re asking yourself “Do I need trauma therapy?” book a free consultation today. We’d be happy to help you get one step closer to finding a therapist to support your day-to-day and long-term goals!