Fighting off Childhood Trauma: Exploring different Therapy methods

Source: Healthline

Recently, I read a book ‘I am glad my mother died’ by Jennette McCurdy, the former child actor of the famous series iCarly, which me amongst so many other teens had grown up watching. The hilarious memoir was a surprising glimpse in her personal life, which was full of the struggles she faced due to her abusive relationship with her mother and how it has shaped the way she handles things even as an adult.

Unresolved childhood trauma can basically take up many forms in adults. This includes signs of distorted self-perception, shame, fear, guilt, humiliation, and chronic physical pain (De Belis, 2014)

As a result, adults dealing with PTSD from childhood trauma can struggle in their jobs, interpersonal relationships, and specifically their own mental health. Now the good news is, due to the advancement in medicine, it is easier to identify triggers, develop coping strategies, and decrease the symptoms, in a safe environment with the help of supportive therapists and clinical practitioners.

Some of the most interesting ones that I stumbled upon are:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

It is a form of psychotherapy in which the therapist uses activities and supporting tools in a structured way to help the patient identify their own negative thinking patterns by observing the pattern and eventually respond to them in a more efficient way in their daily lives. (CBT, 2002)

Cognitive processing therapy

It is a subtype of cognitive behavioural therapy or CBT. CPT mainly involves 12 sessions which helps identify and address unhelpful thinking related to traumatic events, with the help of formal processing of the trauma and subsequent skill development. (Arehart, 2004)

Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

This evidence-based model involves trauma-sensitive interventions with humanistic principles, and family support that relies on the participation of trusted parents and caregivers in the treatment process. In this process, even parents learn how to recognize and respond appropriately to their adult child’s trauma responses. (Hunt, 2022)

EMDR Therapy

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing or EMDR therapy doesn’t require talking in detail about a distressing issue. To take an example, it is similar to how you learn not to touch a hot stove because it burns your hand as your mind tries to suppress memories to avoid accessing them because they’re upsetting. But this mental “injury” can still cause negative symptoms. (Cleveland, 2022)

So this therapy focuses on changing the behaviours and emotions that result from a distressing experience like trauma. This actually allows your brain to resume a natural healing process.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy

This takes place over a period of 3 months. The therapist helps individuals confront fears and situations and accommodating their developmental levels and engagement in the process. The only catch is that the relationship between the patient and the therapist needs to be stable before exposure begins in the office and outside the office environment using imaginal or in-vivo exposure. (PET, 2021)

• Imaginal exposure occurs in a session which is recorded, with the patient describing the event that troubled them in childhood in detail in the present tense with guidance from the therapist.
• In vivo exposure is usually assigned as homework. The therapist identifies a range of possible stimuli and situations connected to the traumatic fear, such as specific places or people. The patient is encouraged to challenge him or herself gradually and confront feared stimuli and cope with the associated emotion.

Art Therapy

Talking openly about trauma can be very difficult. This therapy is recommended for adults who find want to express themselves without using verbal cues. One doesn’t have to be a seasoned artist to engage in art therapy or making complete sense. Guided by trained therapists, it taps into the adults’ thinking process which now uses creative expression to dig a little deeper than ever done before. (Malchiodi, 2003)

References:

1. De Bellis, M. D., & Zisk, A. (2014). The biological effects of childhood trauma. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics, 23(2), 185–222.
2. Arehart-Treichel, J. (2004, August 6). PTSD Treatment Focus of Newest APA Practice Guideline. Psychiatric News, 39(15), 24–43. https://doi.org/10.1176/pn.39.15.0390024a
3. Hunt, J. R. (2022, February 9). TF-CBT Certification Program — Official Website. Trauma Focus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Certification Program. Retrieved October 18, 2022, from https://tfcbt.org/
4. EMDR Therapy: What It Is, Procedure & Effectiveness. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved October 18, 2022, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22641-emdr-therapy
5. Malchiodi, C. A. (2003). Art therapy and the brain. Handbook of art therapy, 16–24.
6. CBT, B. P. O. (2002). Brief cognitive-behavioral therapy: Definition and scientific foundations. Handbook of brief cognitive behaviour therapy, 1.