Trauma therapy is a challenging field, but is full of promise, having evolved significantly in the past few decades in efforts to help those individuals experiencing trauma-related disorders. Emerging and innovative approaches are being used to complement those that have been developed in the past 15-20 years. Read on to learn more about this interesting work and how it may benefit those suffering from trauma.
Understanding Trauma and Its Impact on Mental Health
Trauma has a wide-ranging impact on mental health affecting both the brain and the body.
How Trauma Affects the Brain and Body
Trauma profoundly impacts both the brain and body. In the brain, trauma triggers and heightens the amygdala, the brain’s fear center, which processes emotions, threats, and triggers the fight-or-flight response. Trauma can also impair the prefrontal cortex, which regulates emotions and decision-making. Chronic stress from trauma can shrink the hippocampus, affecting memory.
In the body, trauma dysregulates the nervous system, leading to hypervigilance or dissociation. It also increases cortisol levels, contributing to inflammation, weakened immunity, and chronic pain. Over time, unresolved trauma may result in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and somatic illnesses.
Current Evidence-Based Therapy Approaches
The American Psychological Association (APA) currently strongly recommends four evidence-based therapies for trauma treatment [1]:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Cognitive Therapy
- Prolonged Exposure (PE)
The APA conditionally recommends the following three psychotherapies, largely because the evidence is not yet as strong, and for several other clinical reasons:
- Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)
Other therapy approaches currently in use that have had effective results include:
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
Why Current Approaches May Not Work for Everyone
Current approaches to trauma therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Therapy, and Prolonged Exposure (PE), have been effective for many individuals, but are not universally effective. They may not work for everyone due to several key reasons:
1. Over-Reliance on Verbal Processing
Many current therapies require clients to verbally articulate their trauma, which can be retraumatizing for those who:
- Struggle with putting experiences into words (e.g., due to dissociation or preverbal trauma).
- Come from cultures where discussing trauma openly is stigmatized.
- Have complex trauma (C-PTSD) and find it overwhelming to recount traumatic memories.
2. Hyperfocus on Cognition Over the Body
Trauma is stored not just in the mind but also in the nervous system and body (as explained by Bessel van der Kolk in The Body Keeps the Score) [2]. Traditional talk therapies may miss:
- Somatic symptoms (e.g., chronic pain, digestive issues, panic attacks).
- Dysregulated nervous system responses (e.g., fight-flight-freeze reactions).
- Dissociation, which makes cognitive processing difficult.
3. Exposure Therapy Can Be Overwhelming
While Exposure Therapy helps some, it can be too intense for individuals with:
- Severe PTSD or dissociation (leading to emotional flooding or shutdown).
- Developmental trauma (e.g., childhood abuse), where gradual approaches like somatic experiencing or parts work (Internal Family Systems approach) may be safer.
4. Lack of Cultural Sensitivity
Western trauma therapies often assume:
- Individualistic healing (vs. collective or community-based healing in some cultures).
- A linear, “problem-solving” approach that may not align with non-Western worldviews.
- Limited understanding of intergenerational trauma in marginalized communities.
5. One-Size-Fits-All Approach
Trauma is highly personal, yet current models sometimes apply rigid protocols. What works for one person (e.g., EMDR) may not work for another, depending on:
- Neurodivergence (e.g., autism, ADHD).
- Attachment style (e.g., disorganized attachment may need relational therapies first).
- Type of trauma (single-event vs. chronic, relational trauma).
A personalized, trauma-informed approach—considering culture, neurobiology, and individual differences—is often necessary for true healing.
Emerging Techniques in Trauma Therapy
For those who don’t respond to currently approved methods, the following emerging techniques may be helpful. They are valid but have not yet accumulated sufficient evidence to warrant being strongly recommended by organizations such as the APA.
Somatic Experiencing (SE)
SE focuses on physical sensations to release traumatic stress stored in the body. This body-oriented approach helps restore nervous system regulation by gradually exposing clients to trauma-related sensations rather than directly confronting traumatic memories. It aims to release tension and restore the body’s natural healing processes, ultimately leading to greater emotional and physical well-being [3].
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Sensorimotor psychotherapy is a body-centered approach to treating trauma, combining traditional talk therapy with somatic techniques to address the physical and emotional impact of trauma. It helps individuals re-experience traumatic events in a safe environment, allowing them to release stored tension and develop a greater sense of bodily awareness and self-regulation [4].
Psychedelic-Assisted Ketamine Therapy
Psychedelics like ketamine are being integrated into trauma therapy under medical supervision and sometimes with an attending psychotherapist. Ketamine promotes neural growth and creates a dissociative state that allows patients to explore trauma safely. This approach is particularly effective for individuals who have not responded to traditional therapies [5].
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS is frequently used as an evidence-based psychotherapy, helping people heal by accessing and healing their protective and wounded inner parts. IFS creates inner and outer connectedness by helping people first access their Self and, from that core, come to understand and heal their parts [6].
Art/Music/Dance Therapy
Various forms of nonverbal expression can be helpful and preferred by those who struggle with words.
Innovative Techniques in Trauma Therapy
In recent years a number of innovative techniques have been developed. In general, although very promising, they have not yet all accumulated enough clinical evidence to fully validate their effectiveness,
Neurofeedback in Trauma Recovery
Neurofeedback has become much more frequently used in recent years. It helps trauma recovery by training the brain to self-regulate using real-time EEG feedback. It reduces hyperarousal, improves emotional control, and repairs dysregulated neural pathways, offering a non-invasive, body-based approach for those who struggle with talk therapy or medication.
The Role of Genetics in Trauma Therapy Customization
Genetic testing influences trauma response through genes like FKBP5 and BDNF, affecting stress resilience. Personalized therapy (e.g., adjusting CBT or medication) based on genetic markers can enhance treatment efficacy, offering tailored approaches for those with heightened PTSD risk or slower recovery.
Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST)
TIST addresses the neurobiological impact of trauma through stabilization techniques rooted in neuroscience, attachment theory, and mindfulness practices. It is a trauma-informed parts approach to therapy drawn from Somatic Experiencing and Internal Family Systems. TIST works with the ‘living legacy of trauma’, the emotional and somatic memories held by young parts of the self and experienced as here-and-now reality by clients. While promising, more research is needed to establish its efficacy [7].
NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM)
NARM is a cutting edge model focused on healing developmental trauma by addressing attachment patterns that lead to lifelong emotional and relational difficulties. These early, unconscious patterns of disconnection deeply affect our identity, emotions, physiology, behavior, and relationships. Learning how to work simultaneously with these diverse elements is a radical shift that has profound clinical implications for healing complex trauma [8].
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy helps clients relax and focus while reducing the emotional intensity of traumatic memories. It is particularly useful for individuals who struggle with other modalities like EMDR or CBT.
Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM)
CRM is a neurobiologically-based affect-focused model that facilitates targeting of traumatic experiences by bridging the most primitive aspects of the person and their brain (midbrain/brainstem), to their purest, healthiest parts of the self. It draws on techniques like breathwork, attachment neurochemistry, and mindfulness to target deep-seated trauma [9].
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)
AEDP leverages attachment theory and body-focused approaches to help clients access innate resilience mechanisms for managing trauma [10].
Wearable Technology, Virtual Reality, and AI-Assisted Therapy
Wearable technology devices like smartwatches and tactile feedback gloves provide bilateral stimulation outside therapy sessions, reinforcing progress made during traditional EMDR therapy. Recent advancements include virtual EMDR therapy for PTSD and Trauma.
Artificial intelligence is being used in virtual therapy settings to track emotional responses and customize treatment plans in real-time, enhancing the effectiveness of modalities like EMDR.
Choosing the Right Trauma Therapy for Your Needs
Choosing the right trauma therapy depends on your unique needs, trauma history, and nervous system responses. Consider factors like symptom severity, cultural background, and personal comfort with different approaches—whether somatic (SE, yoga therapy), cognitive (CBT, CPT), or experiential (EMDR, IFS).
A trauma-informed therapist can help assess which method aligns best with your healing goals. Flexibility is key—what works for one person may not for another, so patience and self-compassion are essential.
Improving Mental Health in Utah
Treatment for mental health conditions is available in Utah. Are you or a loved one looking for a compassionate space to heal from anxiety, trauma, PTSD, other mental health conditions, or addictions? Our licensed trauma-informed professional therapists and counselors at Corner Canyon Health Centers can provide compassionate help using a range of therapeutic and holistic techniques.
Reach out to our Admissions team now at Corner Canyon. We’re in a peaceful setting bordered by the beautiful Wasatch Mountains.
Sources
[1] American Psychological Association. PTSD Treatments.
[2] Bessel Van Der Kolk. 2014. The Body Keeps The Score. Brain, Mind, and Body In the Healing of Trauma.
[3] Somatic Experiencing International.
[4] Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute.
[5] Drozdz SJ, et al. 2022. Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy: A Systematic Narrative Review of the Literature. J Pain Res. 2022 Jun 15;15:1691-1706.
[6] IFS Institute.
[7] Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment.
[9] Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM).
[10] AEDP Psychotherapy.
