The experience of trauma is unique and leaves scars on our minds in ways that are lasting and irreversible. Trauma may occur because of an unexpected distressful event, series of circumstances that take place over time, or the accumulated experiences of several stressful situations that have a profound effect on us. In every instance, trauma can and will shake the foundations of who we are. For some individuals, healing from trauma does not feel possible, and there may be a sense of helplessness, confusion and hopelessness.
In this blog, we will discuss why it can be so hard to heal from trauma, the impact of trauma on your life, how to see therapy as a beacon of light in a dark time of your life, and we will discuss different forms of therapy which showed success in helping trauma survivors reclaim their lives.
What is Trauma?
Trauma is an emotional reaction to a distressing event or series of events. It is a product of going through an event that exceeds someone’s capacity to cope or to adequately process the event. Trauma doesn’t always have to be connected to tragedies like natural disasters, or acts of violence and bodily harm; it can be from simpler experiences, such as having too many stressors over a long enough time, neglect in childhood, emotional maltreatment, or witnessing a traumatic event.
Trauma can impact people physically, emotionally, and psychologically; trauma effects can persist long after the event has concluded. It is common for people who experience trauma to have symptoms of anxiety, depression, anger, guilt, emotional numbness, flashbacks, and difficulties trusting other people. Symptoms that are severe, and do not diminish, may suggest that the impact of trauma has developed into a mental health condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Why Facing Trouble Healing From Trauma?
Facing trouble healing from trauma can be a complex interaction of factors and trauma recovery is not an easy process; you have to go back into the emotional and psychological damage that the trauma caused. In some cases, to the extent that the trauma may have felt so intertwined that the person can be unaware of the ‘full’ impact. Thus, the experience of healing can make for very tricky roads to navigate. In some cases, trauma may have caused an individual to feel “stuck” and unable to move forward in their experience, letting go of experiences that have affected them.
It feels like the emotional wounds are still new, unhealed, and unresolved. It can prevent the individual from finding peace, stability, or any ability to connect with their positive feelings. People may approach dealing with pain through unhealthy mechanisms such as; substance use, self-harm, or the ultimate route—avoidance. Often these behaviours will make the whole process of healing more complicated as well.
Role of Therapy in Trauma Recovery
Although recovering from trauma is often a long and tough process, therapy represents a path forward. Therapy gives clients a secure and organized space to revisit their trauma, learn how trauma has affected them emotionally and psychologically, and begin to creatively process their distress in a healthy context. Therapy allows survivors to explore their trauma narrative without immediate worry of judgment and enables them to develop meaning and contextualize their trauma.
Therapy also allows trauma survivors the opportunity to develop trust in themselves and develop a sense of clarity, and ultimately regain authority over their lives. There are several possible pathways in therapy to allow individuals to recover from trauma. Some therapeutic modalities target cognitive work related to trauma, while others may address emotional expression, feelings and management of arousal, or mindfulness.
Types of Therapy for Trauma Recovery
1. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, is an adapted version of standard CBT therapy specifically for children, adolescents, and families. It pairs cognitive-behavioral techniques and trauma-responsive strategies that deal with the complexities in regard to trauma with young people. TF-CBT allows individuals to cognitively process their trauma, respond to their emotional responses, and gain coping skills. Use of TF-CBT is frequently noted in cases of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and various distinctions of trauma.
2. Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy, often called body-centered therapy, pays attention to the mind and body connection. Somatic therapy recognizes that not only is trauma emotional, or cognitive but also, potentially stored in the body. Pain, discomfort, and tension are physical manifestations of trauma. Individuals participating in somatic therapy, discover how to pay attention and notice physical sensations in their body, as well as learn to appreciate the sensations and tools to release these trapped feelings. Through somatic therapy, clients can reconnect with their body, experience a reduction in the physical symptoms of trauma, and facilitate healing and wellness.
3. Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a therapeutic modality that highlights emotional regulation and mindfulness. Initially created for the treatment of borderline personality disorder, it has also proved valuable for trauma survivors, especially those with intense emotional reactions and inability to tolerate distressing thoughts.
DBT uses cognitive-behavioral strategies and techniques, combined with mindfulness and acceptance approaches. Each treatment modality can help trauma survivors learn how to regulate their emotional state, tolerate distress, and develop interpersonal effectiveness. As DBT emphasizes it is important that individuals learn to accept difficult emotions rather than avoiding them, this is useful for trauma survivors whose ability to confront or express their emotions was seized or disallowed after experiencing trauma.
4. Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy works to heal trauma by revealing the unconscious effects of past experience, particularly early childhood experience on current thoughts, feelings, and actions. This approach to therapy is based on the idea that unresolved trauma affects the way people respond to their reactions and relationships in present situations. By uncovering unconscious emotional conflicts and patterns, the individual comes to greater self-awareness of their inner world. Psychodynamic therapy allows a person to reflect on their trauma, the trauma’s residual impact, and to process the emotional pain systematically. This deeper awareness leads to emotional maturing, healthier interpersonal relationships, and greater inner peace and resilience.
Conclusion
If you are struggling with trauma and want to reclaim your life, therapy can be an effective way to help you. While the healing journey can feel like an enormous task, with the help of an experienced therapist, appropriate therapy techniques, you can learn to process your trauma, learn to manage it, and learn to rediscover your strength. Healing from trauma is not about “moving on” from your past, it is about learning to exist with peace, and therapy can be so helpful for that! Trauma therapy in NYC has many modalities and techniques to shift your perspective and help you confront, process, and heal from traumatic experiences.
References
1.Treatment, C. F. S. A. (2014c). Understanding the impact of trauma. Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207191/
2.Lyman, D. R., Jobe-Shields, L., George, P., Dougherty, R. H., Daniels, A. S., Ghose, S. S., Huang, L., & Delphin-Rittmon, M. E. (2014). Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Assessing the Evidence. Psychiatric Services (Washington, D.C.), 65(5), 591. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201300255
3.Professional, C. C. M. (2025b, March 19). Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22838-dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt
4.Yadav, G., McNamara, S., & Gunturu, S. (2024, August 16). Trauma-Informed therapy.StatPearls -NCBIBookshelf.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK604200/#:~:text=Trauma%2Dinformed%20therapy
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