Trauma is a disturbing or highly distressing experience that often leaves a significant negative impact on the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health of an individual. Leaving a trauma unaddressed, or treating it without the proper type of care can lead to exacerbated pain, challenges and ailments, physically or mentally.
Many people develop a mental health or substance use disorder in the aftermath of a traumatic experience, making trauma-informed care all the more essential in their recovery. While not everyone will develop an illness or disorder after a traumatic event, professional help is often suggested.
In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at the various treatments for trauma and break down which treatment modalities are best for someone in recovery from trauma.
What is trauma-informed care?
Trauma-informed care is an approach to mental and behavioral healthcare, social services and other medical treatments that recognizes the impact of trauma on the individual’s struggles, as well as their overall life.
Within trauma-informed care, the physician and other medical staff are enabled to support a person’s healing and recovery on a deeper, more personal and effective level. Learning how trauma affects people, and how each patient is affected by their personal traumas helps medical staff better understand, and treat a person’s physical, mental and emotional well-being.
There are several core principles, or values, within trauma-informed care. These include:
- Creating a physically and emotionally safe environment
- Building trust with clients
- Working closely with each client to develop a personalized treatment plan
- Empowering each client’s strengths in and out of recovery
- Recognizing the various cultural or social factors that may have influenced the trauma
Each of these core principles plays a vital role in assuring the success of trauma-informed treatment programs.
What is the best treatment modality for trauma?
There are various treatment modalities for trauma that have proven to be effective. The treatment that’s most effective for you will vary based on the nature of your trauma and other personal factors like mental health and environmental influences.
Here are some of the most common evidence-based treatments for trauma:
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) combines cognitive-behavioral therapy with trauma-specific techniques to help individuals process their trauma, foster emotional regulation and develop healthy coping skills.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) is a form of structured therapy where the individual is gradually exposed to their memories in a safe and controlled manner. This eases the extremity of the person’s reactions to trauma-related triggers so they can reduce any avoidance or fear-based behaviors that may have developed.
Holistic-based therapies include mindfulness techniques, breathing therapy, grounding strategies, relaxation skills, nature (or animal) and more. When integrated into a treatment plan, these alternative modalities can be highly beneficial as they widen the spectrum of care.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is integrated into a recovery plan if the medical provider and client agree it may be beneficial. The reasons for prescribing medication to a person in this circumstance are primarily to help manage trauma-related symptoms such as anxiety, sleep disturbances or lack of appetite.
The best treatment plan for trauma is going to be one that is fully personalized and tailored to your specific needs. This means it takes into consideration your various preferences, strengths, weaknesses and more. The good news is there are plenty of options to choose from.
The best way to determine which treatment modality is the best option for your specific needs is to speak with a qualified healthcare professional who specializes in treatment for trauma.
Get a treatment modality plan for trauma today
Silvermist Recovery is a leading provider of residential addiction treatment, mental health treatment and trauma-focused care for adult males suffering from one or co-occurring disorders.
If you or someone you love has experienced a trauma, whether recently or in the past, and are continuing to struggle with the physical, mental or emotional impact of it, you’re not alone. We’re here to help you on your recovery journey in whatever way we can.
Send us a message or call us today to speak with an advisor and learn more about which of our treatment services is the best fit for helping you heal.