Key Components of Trauma Therapy

Written by: Kally Doyle

Trauma therapy is a specialized kind of therapy that focuses on the client’s trauma history. There are several different approaches utilized in trauma therapies, such as EMDR, IFS, Trauma-Focused CBT, attachment theory, relational therapy, Somatic Experiencing, and more. While they all differ from each other in interventions and focus of processing, they still have many qualities in common with each other. No matter which type of trauma therapy you may choose to pursue for yourself, the following components should be present in the therapy:

1) Transparency: The therapist should be honest, direct, and clear with helpful explanations given about their practice policies, required paperwork, and expectations of treatment.

2) Emotional safety: The therapist should work to create an environment where the client feels heard, safe, and not pushed out of their window of tolerance when processing trauma. The window of tolerance refers to the amount of emotional activation an individual can endure without becoming overly stimulated and triggering a trauma response. If the client does happen to be moved out of their window of tolerance, the therapist should immediately help to ground and relax client and adjust treatment to client comfort level and need.

3) Education: The therapist should spend several sessions educating the client on the symptoms and effects of trauma.

4) Performed by a licensed therapist: I could go on and on about this. If the therapist is not licensed & trained in trauma treatment- RUN! No life coaches, unlicensed “therapists”, people claiming to be trauma professionals with no licensure, Instagram ‘trauma gurus’, etc. Their training is not appropriate for trauma therapy and if unqualified individuals choose to engage in trauma therapy with their clients, further harm can be done and at the very least, it is highly unethical.

5) Consistency and reliability from the therapist: The therapist should start and end sessions on time. The therapist should follow through with promises and commitments made to client. This helps create safety and trust.

6) Emotional regulation skills: The therapist should teach the client how to regulate their own emotions and how to use exercises to do so both in and outside of session. This will help increase feelings of safety, decrease anxiety, and increase client autonomy.

Trauma therapy needs to be taken seriously. I specialize in relational trauma- my treatment reflects these principles and qualities. I encourage you to thoroughly vet each clinician you consider for your own trauma therapy; be sure to read through their website and determine what their speciality is, their qualifications/training/licensure, their approach to therapy, and if what they offer is congruent with your particular needs.