Healing from trauma is complicated, and nonlinear. Symptoms can last for years after you get to safety\u2014and they can change over time. What comforts you on a Monday may be triggering on Tuesday. It can be frustrating to feel like you\u2019re not healing fast enough, even when you\u2019re actively trying to get better.<\/p>\n
That frustration can be valuable, if you let it motivate you. Healing is, in part, the process of getting to know yourself again. And in rehab for trauma<\/a>, you can achieve that in any number of ways. You might even experiment with different forms of treatment, until you find the ones that work best for you. These non-traditional therapies can be powerful components of your recovery.<\/p>\n Emotional trauma impacts physical health.<\/a>1<\/a><\/sup> Research even links childhood trauma to heart disease in adults. As a result, experts believe that body-based therapies can support emotional recovery from trauma.<\/a>2<\/a><\/sup> One study reported that these treatments are \u201cmore effective for trauma than currently used cognitive (\u2018top-down\u201d) and exposure therapies.\u201d<\/p>\n Somatic therapies\u2014or body-based therapies\u2014focus on the mind-body connection. Treatments help you address the trauma stored in both your brain and your body, at the same time.<\/p>\n Studies show that receiving safe, healthy touch can help you process traumatic experiences<\/a>.3<\/a><\/sup> For example, massage and other types of bodywork may help people heal from the emotional impact of sexual assault.<\/p>\n These exercises help patients let go of physical and emotional tension. During a session, you\u2019ll shake your body in a safe, gentle way. Experts say that TRE mimics the natural feeling of shaking in response to trauma.<\/a>4<\/a><\/sup> And that sensation can \u201crelieve tension, reduce hypervigilance\u201d and increase feelings of well-being. If you\u2019d like to try TRE, make sure you learn it from a trained practitioner. Once you\u2019re comfortable with the exercises, you can also use them as a type of self-care.<\/p>\n Also called tapping, EFT teaches patients to tap on acupressure points<\/a>5<\/a><\/sup> to relieve stress. Studies show that emotional freedom technique relieves trauma symptoms<\/a>,6<\/a><\/sup> sometimes completely. EFT can also treat clinical depression and anxiety.\u00a0<\/a>7<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Mindfulness helps with emotion regulation<\/a>,8<\/a><\/sup> which is a common issue for trauma survivors. This umbrella term refers to a variety of techniques. Some rehabs offer yoga classes, and others teach you how to meditate. But this approach isn\u2019t right for everyone.<\/p>\n If you have a history of trauma, mindfulness can be triggering. As psychotherapist and trauma researcher David A. Treleaven writes, some patients find \u201cmeditation can actually end up exacerbating symptoms of traumatic stress.\u201d<\/a>9<\/a><\/sup> Researchers caution that mindfulness techniques can \u201cdestabilize clients who are particularly prone to flashbacks<\/a>,10<\/a><\/sup> rumination, or easily triggered trauma memories.\u201d<\/p>\n What works for you might trigger someone else. If you\u2019d like to try healing through mindfulness, make sure to get professional support. These techniques aren\u2019t right for everyone, but some patients find them extremely helpful.<\/p>\n Data supports meditation as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)<\/a>.11<\/a><\/sup> This spiritual practice also has physical health benefits<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to experts in mindfulness at Brown University, MBCT \u201ccombines training in mindfulness meditation practices with principles from cognitive therapy.\u201d<\/a>12<\/a><\/sup> Whether you attend 1:1 or group sessions of MBCT<\/a>,13<\/a><\/sup> your therapist will guide you through meditations and cognitive exercises. You may also have homework between sessions. MBCT can treat the symptoms of PTSD.<\/a>10<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n In many ways, this therapy is similar to MBCT. For example, you\u2019ll likely go through treatment with a group. But instead of using cognitive therapy, patients learn a wider variety of mindfulness techniques. After about 6 weeks of MBSR, patients go on a brief meditation retreat.<\/a>14<\/a><\/sup> Experts agree that these mindfulness exercises can relieve trauma symptoms<\/a>.15<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Mindfulness teaches you to focus on the present moment. Other treatments help you understand the past. In some types of talk therapy, patients learn to live with traumatic events. You might describe or even re-experience your most difficult memories. The goal is not to trigger you, but to help you process what happened.<\/p>\n According to the American Psychological Association (APA), \u201cpsychodynamic therapy focuses on the psychological roots of emotional suffering.\u201d<\/a>16<\/a><\/sup> Patients work closely with a therapist to get to the root of their symptoms. Short-term psychodynamic therapy<\/a>17<\/a><\/sup> includes a finite number of 1:1 sessions. Some therapists recommend a much longer treatment program. In that case, you\u2019ll spend the first few sessions free associating, as your therapist gets to know you. Psychodynamic therapy can help with PTSD<\/a>18<\/a><\/sup> and related conditions, including addiction.<\/p>\n By telling your story, you can take control of it. During NET, patients tell the stories of their lives.<\/a>19<\/a><\/sup> You\u2019ll focus on traumatic memories, and also talk about some positive ones. Your therapist guides you to re-experience painful emotions, but stay in touch with the present moment.<\/p>\n This treatment is just what it sounds like\u2014recognizing that a version of your younger self lives on within you. There are countless ways to connect with your inner child.<\/a>20<\/a><\/sup> For example, you could write them a letter. You can also meditate, picture their face, and start a conversation. It can be especially helpful to ask them simple questions, like \u201chow do you feel?\u201d or \u201cwhat do you need to feel safe?\u201d This work can bring up repressed feelings and even memories. If you’re new to recovery, it\u2019s best to embark on inner child work with a guide, like a therapist or other professional.<\/p>\n Talk therapy can be central to recovery. But it\u2019s not the only way to heal. Creative pursuits help patients unlock deeper emotions and repressed memories. They can also help you release physical, emotional, and even spiritual pain. These therapies empower you to express yourself, working through trauma in the process.<\/p>\n In art therapy, you\u2019ll create visual art as a way of connecting with your feelings. Sessions may take place 1:1 or in a group setting. By sharing your creations with other people\u2014including your therapist\u2014you practice self-expression. If you enjoy making art, this can become a healthy coping mechanism in the long term. Art can also help you externalize traumatic memories<\/a>,21<\/a><\/sup> making it easier to live with them.<\/p>\n Music therapy can alleviate many symptoms of PTSD.<\/a>22<\/a><\/sup> According to experts, it\u2019s especially helpful for addressing \u201cnegative affect and mood alterations.\u201d Because it has such an emotional impact, listening to or playing music may help you regulate your feelings. It can even help outside of therapy sessions. For example, listening to a happy song might help you calm down after being triggered.<\/p>\n Experts write that dance therapy \u201cenhances resilience\u201d in trauma survivors.<\/a>23<\/a><\/sup> There are several reasons for this. For example, dance helps people feel whole by including the body in the process of emotional recovery. As a result, it may reduce dissociative symptoms for people with PTSD. Dance can also build up your confidence. This encourages patients to find joy in the process of healing.<\/p>\n Living through trauma changes you. You probably won\u2019t ever return to who you were before. But there\u2019s always a way forward. Recovery is the process of finding the path that works best for you, and takes you exactly where you need to go. With the right kind of treatment, you can build a life you love. And you get to decide what that means.<\/p>\n Find out more about what happens in rehab for trauma recovery,<\/a> including types of therapy, lengths of stay, housing, and pricing.<\/p>\n Reviewed by\u00a0Rajnandini Rathod<\/a><\/p>\n Healing from trauma is complicated, and nonlinear. Symptoms can last for years after you get to safety\u2014and they can change over time. What comforts you on a Monday may be triggering on Tuesday. It can be frustrating to feel like you\u2019re not healing fast enough, even when you\u2019re actively trying to get better. That frustration … <\/p>\nSomatic Healing<\/h2>\n
Bodywork<\/h3>\n
Trauma and Tension Release Exercises (TRE)<\/h3>\n
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)<\/h3>\n
Mindfulness-Based Treatments<\/h2>\n
Meditation<\/h3>\n
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)<\/h3>\n
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)<\/h3>\n
Non-Traditional Talk Therapy<\/h2>\n
Psychodynamic Therapy<\/h3>\n
Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)<\/h3>\n
Inner Child Work<\/h3>\n
Creative Therapies<\/h2>\n
Art Therapy<\/h3>\n
Music Therapy<\/h3>\n
Dance Movement Therapy<\/h3>\n
Trauma Recovery on Your Own Terms<\/h2>\n
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