Talk therapy is the therapeutic approach most people think of when they hear “therapy.” Talk therapy is an option, but there are a variety of other therapies equipped to treat mental illness and maladaptive patterns. Patients may even need to receive multiple forms of therapy to effectively heal.
To receive an accurate diagnosis and practical treatment options, it is best to complete a psychiatric evaluation with a trusted professional. With your results, you will be made aware of the therapies best suited to treat your condition(s). However, note that many individuals need more than outpatient therapy to make a full recovery.
The differences between traditional therapy and trauma counseling are discussed below. The following is to present a brief overview of both styles of treatment and is in no way psychological advice. As you read, consider the following information carefully and discuss anything noteworthy with a trained psychologist or mental health professional that you trust.
Talk Therapy And Trauma Counseling
Talk therapy or psychotherapy, considers how our thoughts influence our beliefs and behaviors. The goal is to form insights and new perspectives as they relate to the individual. In these sessions, time is spent with the psychologist actively listening to the patient expressing their thoughts and feelings. The therapist will provide feedback and subtle suggestions that provoke reflection and further thought.
Not everyone is a candidate for talk therapy. Individuals who struggle with emotional regulation may benefit from dialectical behavioral therapy. Likewise, individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder are advised to seek exposure and response prevention therapy as this is the “gold standard” for treating OCD.
Trauma Therapy: A Feelings-based Approach
For many individuals with trauma, it is unclear how their patterns reflect what they have experienced. Trauma therapy or trauma counseling is much more of a feelings-based therapeutic intervention, which helps to uncover what is cognitively suppressed.
- While talk therapy focuses on reframing ways of thinking and beliefs, trauma counseling gets to the somatic and emotional level of thoughts, feelings, sensations, and behaviors.
- Trauma therapy or trauma counseling takes a more abstract approach to well-being due to the subconscious coping mechanisms and defenses that develop from trauma.
- In addition to looking at trauma’s complex impact on the individual, it also maintains trauma-informed dialogue so that clients feel that safety always comes first with every session.
Talk therapy is traditional psychotherapy that focuses on pinpointing and adjusting thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are unhelpful to the individual. It is a “top-down” approach. Talk therapy focuses on pinpointing what no longer serves the individual through thoughts. In contrast, trauma counseling focuses on healing through feelings and sensations.
Finding The Modality That Suits Your Healing
Trauma therapy is recommended for individuals who have experienced trauma or suspect they may have. Some evidence indicates that talk therapy is not an appropriate fit for those recovering from trauma as it can re-traumatize the individual with its direct approach. Taking an abstract and intuitive path to healing via trauma counseling may be the most beneficial route to recovery.
