What do Therapists mean when they talk about Trauma?
When a psychotherapist talks about trauma, they will be referring to the emotional, psychological, and physiological impact of experiences that overwhelm a person’s ability to cope. It’s not just about the event itself, but about how the event is processed and stored in the body and mind.
Lucy Fuller 3rd July 2025
Trauma can be understood as:
An emotional wound: A deeply distressing or disturbing experience that leaves lasting psychological effects.
A disruption of functioning: It can affect neurobiological, psychological, and social systems, leading to symptoms like anxiety, dissociation, or hypervigilance.
A subjective experience: What’s traumatic for one person may not be for another. It depends on personal history, context, and resilience.
Types of Trauma Often Discussed in Therapy
Acute Trauma: Results from a single distressing event (e.g., car accident, assault).
Chronic Trauma: Repeated and prolonged exposure (e.g., domestic violence, bullying).
Complex Trauma: Exposure to multiple traumatic events, often interpersonal in nature.
Developmental Trauma: Trauma occurring during childhood that affects emotional development.
Collective/Cultural Trauma: Trauma experienced by a group due to systemic oppression or historical violence.
How Trauma Shows Up in Therapy
Intrusive symptoms: Flashbacks, nightmares, or unwanted memories.
Avoidance: Steering clear of reminders or triggers.
Hyperarousal: Heightened anxiety, irritability, or difficulty sleeping.
Emotional numbing or dissociation: Feeling disconnected from oneself or others.
Therapeutic Approaches to Trauma
Trauma-focused CBT: To reframe distorted thoughts and reduce distress.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): To help reprocess traumatic memories.
Somatic therapies: To address how trauma is held in the body.
Narrative therapy: To help clients reclaim their story and identity.