Types of Trauma Therapy at Lynn Valley Counselling
Every person’s psychological, neurological and biological responses to trauma are different. And
that means every therapy plan will also be somewhat different. There are several types of trauma-focused therapy, designed to consider a patient’s age, gender, type of trauma and socio-economic
background, among other factors.
We provide trauma-informed counselling at Lynn Valley Counselling, and we employ a few types of
trauma-focused therapy. Our goal is to help each individual who comes into our counselling center
to heal from the effects of trauma.
Let’s examine two different types of trauma-focused therapy and how they work to help people heal.
Somatic Experiencing Therapy
Somatic therapy is also known as Somatic Experiencing Therapy. This type of therapy is often used
for those suffering from post-traumatic stress. Using both physical and psychotherapy, SE connects
the mind with the body. SE therapists believe that the mind affects the body’s functioning, and thus
use mind-body exercises to release pent-up trauma.
Trauma counsellors also help patients notice physical sensations related to mental health issues,
such as chronic pain, and use this newfound awareness to work through the related feelings.
Counsellors teach techniques such as breathing, massage, and grounding exercises to help
patients with feelings such as anxiety, stress, and panic.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is recognized by the World
Health Organization and is used widely to treat mental injuries from traumatic memories. Studies
show that it is highly effective in treating PTSD. As a matter of fact, EMDR is listed as a “best practice” by the United States Veteran Affairs to treat veterans with PTSD.
EMDR therapists use eye movements and rhythmic left-right stimulation such as tones or taps.
These movements help the brain process traumatic events and lessen the distress around these
memories. Patients briefly focus on the traumatic memory and experience the stimulation at the
same time, which causes the vividness and emotion of the memory to be reduced.
There is hope after trauma
You may have experienced trauma that is impacting your daily life. There is every reason to hope
for recovery. Book a free 20-minute consultation with our trauma-informed counsellors to discuss
the right approach for you.
