53. Trauma Therapy’s Branding Crisis [Rebranding Trauma Therapy Series]

After a hiatus from the podcast, I’m back. I’m listening to my heart and what I truly believe others need so that therapy can positively impact as many people as possible. So I’m here, talking to those who are curious about how to make their therapeutic experience smarter and more customized for them. Everyone should get out of therapy exactly what they need.

And that means I’m still talking to therapists too, because I believe there’s a different language we need to use when talking about any kind of therapy. Language that opens doors instead of limits clients in what they’re working on. I’ll still talk a lot about EMDR because that’s what I specialize in, but I’ll also address other types of therapy and how to make it more accessible to clients.

To start, let's talk about the way we talk about trauma therapy. It matters, especially for the person seeking therapy. If we focus solely on trauma, therapists limit their potential to support their clients because “trauma therapy” doesn’t sound very inviting to most people. Instead, we should focus therapy on exploring the decisions and adaptations people have made as a result of their difficult experiences, their trauma. This broader approach invites empowerment and a more fulfilling therapeutic journey.

It’s so important that we change the way we think and talk about therapy because methods like EMDR can impact so much more than trauma responses themselves. We're talking about changing the way we learn. By diving into the adaptations we've developed to cope with the past, we can reshape our responses and create positive changes. EMDR isn't just about acquiring knowledge; it transforms how our brain and body learn and respond.

So, let's rethink trauma therapy together. By embracing the empowering potential of EMDR, therapists empower clients to actively participate in their healing. It's about going beyond trauma, focusing on personal growth, adaptive responses, and creating a life that truly reflects our values and aspirations.

Keep listening because I have so much more to share on this topic.

When something traumatic happens to us, it can be healing to have a therapist listen to and/or validate our horrible experience, especially if no one else has before. However, rehashing the details of that traumatic event can be retraumatizing. Brain-based therapies like EMDR teach us that we don't have to talk about the trauma or the details if we don't want because the real healing doesn't focus on the traumatic event itself.

The Zero Disturbance podcast is for educational purposes and is not a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or individualized mental health or medical care. 

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With a Masters in Education from Vanderbilt, Kambria has been creating trainings and teaching adult learners for 20 years. As Director of Education and Quality Improvement at Stanford Medical School, her job was to decomplicate and consolidate complex systems and topics, thereby giving medical trainees successful learning experiences. Now, as a busy mom of fraternal twins, dedicated business owner of Zero Disturbance, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant, Kambria knows what it means to do things efficiently, effectively, and in a learner-centered way.