54. Refocusing Trauma Therapy [Rebranding Trauma Therapy Series]

Talking about details of trauma doesn’t feel good for the therapy client, which is why it’s so important that we create a reframe not only around therapy in general, but especially in brain-based modalities like Brainspotting and EMDR in particular.

Not convinced that we should stop talking about “trauma therapy”? This week, I’m sharing three truths around why in an effort to convince you of another perspective. 

Therapists are taught to think and work in black and white, that therapy is done in a very specific way with the same benchmarks for clients along the way. But life and interacting with humans doesn’t work that way. There are often extenuating circumstances, like COVID in 2020, that impact us all and don’t give people the opportunity to feel safe in any environment.

This is why therapists need to focus on the adaptations possible during the therapeutic process.

In this week’s video, I’m sharing why we need to look for a Plan B, what scary movies can teach us about trauma responses, and how planning a vacation illustrates the expansive possibilities around safety and adaptations.

This is part two in a series about rebranding trauma therapy. You can watch or listen to the whole series here.

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 over 20 years. As the Director of Education and Quality Improvement at Stanford Medical School, she created ease in complex systems, thereby giving medical trainees successful learning experiences. Now, as a dedicated mom, therapist, and EMDR Consultant, Kambria knows what it means to do things efficiently, effectively, and in a learner-centered way. When she isn't podcasting or creating online courses, you can find Kambria playing with her twins on a beach in California.