Dear Therapist:
Around a year ago I went through something very difficult (I am not comfortable providing all the details). I have found that the passing of time since the event, keeping busy so that I don't have time to think about it, as well as writing about it, have helped but would appreciate any other suggestions that you might have. Someone I spoke to said it was a “trauma” and that something called “EMDR” is used to treat trauma. What are some of the things that are done during EMDR? Is that the best and only way to treat trauma? Do all therapists provide the same type of treatment and if not how do I know which type would be best for me? I have been able to do all my responsibilities and be there for my family, but feel like I am always very alert—worried about danger—and can't concentrate as well. How can I get back to my former self?
Response:
Trauma affects different people in different ways. Some people are generally able to get back to normal function and emotion relatively easily after a traumatic experience. Others generally have a difficult time dealing emotionally with traumatic events. Type of trauma, individual background and triggers, coping skills, and support systems are some of the factors that can affect a person’s response to trauma.
There are a number of therapeutic processes that can help someone deal with trauma. These include CBT, psychodynamic therapy, DBT, exposure and desensitization, and EMDR. Depending on many factors, one or more modalities can be utilized. Factors include age at which trauma occurred, number of traumatic events, duration, amount of time that has passed since the trauma, and emotional reaction, among others. EMDR is a treatment protocol that is designed to help people to identify and change the way that they process traumatic events. EMDR uses eye movements along with aspects of other treatment modalities, like CBT.
A therapist can help you to identify some of the specific factors that affect your ability to effectively process your recent trauma as well as traumatic events in general. The appropriate modality or modalities would be identified. A good therapist can shift focus and modality as needed to properly address issues and needs as they are discovered.
If the traumatic event that you experienced is not associated with other past experiences (as from early childhood) a few sessions can often help you to work through the negative effects. It can be difficult, however, to verify that there is no unconscious, connected early emotion impacting on your current reaction. This is something that a therapist can help you to determine.
-Yehuda Lieberman, LCSW
psychotherapist in private practice
Brooklyn, NY
author of Self-Esteem: A Primer
www.ylcsw.com / 718-258-5317
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