Family Therapy For Trauma Recovery: Benefits Of Trauma-Focused Treatment
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Understanding trauma
While trauma can manifest in different ways depending on many factors, it is commonly understood as a distressing experience involving intense fear, confusion, helplessness, and other negative and disruptive feelings. Such feelings are often severe enough to have a lasting impact on a person’s functioning and mental state. In some cases, trauma may challenge an individual’s sense of reality.
There are many potential causes of trauma, including those caused by human behavior, such as abuse, rape, neglect, combat situations, and other types of violence. Natural disasters, such as earthquakes and tornadoes, can also be significant sources of trauma, as can severe losses, such as the death of a loved one.
Types of trauma
Research continually reveals new insights into the experience and origins of trauma, who it affects, and how it manifests. These findings can inform how we recognize and categorize different types of trauma. Examples include the following:
- Acute trauma: This generally occurs in response to an isolated event that you witness or personally experience. Examples include natural disasters, accidents, or witnessing an act of violence.
- Chronic trauma: This typically involves prolonged exposure to traumatic events. Examples include ongoing abuse, neglect, and violence.
- Complex trauma: Complex trauma can occur when an individual is exposed to many traumatic events, typically in a relational context. Examples of complex trauma include domestic violence, childhood abuse, and war-related trauma.
- Intergenerational trauma: This generally refers to the passing of trauma across generations within families or communities, sometimes manifesting in specific patterns of behavior, beliefs, and coping mechanisms.
- Developmental trauma: This is usually trauma that occurs during critical developmental periods in a person’s childhood or adolescence. This type of trauma can impact an individual’s overall development, emotional regulation, and attachment style.
- Secondary (or vicarious) trauma: Secondary trauma may occur when an individual is exposed to the traumatic experiences of another. It sometimes occurs in first responders, healthcare professionals, and therapists.
- Medical trauma: This typically refers to traumatic stress caused by physical and psychological responses to injury, serious illness, traumatic treatment experiences, and medical procedures.
- Race-based trauma (racial trauma): This type of traumatic stress normally involves experiences of racial and ethnic discrimination, typically through racism and/or hate crimes. It can come from another person or occur within a more extensive system.
Symptoms of trauma
While trauma tends to be complex and multifaceted in how it manifests, persists, and impacts different people, studies reveal patterns in how the experience of trauma influences thoughts and behaviors. Below are some examples of symptoms associated with trauma:
- Hyperarousal
- Sleep disruptions, including nightmares
- Impaired memory of traumatic events and circumstances
- Flashbacks
- Irritability and/or aggression
- Emotional dysregulation
- Emotional numbness
- Trouble concentrating
- Social isolation and withdrawal
- Anxiety and persistent fear
- Depression
- Substance misuse (formerly referred to as substance abuse)
- Intrusive, distressing thoughts and images
- Low self-esteem
- A sense of hopelessness and/or helplessness
- Dissociation and avoidance as coping mechanisms
- Acute or chronic physical symptoms, like headaches, shortness of breath, racing heartbeat, dizziness, extreme fatigue, body aches, and gastrointestinal distress
Trauma symptoms often co-occur. When they’re left unaddressed, they can lead to other severe types of physical and mental illness beyond post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related conditions.
Understanding trauma in families
The reactions to trauma within families can be as diverse as the families they impact. For some, trauma brings them closer together and strengthens their bonds. For others, the challenges it brings may be too much for the family to process, threatening to separate them emotionally. In worst-case scenarios, trauma can even break up families or lead to animosity between members.
While there is no “cookie-cutter” way in which trauma affects families, research suggests there are some typical patterns.
Fearfulness
Fear can present in different ways in families as a trauma response:
- Parents or caregivers may fear for the family’s safety or worry that another distressing event will happen. This may prompt them to become more controlling and less flexible around rules and boundaries in the household.
- If one person in the family was exposed to trauma, they may be afraid to talk about it with the rest of the family. Likewise, the rest of the family might be afraid to approach the subject with the individual.
- Studies on intergenerational trauma indicate that “trauma experienced in utero can impact a child’s ability to modulate fear responses in the presence of a safety signal, independent of the children’s own trauma exposure.”
Anger
Like fear, anger can be a typical emotional response to trauma that may emerge in families for complex reasons.
- Individuals may unwittingly displace their anger toward the cause of the trauma on others in the family.
- Often, trauma survivors experience anger as a physiological “fight-or-flight” response to a threat, even if there is no direct threat present. They might project these feelings of anger onto other members of the family.
- Anger may be a response to helplessness in the wake of trauma for survivors and family members.
- Some individuals, particularly those who survived childhood trauma, may use aggression to push others away and protect themselves against emotional pain.
Compromised ability to communicate
Fear, anger, uncertainty, insecurity, helplessness, shame, and guilt are just a few of the typical emotions associated with trauma that can accumulate and create breakdowns in communication within families. Other factors might include the following:
- Sometimes, family members may not be confident speaking to each other or simply don’t know how to approach the topic the “right” way.
- It can be triggering for individuals to discuss the fear and anxiety they may experience when exposed to stimuli related to the trauma.
- When family members are struggling to come to terms with the trauma and how it impacted their loved one, they may avoid speaking about it.
- In some cases, trauma can create severe fatigue that makes it challenging to communicate.
Dysfunctional attachment styles
Although this isn’t always the case, exposure to early trauma can significantly impact an individual’s attachment style later in life, potentially causing problems within family relationships. For example:
- Adults who experienced neglect or were exposed to addiction or violence in the household as children might develop an anxious attachment style. People with anxious attachment often experience a fear of abandonment that may lead them to act in a “clingy” or insecure manner. They may also experience a sense of mistrust in relationships.
- People who experience neglect and inconsistent care as children may develop an avoidant attachment style in which they are prone to disconnection and withdrawal from others.
- Individuals who experienced a combination of abuse, neglect, exposure to violence, and/or inconsistent care as children may form a combination of anxious and avoidant attachment styles later in life.
The importance of family therapy for trauma recovery
Trauma-informed care in family therapy can be critical for providing effective, compassionate support to families who have experienced trauma. Here are a few ways this specialized form of treatment supports the entire family system.
Family therapists can help families understand the impacts of trauma
Learning about trauma tends to be an integral part of therapy for families. Education about trauma can provide a comprehensive picture of its causes and symptoms, as well as how trauma symptoms can emerge and how they may impact trauma survivors in the long term. Psychoeducation may teach families how trauma can affect the body and neurological function, and it can identify any misconceptions the family may have about trauma.
Psychoeducation can also be helpful for cultivating greater compassion and empathy for trauma survivors, dispelling myths, discouraging stigma, and strengthening the family’s resolve to work together toward healing. In some cases, psychoeducation also involves teaching family members specific skills to aid in emergency situations or triggering experiences.
Family therapy for trauma recovery can create a safe environment for all
Part of the purpose of trauma-informed care is generally to acknowledge and validate the significant impact that trauma can have on individuals and families. It can provide trauma survivors and their families with a safe and secure environment for them to express their emotions freely.
Family trauma therapy can build trust and communication skills
Trust tends to be essential in any relationship between counselor and patient, but this can be especially true in working with families who have been exposed to trauma. The therapeutic process is often collaborative, requiring input from all parties. Family therapy for trauma frequently focuses on cultivating trust and rapport so all parties are comfortable participating.
Trauma-focused family therapy can empower families to take an active role in the treatment process
By providing education, resources, and a safe, supportive environment to communicate, trauma-informed family therapists can help families better develop the skills and resilience needed to navigate and take control of their own recovery.
A marriage and family therapist can address unhealthy dynamics
Trauma typically impacts communication, relationships, and family dynamics in complex ways. Trauma-informed family therapists are usually trained to understand these dynamics and complexities within the family, as well as to develop an effective intervention plan tailored to the family’s needs.
It can teach families coping skills to avoid re-traumatization
Re-traumatization can be common in many cases, so trauma-informed care often prioritizes the avoidance of re-traumatization. Trauma therapists are normally trained to recognize and respond to trauma triggers, facilitate the therapeutic process in a sensitive, respectful way, and create a safe space for families to process their trauma.
Seeking trauma-focused family therapy and mental health treatment
To find the right family trauma therapist for you, it usually helps to know where to look, which questions to ask, and how to identify a licensed professional experienced in working with trauma patients.
Looking for trauma-informed or marriage and family therapists
A licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) usually gives family therapy sessions. However, other mental health experts can also conduct it. When searching for a therapist, interview them about their training and experience in treating trauma in families. You might also ask them directly how they would structure a treatment plan for a situation like the one your family is facing.
The following resources all have pages to help individuals find trauma-informed therapists by location:
- The US Department of Veteran’s Affairs National Center for PTSD
- The National Institute of Mental Health
- Mental Health America
Several online therapy platforms also offer virtual options for individual and couples therapy. Although it may not be appropriate in all cases, some choose this type of therapy as an alternative to traditional, in-office treatment for its flexibility, convenience, and affordability.
Effectiveness of online therapy for mental health challenges
According to a large body of research, online therapy typically produces the same client outcomes as in-person therapy and can effectively treat a wide variety of mental health challenges.
Takeaway
Can a marriage and family therapist help heal trauma and other mental health issues?
Marriage and Family Therapy focuses on addressing mental health and functioning concerns within the family. This form of therapy can treat several mental health issues, including trauma. It also has efficacy in treating depression, anxiety, children’s conduct disorders, and marital distress.
What is the major goal of most family treatment programs?
The major goal is to create a safe and supportive environment where families can heal from traumatic experiences together. Family therapy takes an integrative approach, using different techniques such as play therapy, especially for children, and eye movement desensitization to help reduce trauma symptoms, including anxiety symptoms.
A family trauma therapist plays a crucial role in guiding families through the healing process, helping them communicate effectively, strengthening the family system, and addressing relationship problems that may arise due to past traumatic memories.
Finding the right therapist is important. Resources like online directories and mental health platforms such as BetterHelp can help connect families with qualified professionals. Family trauma therapy helps families experience the transformative power of healing, improving relationships, and creating a healthier future.
These programs also support families in navigating practical concerns, such as insurance coverage, working with insurance providers, and understanding insurance plans. Therapists may also provide referrals for additional support, giving families the tools they need to grow stronger and meet their unique needs together.
What is the most popular family therapy?
The most popular type of family therapy is family trauma therapy, which helps the family unit heal after having experienced traumatic events. A family trauma therapist works with family members to improve communication, rebuild relationships, and address emotional and behavioral challenges.
A common approach in family trauma therapy is play therapy. Other popular methods include:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapy (CBFT) – Changes negative behaviors and thought patterns.
- Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) – Strengthens parent-child relationships.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – Uses eye movements to process trauma.
Family trauma therapy helps the family system by improving support, empathy, and emotional healing. Many insurance providers cover family trauma therapy, making it accessible. Through the transformative power of therapy, families can overcome experiences related to trauma, strengthen family dynamics, and build healthier lives together.
What is family trauma therapy?
Family trauma therapy is a form of trauma treatment that helps the family unit heal after traumatic experiences. It focuses on improving family dynamics, strengthening relationships, and reducing emotional distress caused by trauma.
A family trauma therapist works with family members to enhance communication, provide support, and develop healthy behaviors that promote healing. This therapy can also address the impact of mental illness related to trauma.
Techniques such as eye movements in trauma-focused therapy can help process difficult memories. Therapy is a powerful tool for personal and family growth, helping both a parent and children rebuild stability.
What kind of therapy is best for family issues?
It depends on the challenges a family unit is facing. Family trauma therapy is highly effective for families dealing with past trauma or the effects of mental illness on family members.
A family trauma therapist finding process can help connect families with professionals who specialize in improving relationships, enhancing communication, and providing emotional support. Therapies such as Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapy (CBFT), Structural Family Therapy (SFT), and Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) are commonly used to strengthen family bonds.
Discussions in professional spaces like BetterHelp or Psychology Today highlight how therapy can transform lives by addressing the root causes of family struggles.
What is the best therapy for healing trauma?
It depends on individual and family needs. Family trauma therapy is highly effective for addressing trauma within a family unit and helping family members process difficult experiences together. This therapy focuses on improving relationships and strengthening communication.
What are the 5 stages of family therapy?
Family therapy typically follows five key stages to help family members improve communication and resolve conflicts:
- Engagement – The therapist builds trust with family members and explains the therapy process.
- Assessment – The family discusses challenges, relationships, and patterns affecting their well-being.
- Intervention – The therapist helps improve communication, strengthen bonds, and develop coping strategies.
- Resolution – Families work on applying new skills to manage conflicts and support each other.
- Termination – Therapy ends when the family members feel confident in maintaining progress on their own.
What is family-focused therapy for PTSD?
Family-focused therapy for PTSD helps family members support a loved one with post-traumatic stress. It improves communication and teaches coping skills to manage PTSD symptoms together.
What does a family therapy session look like?
In family trauma therapy, a therapist helps family members talk openly, improve communication, and work through challenges together. Sessions usually start with discussing issues and setting goals for healing.
What is EFT trauma therapy?
Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is a type of family trauma therapy that helps individuals and family members heal from trauma by improving communication and strengthening emotional bonds.
How long is a family therapy session?
A typical family trauma therapy session lasts between 45 and 90 minutes, depending on the therapist’s approach and the needs of the family members. The duration may vary based on the complexity of the issues being addressed, such as improving relationships and strengthening communication.
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