Trauma Therapy For Families: Overcoming Trauma For Improved Mental Health
About half of U.S. adults may experience at least one traumatic event in their lives.
In addition, approximately 25% of U.S. children may experience a traumatic event before the age of four.
Trauma can have negative effects on both individuals and their loved ones. That’s why, whether a trauma survivor is an adult or a child, treatments involving the whole family may be an effective path to healing.
What is trauma?
Living through a shocking, scary, or dangerous event can have lasting effects on your thoughts, feelings, and behavior. When these effects are strong enough to disrupt your daily life, this is usually referred to as “trauma.”
Trauma can look different for different people. Events that are traumatic for one person might not be traumatic for another. That said, a few common examples of potentially traumatic events include the following:
- War
- Terrorist attacks
- Life-threatening illnesses or injuries
- Domestic violence
- Sexual abuse
- Natural disasters
Vicarious trauma
Working closely with trauma survivors or witnessing other people’s traumatic experiences may also be traumatic, even if the event didn’t directly affect you. This form of trauma is sometimes called “vicarious trauma.”
Understanding the effects of trauma
Trauma can have lasting impacts on a person’s physical, mental, and emotional health. When you go through a traumatic event, your body may go into “fight-or-flight” mode. This response can involve symptoms like a racing heartbeat, rapid breathing, and anxiety. These symptoms tend to fade with time, but in some cases, they may linger. Some people who have experienced trauma continue to experience its effects for months or years following the event. Below, discover several common side effects of trauma.
Negative behaviors and feelings
Feelings of guilt, shame, and emotional distress can be common trauma symptoms. Some people may also feel angry or frustrated about their experiences. In some cases, these emotions may turn into aggressive behavior, conflicts with loved ones, or even violence.
Depression
Depression can be described as a state of long-lasting, intense sadness. People who are depressed may lose interest in their relationships and hobbies. They may also have low levels of energy and struggle to keep up with their routines. Other common symptoms may include weight fluctuations, sleep changes, and trouble concentrating.
Substance use disorders
After a traumatic event, some people may self-medicate with alcohol or other substances. These substances may bring temporary relief from challenging thoughts and memories. That said, using substances to cope with trauma may raise the risk of addiction.
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder is also known as PTSD. This condition can involve reliving traumatic memories and avoiding reminders of trauma. People with PTSD may also show changes in their mood and thinking, struggle to sleep, or seem constantly “on edge.”
Complex PTSD
Complex PTSD is a form of PTSD. Complex PTSD tends to develop after repeated or ongoing exposure to trauma. Going through trauma at a young age may also make someone more likely to develop the condition. For this reason, complex PTSD can be common among children exposed to domestic violence or long-term abuse.
What to know about trauma therapy for families
Families affected by a traumatic event may benefit from trauma-focused therapy. Trauma-focused therapy generally aims to help survivors understand their responses to trauma in a safe and supportive environment.
How can trauma-focused therapy help the mental health of family members?
Trauma therapy does not always involve families, but it can. Often, family trauma therapy helps family members better understand the effects of trauma on their relationships and develop coping strategies.
Types of trauma therapy for families
Types of trauma-focused therapy that may be useful for families include the following:
- Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy: The goal of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is usually to help children affected by trauma change upsetting beliefs and develop healthy coping skills. TF-CBT typically also aims to help parents of trauma survivors manage their emotions and support their children.
- Trauma systems therapy: Trauma systems therapy (TST) normally aims to help families who are facing challenges due to trauma. In TST, mental health professionals and community advocates can work together to provide families with emotional skills training, legal help, medication, and more.
- Trauma systems therapy for refugees: Like trauma systems therapy, trauma systems therapy for refugees (TST-R) typically aims to address both mental health challenges and social factors in the aftermath of trauma. TST-R often focuses on helping refugee children and their families.
- Attachment, self-regulation, and competence: Also known as ARC, this form of therapy usually targets survivors of long-term or repeated trauma, including children and caregivers. ARC focuses on strengthening resilience, or the ability to adapt to challenging life experiences.
- Strengthening family coping resources: Sometimes called SFCR, this approach generally helps families affected by PTSD and other trauma-related mental health challenges. SFCR usually aims to help family members improve their communication, understanding, and coping skills.
These types of therapy may be useful for families affected by trauma. That said, specialized mental health treatments like these may not always be affordable. The cost of these services can be prohibitively expensive in some cases, even for those with health insurance, as some insurance plans may not offer coverage for the full range of mental health services families might be seeking.
Mental health support besides trauma therapy for families
If you’re having trouble finding accessible care, online therapy might be helpful. Platforms like BetterHelp offer live sessions with a licensed therapist for individuals and couples, starting at $65 per week.
Effectiveness of online therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder
Research shows that online therapy may benefit people living with the effects of trauma. In a 2023 study, 217 adults with PTSD received an internet-based mental health program for 12 weeks. Researchers found that the online treatment was effective, especially for individuals with symptoms of complex PTSD.
Takeaway
What is trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for families?
TF-CBT (trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy) is a research-based treatment used by mental health professionals to help children cope with trauma memories and other trauma-related challenges. It also helps parents or caregivers cope with their emotions, manage anxiety symptoms, and acquire skills essential to respond to their child effectively within a safe and supportive environment. This type of therapy can also be integrated with a short-term approach to encourage further progress, acting as a form of family trauma therapy when multiple family members are involved.
One 2009 study found that post-traumatic stress disorder can develop after traumatic experiences in children ages 5 to 12. However, a preliminary examination of PTSD symptoms is essential for a proper PTSD diagnosis. A trauma-focused treatment that seeks to involve the family unit promotes an understanding of the context of complex trauma, which can positively impact family members’ well-being. Providing support and addressing fear and anxiety can be helpful for parents to communicate effectively with their children, express their emotions, and create a safe and supportive environment, ultimately improving relationships within the family. This treatment can help individuals develop healthy coping skills to enhance relationships and maintain consistent progress.
What is family trauma therapy?
Family trauma therapy involves counseling approaches designed to help family members cope with traumatic experiences, such as domestic violence or sexual abuse. Typically, family trauma therapy helps improve communication, foster understanding, and strengthen family dynamics within a safe and supportive environment. Additionally, it addresses behavioral problems, relationship problems, and negative behaviors caused by trauma. Family trauma therapy can be part of a broader trauma treatment plan that aims to reduce symptoms and promote healthy relationships among family members.
Furthermore, family trauma therapy can involve a process that helps parents, family members, and children improve communication and understanding. Family trauma therapy helps by providing treatment for behaviors related to fear, anxiety, or substance abuse. When the family unit can express emotions in a safe space, it can create a sense of support and lead to positive changes. Family trauma therapy helps individuals with complex trauma who have experienced trauma such as sexual abuse during childhood, allowing them to develop healthier relationships.
What therapy is best for generational trauma?
Therapies such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), trauma systems therapy (TST), and the attachment, self-regulation, and competence (ARC) framework are effective in treating complex trauma. These approaches can positively impact family dynamics, enhance empathy, and help break intergenerational patterns of abuse and trauma by improving relationships and strengthening the supportive environment.
Another potentially helpful process involves combining trauma-focused treatment with regular family check-ins, where parents and children share their emotions and fear in a safe environment. This can be particularly helpful for identifying triggers related to anxiety or substance abuse and for teaching skills that promote positive behaviors. When parents openly express empathy and maintain consistent communication, children are more likely to feel supported, which can lead to lasting benefits. Over time, families can develop a deeper understanding that may involve strengthening individual relationships and building a sense of unity. This may reduce emotional distress and support the process of healing from traumatic memories.
How do you deal with trauma in the family?
Managing traumatic experiences within families involves seeking trauma-focused treatment to communicate effectively, develop coping skills, and build empathy among family members. Creating a supportive environment can significantly enhance the healing process, reduce fear and anxiety, and mitigate the risk of substance abuse and other negative behaviors.
What kind of therapy is used for family problems?
For family problems related to trauma, family trauma therapy, including approaches like strengthening family coping resources (SFCR) and trauma systems therapy (TST), offers effective treatment. These therapies can positively impact relationships, improve communication, address behavioral problems, and help reduce negative behaviors by teaching families effective problem-solving and coping skills.
What is the most common type of trauma therapy?
The most common trauma therapies include trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). They specifically help reduce trauma symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and emotional distress related to traumatic memories or experienced trauma while offering significant benefits for the individual's overall well-being and daily life.
How do you talk about family trauma in therapy?
Discussing family trauma in therapy often involves creating a safe and supportive environment where individuals or family members can openly express their emotions, fears, and experiences with domestic violence or sexual abuse. Therapists facilitate communication and guide the process of understanding and improving family dynamics.
Many parents find that beginning the process with a thorough family assessment helps identify behaviors that impact daily life. This approach may allow family members to develop stronger relationships and essential conflict-management skills. A well-structured treatment plan can lead to long-term benefits, including a deeper understanding among family members and greater emotional resilience in both children and adults.
What is trauma-informed care for families?
Trauma-informed care acknowledges the significant impact that traumatic events can have on families. It emphasizes empathy, social support, and positive parenting practices. The focus is on understanding symptoms and behaviors within the family context while providing a safe and supportive environment for healing and recovery—particularly benefiting children and their parents.
What are the goals of trauma therapy?
The goals of trauma therapy include reducing symptoms such as anxiety and negative behaviors, addressing functional impairment, improving well-being, enhancing communication, and strengthening family dynamics. It also helps family members develop the skills to manage emotional distress effectively, with additional benefits of supporting overall positive family interactions and relationships.
What is family systems trauma therapy?
Family systems trauma therapy focuses on the family unit and how trauma can disrupt family dynamics and relationships. This approach helps family members develop healthier communication, enhance problem-solving skills, and increase understanding, ultimately supporting their overall well-being and reducing ongoing behaviors linked to trauma, such as substance abuse and relationship problems.
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