Treatment Approaches & Coping Strategies for Trauma U9

Question 1

What is the difference between treatment and coping strategies?

Answer 1

Treatment for trauma typically is grounded in a particular therapeutic approach or theory and requires a professional to “administer” the treatment
EX. Cognitive theory, CBT, EMDR
Coping strategies are specific, smaller scale and can be learned by the average person
EX. Visualization, deep breathing

Question 2

*Findings from Straussner & Calnan, 2014; Therapeutic approaches used with children:

Answer 2

• Play therapy
• Expressive arts therapies
• Trauma focused CBT (effective with depression and anxiety, not much promise treating trauma because it doesn’t address the root of the trauma)
  4 Steps:
  1. Psychoeducation
  2. Skills building
  3. Creating a trauma narrative
  4. Sharing of the narrative with trusted adult; the new story of what happened being shared can be a powerful experience

Question 3

What is the ARC framework?

Answer 3

A = Attachment
R = Regulation
C = Competency

Attachment = strengthening the caregiving system, enhancing supports, relational skills
Regulation = strengthening self-regulation skills through psychoeducation
Competency = enhancing resiliency, and developing identity

Question 4

*Findings from Straussner & Calnan, 2014; Treatment used with adults:

Answer 4

• CBT
• Desensitization and imaginal flooding (tolerating the feelings and memories of trauma, done gradually)
• Exposure therapy
• Eye Movement Desensitizing Reprocessing (EMDR)* MOST EFFECTIVE
• Medications

Question 5

*Findings from Van Der Kolk, 2014; Central aims of trauma therapy:

Answer 5

1. Finding a way to become calm and focused
2. Learning to maintain that calm response to images, thoughts, sounds, or physical sensations that remind you of the past
3. Finding a way to be fully alive in the present and engaged with people around you
4. Not having to keep secrets from yourself, including secrets about the ways that you have managed to survive

Question 6

What are somatic therapies?

Answer 6

It is work on the premise that emotions are stored in the body due to the body and brain connection
- It can be done without direct or intense exposure to trauma
EX. yoga, dance therapy, somatic psychotherapy, sensory awareness training

Question 7

How can we calm the limbic system?

Answer 7

• Essential oils
• Deep breathing
• Grounding*
• Exercise
• Mindfulness

Question 8

What is grounding?

Answer 8

It promotes refocus on the here and now, the present moment, often through the senses.
- It is particularly useful for hyperarousal, flashbacks, dissociation
EX. I am sitting on a red chair, and the fabric is super soft, it’s velvet

Question 9

What is the importance of the TR when working with trauma survivors?

Answer 9

Supportive relationships are the most powerful predictor of protection against trauma’s impacts
- “Traumatized human beings recover in the context of relationships” (Van der Kolk, 2014)
- Safety is at the centre of a healing relationship*

Question 10

How can we create safety in the TR?

Answer 10

• Validate the pt’s feelings
• Ensure the pt has privacy
• Asking the pt their preferred name and pronouns
• Use of normalization to make the pt feel like they’re not alone
• Being culturally aware