What Is Trauma Therapy?

There are different types of evidence-based online trauma therapy options. Trauma therapy for adults and teens is often sought when people are experiencing impactful symptoms following a traumatic event. It is important to feel comfortable when you are engaging with an online therapist for trauma because you want to ensure that you feel safe and comfortable. And you want to be confident that they are skilled in providing treatment to you that is effective and meaningful. Trauma therapy can be conducted in person or online. We will refer to online therapy for trauma given the enhanced accessibility and flexibility of receiving therapy services online. We will also speak about the benefits when engaging in trauma therapy online.

Another important question is when someone might consider starting online trauma therapy. Individuals may experience trauma over many years or as the result of one significant and impactful event. The ways in which people are impacted by trauma can also differ from one person to the next. 

There are different types of evidence-based interventions for trauma. One evidence-based approach for trauma is cognitive processing therapy (CPT). This can be conducted as an online trauma therapy approach. Traumatic events may alter how individuals view themselves, others and the world around them. After a trauma has been experienced, an individual might believe they are to blame for the event. They might also think that the world is a more dangerous place than it used to be. Trusted people might feel less safe than they did in the past.

If an individual has experienced multiple traumas, they might view themselves as a “trauma magnet” and believe that more bad things are on the way for them. We refer to these types of thoughts as stuck points and, during the course of CPT, which can be conducted as an online trauma therapy, you will learn how to gain perspective on these thoughts. Research has found that cognitive processing therapy is highly effective for both adults and adolescents. 

A woman in yellow sits pensively by a forest stream, reflecting amidst nature.

What might it look like to talk with your online therapist for trauma about stuck points? 

Here is a simple therapeutic conversation that illustrates the cognitive reframing/restructuring process that happens in therapy. 

Individual
The car accident was my fault. I had not slept well the night before and then I drove my son to hockey practice the next day. I should have recognized how tired I was. I am a bad parent and am irresponsible. I feel ashamed, guilty and sad for causing us harm.
Therapist
It is very difficult to carry around those emotions and beliefs. Of course, you would never want to intentionally cause your children any harm. Let’s look at information that you might be missing or overlooking. Let’s look at the evidence we have for and against this belief that the accident was your fault. Do you think this belief is a habit in thinking style or is it actually based on facts?
Individual
Well, I have believed this ever since the accident happened. So, I guess it is a habit but it still does feel like my fault. 
Therapist
Okay, I understand. Why don’t we talk about the evidence we have that supports this belief as well as the evidence we have that does not support it. Let’s look for factual pieces of evidence in both situations. We want to talk this through together and see if we can take into account anything that you might have missed.
Evidence For the Belief
You were in the car with your son and you were driving the car. You felt tired as your sleep the night before was not optimal. You also have a toddler at home and they were sick so that was partly responsible for your lack of sleep. 
Evidence Against the Belief
Although you discuss the car accident as your fault, we know that another driver made the turn that caused the accident. You were driving in a safe car and everyone had their seat belts on. There was nothing about your driving that was found to be problematic. 
Individual
That is all very true. It is just hard to think in that way as I feel as a parent I should always protect my children. The car accident was very sudden and I thought when it happened that my child was seriously injured or even dead. I just kept wishing I had not been driving or had let my husband take him as he was more rested than me.
Therapist
I completely understand. You would never have wanted this to happen. And you wish you could somehow have prevented it. We want to keep thinking about everything that happened that day, everyone who was involved in the accident and the responsibility of yourself and the other driver who caused the accident. It sounds like you are just focusing on one aspect of the event. You are a parent wanting to protect your child and that didn’t happen. Let’s keep exploring that together.

These types of therapeutic conversations take place during online trauma therapy, such as CPT. By learning different cognitive therapy strategies, individuals are able to:

  • Understand connections between thoughts, feelings and behaviours
  • Learn about their stuck points and how they impact avoidance behaviours
  • Gain perspective from their stuck points
  • Loosen the rigidity of problematic stuck points and belief systems
  • Accept balanced thoughts regarding the traumatic event(s) and enhance emotional processing of these events

At Forward Thinking Psychological Services®, we offer this type of online trauma therapy for individuals; both adolescents and adults. It is a 12-module treatment intervention. Which means you can solely focus on the trauma in this shorter course of treatment. It can also be part of a longer course of PTSD treatment in which you work on other things. At Forward Thinking Psychological Services®, our clinicians are able to provide online trauma therapy services throughout different parts of Canada, including Ontario, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and New Brunswick. 

A woman hides her face in hands showing deep emotion and sadness in a studio setting.

What Symptoms Do People Experience Following Trauma?

You might have noticed different types of symptoms following the experience of a traumatic event and wonder what those mean. It is also important to understand what is meant when a healthcare professional discusses the diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

According to The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), there are specific symptoms that a healthcare professional will assess for in order to formally diagnose what are referred to as Trauma-and Stressor-Related Disorders. Included within this category of mental health disorders are: reactive attachment disorder, disinhibited social engagement disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder, adjustment disorders, and prolonged grief disorder. Within all of these disorders, exposure to a situation that has been experienced as extremely stressful or traumatic is part of the diagnostic criteria. 

At Forward Thinking Psychological Services®, we provide therapy for individuals who have experienced traumatic events as well as symptoms of PTSD. It is always important for a clinician to use a trauma-informed approach when an individual has experienced trauma. We also work with individuals who are experiencing symptoms of OCD and trauma. Online trauma therapy can be very helpful for individuals with co-occurring symptoms of OCD and trauma. Contact us to learn more!

As you can see, there are many different types of symptoms that an individual experiences during PTSD. We review them below but they must be discussed with a healthcare professional in order to fully understand symptoms and a possible diagnosis.

The following symptoms are relevant for any individual over the age of 6 years old.

1. Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violence in a number of ways:

  • Directly witnessing a trauma
  • Witnessing, in person, the event(s) as it is happening to others
  • Learning about a traumatic event that happened to a close family member or friend (when there is actual or threatened death of a family member or friend, it must have been violent or accidental)
  • Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to horrific details of the event 

You will discuss this situation(s) during online trauma therapy with your psychologist when an assessment is being conducted to better understand the trauma and your reaction to the event(s). 

In addition to the above, the following symptoms are experienced for more than one month.

2. Presence of one (or more) intrusive symptoms associated with the traumatic event, which began after the trauma:

  • Recurrent, unwanted and intrusive memories of the traumatic event that are distressing. This may involve remembering the face or voice of someone who assaulted you or the sound of a car crash following an accident.
  • Recurrent distressing dreams with content and emotions being related to the trauma. This may involve nightmares about a car crash, being chased by an attacker (or someone else) or reliving some part of the trauma in your dreams. 
  • Feeling as if you are reliving the trauma. This is sometimes called “dissociation” and people might lose touch with the present moment and feel they are experiencing the trauma all over again. This can also be experienced in the form of flashbacks or other “re-experiencing” symptoms. 
  • Experiencing intense or chronic psychological distress when exposed to reminders of the traumatic event(s). This could happen if you are close to where the trauma took place, encounter anyone connected to the trauma or any other types of reminders.
  • Intense physiological reactions to reminders of the trauma (panic attacks, heart racing, difficulty breathing)

3. Ongoing avoidance of things associated with the trauma(s), starting after the event has occurred and showing up as one of both of the following:

  • Avoidance or efforts to avoid upsetting memories, thoughts or feelings about or closely related to the traumatic event(s). This could include avoidance of recollections of the trauma, feelings experienced during the trauma or other memories of the event itself
  • Avoidance or efforts to avoid outside reminders (i.e., people, places, conversations, activities, objects, situations) that bring on distressing memories, thoughts or feelings about or closely related to the traumatic events(s)

4. Changes in thoughts and emotions associated with the traumatic event(s), starting or getting worse after the trauma(s) have occurred, as displayed by two (or more) of the following symptoms:

  • Unable to remember some important aspect of the traumatic event(s) (not due to amnesia, head injury, or substances)
  • Ongoing and intense negative beliefs or expectations about oneself, other people or the world (i.e., this is all my fault, the world is a dangerous place)
  • Ongoing and unhelpful thoughts about the cause or outcome of the traumatic event(s) that result in the person blaming themselves or others (i.e., If I only had done something different this would not have happened)
  • Ongoing difficult emotions (e.g., fear, horror, anger, guilt or shame)
  • Drastically decreased interest or wanting to partake in meaningful activities
  • Feeling disconnected from others
  • Ongoing difficulty in experiencing positive emotions

5. Impactful changes in arousal and reactivity associated with the traumatic event(s), starting or getting worse after the trauma has occurred. Shown by two or more of the following symptoms:

  • Irritable behaviour and angry outbursts, often expressed as verbal or physical aggression toward people or objects
  • Reckless or self-destructive behaviour
  • Hypervigilance (e.g., feeling overly aware of surroundings, overly aware of body sensations)
  • Exaggerated startle response
  • Difficulties with concentration
  • Sleep difficulties

These symptoms cause significant distress or impairment in social, educational, work-related or other meaningful areas of functioning. They might be experienced with different types of dissociative symptoms. This may include feeling detached from your own thoughts or body (i.e., depersonalization) or experiencing the feeling that things around you are unreal or dreamlike (i.e., derealization) 

What Happens During Trauma Therapy Online?

You might wonder what happens during online trauma therapy as opposed to in-person trauma therapy. Evidence has shown that for many people there are benefits to working with a trauma therapist online.

People often appreciate the flexibility and accessibility that they gain when engaging in online therapy for trauma. When searching for an online trauma therapist, you want to ensure the same level of training and experience as you would for any other type of therapeutic approach. It is very important that the therapist has trauma training and experience. You should always ask before you begin sessions!

Finally, teens are also sometimes in need of trauma therapy. Online teen trauma therapy is also something that we offer at Forward Thinking Psychological Services®. Contact us to learn more! We offer evidence-based approaches for trauma that often include CPT, as discussed above. ACT for trauma is another evidence-based approach that we deliver during online therapy for trauma. You will learn more about our assessment and approaches during your initial meeting with your therapist. 

A teenage girl sits comfortably while using a laptop indoors during trauma therapy

What Steps Should I Take if I Am Interested in Online Trauma Therapy?

Now that you know about what online trauma therapy looks like and you have learned about symptoms following trauma, you might be wondering: what are the next steps?

It is always a big step to move forward with therapy and accessing services following any type of trauma is very difficult.

Our clinicians at Forward Thinking Psychological Services® (FTPS) are ready to help you and meet you where you are. We aim to provide a safe space in which you can explore your emotions, thoughts and behaviours in relation to any trauma that you have experienced. 

Does FTPS offer online therapy for trauma near me? We strive to offer the best online therapy for trauma for both adults and teens that we can deliver. We offer evidence-based services and look forward to working with you when you are ready. We offer services for adults and adolescents throughout different parts of Canada, including Ontario, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and New Brunswick. Contact us today to learn more.