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Different therapy approaches for trauma

creative_writerSenior Contributor24 Jan 2026, 5:05 pm AEDT

Different therapy approaches for trauma

I had multiple mental illnesses, one of my diagnoses is cptsd. Right now I’ve been doing more behavioural therapy and my current psych focuses more on exposure therapy. I feel like I haven’t been able to get far, it’s not that it hasn’t helped, but I feel like I need a different approach. I find it super difficult to talk about trauma details, I’ve tried it before and ended up retraumatised. I don’t think exposure therapy is right for me. I’ve tried a few EMDR sessions in the past which helped, I have been contemplating whether I should revisit it. I would need to get referred to another psych for EMDR.

I have also considered art therapy (which is also not a focal point for my current psych). Sometimes I don’t have the words to describe the pain that is stuck within me. I want to heal. I struggle with somatic flashbacks and I’ve had to disconnect from my body in order to feel safe. I don’t always notice the discomfort in my body until much later. I also get lots of intrusive thoughts and memories. I think it’s been feeding my OCD thoughts. I also have bipolar and trauma isn’t helping with stability since so much is suppressed. The bipolar also makes it worse.

I’m open to hear about what others have found helpful and hear about experiences of different therapy modalities.

63 replies

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In response to: Different therapy approaches for trauma

creative_writerSenior Contributor25 Jan 2026, 12:14 pm AEDT

Re: Different therapy approaches for trauma

@tyme sometimes it wise not to open up. Masking may get exhausting, but it feels safer than the other alternative.

@Captain24 glad to hear that rescripting helped. I do believe there is a lot of power in changing narratives.

@Spirit_Healer I completely agree with the timing being right. I’m still in the process of stabilising and I don’t think it’s ideal at this point in time. I’m just taking my time right now to explore options and give myself time to figure out the next steps. I will touch base with my psych and pdoc in the coming week.

@SaltwaterSoul EMDR can be overwhelming for sure. In the past, I would find myself feeling relaxed after a session but things would pop up for me afterwards. I am a bit slow in processing. I personally think schema therapy makes more sense than CBT, I haven’t done much of schema. I just feel like it was better at explaining my beliefs, thoughts and emotions.

I’ve been writing poetry since I was a teen, it has helped me a lot over the years. I’ve considered sharing some of my poems during therapy. Sometimes I do struggle to communicate.

In response to: Different therapy approaches for trauma

creative_writerSenior Contributor25 Jan 2026, 12:27 pm AEDT

Re: Different therapy approaches for trauma

@AlwaysMyself it has certainly been interesting. There is no one size fit all approach.

In response to: Re: Different therapy approaches for trauma

SaltwaterSoulSenior Contributor25 Jan 2026, 12:36 pm AEDT

Re: Different therapy approaches for trauma

@creative_writer

That’s okay, it’s okay not to rush the process. I’m relieved to know I’m not alone in feeling slow too. Someone once told me that I can get healed by EMDR in just a few sessions, and then you're ''done''
but that hasn’t been my experience at all. I’m expecting at least another year of consistent therapy, and maybe more beyond that. Healing is not linear, while I can feel that I’ve definitely come a long way, there is still so much more to work through. Often, for me in one session I might open up about something small, and then it takes a long time just to process that one moment.

Poetry sounds great. I’ve never written poetry much part from school projects, but I have done some writing in the past, and I journal most days, which has been a helpful tool. Sometimes I write an email to my psychologist between sessions with thoughts or reflections, she has encouraged me to do that if I need to. She reads, but rarely applies, but we talk about it in the next session, which has been a good way too.. maybe that's something you could do? What do you think?

In response to: Different therapy approaches for trauma

Cat34Senior Contributor25 Jan 2026, 1:10 pm AEDT

Re: Different therapy approaches for trauma

Hi ,
I think art therapy may help you.
Calm music .
Tapping techniques .
Going for walks around nature .
well done for reaching out .
Support may help
@Cat34

In response to: Re: Different therapy approaches for trauma

tymeModerator25 Jan 2026, 1:13 pm AEDT

Re: Different therapy approaches for trauma

@creative_writer wrote:
@tyme sometimes it wise not to open up. Masking may get exhausting, but it feels safer than the other alternative.

@creative_writer , is it "wrong" to mask? I personally think it has a place and space. As you said, it is better than the alternative.

I guess it's when we only rely on masking... then it may become an issue.

How are you going today?

In response to: Different therapy approaches for trauma

tymeModerator25 Jan 2026, 1:19 pm AEDT

Re: Different therapy approaches for trauma

@Spirit_Healer , that's really helpful information. Much appreciated

In response to: Different therapy approaches for trauma

tymeModerator25 Jan 2026, 1:32 pm AEDT

Re: Different therapy approaches for trauma

@Captain24 wrote:

I have done rescripting @tyme @creative_writer. It was a really good experience. It was hard to relive the memory but the change at the end now means I can talk about it without triggering me. It took the sting out of it.

That's really good to hear @Captain24 . Do you need to focus on one hard memory at a time?

In response to: Re: Different therapy approaches for trauma

creative_writerSenior Contributor25 Jan 2026, 1:50 pm AEDT

Re: Different therapy approaches for trauma

@SaltwaterSoul as much as I don’t want to say this, I’ve found having complex trauma can mean it takes longer. I’ve had multiple traumas, both big Ts and small Ts. I don’t know how long it’ll take. I wish it didn’t take so long. I’ve been in therapy for a very long time.

Writing thoughts and reflections in between sounds like a good idea. I do find it easier to write it out. I often stumble when I talk.

@Cat34 calming music, walks and tapping can be super helpful.

@tyme I don’t think masking is wrong but I am finding myself masking everyday for hours on end. It’s exhausting. My head feels heavy today, don’t think the smoke smell helped, it’s also been hot. I struggle with heat. Physical pain is naturally going to take a toil on mental health. I think I’ll need to rest. How are you?

In response to: Re: Different therapy approaches for trauma

tymeModerator25 Jan 2026, 2:16 pm AEDT

Re: Different therapy approaches for trauma

True that. Masking can be exhausting. I can also imagine that if you had to mask at home, it would be even harder. Would you ever consider moving out @creative_writer ? Or is this not a possibility?

Also, do your siblings talk to you much?

In response to: Re: Different therapy approaches for trauma

Cat34Senior Contributor25 Jan 2026, 2:17 pm AEDT

Re: Different therapy approaches for trauma

I have physical pain too and need to rest .
Take care@tyme

@Cat34

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