Why is trauma such a frequent topic in mental health conversations today? With increasing awareness, global events, and new research, we’re learning more about how trauma affects the brain and body. Trauma can have a profound impact on a person’s well-being. However, not everyone who experiences trauma will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The difference often lies in how an individual interprets and processes the traumatic event.
Trauma vs. PTSD: What’s the Difference?
Trauma can result from a variety of experiences, including military service, first-responder work, serious medical events, car accidents, abuse, witnessing a death, natural disasters, and more. While many people experience distress following such events, not all will develop PTSD. PTSD development is influenced by multiple factors, including how the brain processes memory and emotion, individual vulnerability (such as past experiences, existing mental health conditions, coping skills, and social support), and the way someone thinks about and interprets the trauma. Two people can go through the same type of event, but their individual perceptions, coping strategies, and support systems influence whether they develop PTSD symptoms.
Resilience, Posttraumatic Growth, and Treatment Options
Understanding Resilience and Posttraumatic Growth
While PTSD can have a significant impact on an individual’s life, it’s important to recognize that many people also experience resilience and posttraumatic growth. Resilience refers to the ability to recover and adapt in the face of adversity, and it is influenced by factors such as coping skills, social support, and personal beliefs. Posttraumatic growth, on the other hand, describes the positive psychological changes that can occur as a result of struggling with trauma. This can include a greater appreciation for life, stronger relationships, increased personal strength, and a reevaluation of priorities. Effective treatment can not only reduce PTSD symptoms but also foster growth and resilience, helping individuals find meaning and strength after trauma.
If PTSD does develop, effective, research-backed treatments are available. According to the American Psychological Association, the most strongly recommended interventions all involve variations of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure to the traumatic event. Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) are two trauma-focused, standardized treatment protocols with the strongest evidence base. I am trained in both CPT and PE and utilize them as appropriate in my practice.
I chose these two treatments because they align with my foundation in cognitive and behavioral therapy, continue to have the strongest evidence base, and are considered best practices. I am constantly learning, and treatments are continuously evolving as we gain new understanding, experiences, and clinical trials with solid empirical support. I have seen firsthand how cognitive and behavioral therapies (including CPT and PE) work when individuals engage in them fully. I believe in these approaches, have reviewed the research, and have observed their favorable outcomes.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
CPT is a structured, evidence-based treatment that helps individuals modify and challenge unhelpful beliefs related to the trauma. Many people with PTSD develop rigid or distorted beliefs about themselves, others, or the world after trauma (e.g., “I should have done more,” “Bad things happen to bad people, so I must be bad,” “The world is completely unsafe”). CPT provides tools to examine and reframe these thoughts, leading to symptom relief and greater psychological flexibility. (APA) For a compelling real-world example of how CPT works, I highly recommend listening to this segment from This American Life: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/682/ten-sessions.
Prolonged Exposure (PE)
Avoidance is a key feature of PTSD—people may avoid thinking about the trauma or engaging in activities that remind them of it. PE is a structured therapy that gradually helps individuals approach trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations they have been avoiding. By facing these challenges in a safe, controlled way, individuals can process the trauma and reduce the distress associated with it over time. (APA)
These treatments are not easy. The saying, “it gets worse before it gets better,” often applies as one goes from avoidance to facing it, to get through it, “to the other side.”
Expanding Treatment Approaches: Evidence-Based and Emerging Therapies
While CPT and PE remain the most well-researched treatments for PTSD, several other approaches are gaining attention as more practitioners and clients use them with efficacy. The body of research supporting these emerging treatments is expanding, though they have not yet reached the same level of empirical validation as CPT and PE. These approaches may offer additional options for those seeking effective PTSD treatment.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Brainspotting
EMDR is a structured therapy in which the patient briefly focuses on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements). This process may help reduce the vividness and emotional intensity of the trauma memory. EMDR is thought to work by engaging the brain’s natural ability to process and integrate distressing experiences, possibly involving mechanisms related to memory reconsolidation and the activation of adaptive neural networks. The National Center for PTSD notes that PE, CPT, and EMDR are the most highly recommended treatments, though CPT and PE have the most consistent and strongest evidence base. (National Center for PTSD)
Brainspotting builds on some of the principles of EMDR. It involves identifying ‘brainspots’—eye positions that correlate with areas of stored trauma in the brain. By focusing on these points while processing traumatic memories, individuals may be able to access and resolve deeply stored emotional responses. While research is still emerging, early studies suggest that Brainspotting may be effective in reducing trauma-related distress.
Medications and Emerging Treatments: Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Beyond
Medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can help alleviate PTSD symptoms, making it easier for individuals to engage in therapy. These medications are well researched, FDA-approved, and considered part of best practice alongside trauma-focused psychotherapies (i.e., PE, CPT, CBT, EMDR). Additionally, newer treatments, including psychedelic-assisted therapy, are being researched for their potential benefits when used in controlled, supervised settings alongside psychotherapy. Substances such as MDMA and psilocybin have shown promise in clinical trials by potentially enhancing emotional processing and increasing neural plasticity. These are still considered experimental treatments. While research is ongoing, early results indicate that these therapies may provide relief for individuals with treatment-resistant PTSD. (National Center for PTSD)
Seeking the Right Treatment
You don’t have to live in fear or let trauma define your life. With the right treatment, healing is possible. CPT and PE are structured approaches that help individuals reclaim their lives after PTSD. Seeking a provider trained in these methods ensures access to the most effective care.
In my practice, along with CBT and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), I offer both CPT and PE. You cannot perform your best, be your best, or feel your best if you are suffering from the consequences of trauma. PTSD does not have to leave you debilitated or living in fear. My goal is always to help guide you toward a better self and greater life satisfaction.
“The only way out is through” – Robert Frost
I provide free 15-minute virtual consultations to discuss your needs and explore how these therapies can help you. Schedule a consultation today, give me a call (843-564-3930), or visit evaserber.com to learn more.
Today prepares you for tomorrow. Anything of value requires ongoing, consistent effort.
– Eva Serber, PhD, LLC
