Intuitive approaches to trauma treatment
I noticed this short article that explains pretty well why intuitive approaches to trauma treatment often fail:
Trauma Treatment: Evidence-Based Approaches versus Intuitive Approaches
Woman: The therapists were helpful. I always felt better after sessions.
Therapist: And then what happened?
Woman: I dont know, because I felt bad later on.
Therapist: So, when you were with a therapist you felt better, but in the long run you didnt get better?
Woman: Yeah.
Therapist: Why do you think that is?
Woman: I figured the therapist was so helpful and knowledgeable, so there must have been something broken in me. Something must be wrong with me that Im not getting better.
Her therapists had all done their best, but they were just following their intuition instead of using methods that have been shown to work reliably.
This is why listeners here at 7 Cups shouldn't give advice, and if we do ever give advice, members shouldn't blindly follow it. There are even some therapists, apparently, who attempt trauma treatment without appropriate training.
(Tiny pinch of salt: The article is an ad for a workshop in Philadelphia led by its author.)
@RarelyCharlie
Hi! Thanks for sharing this article! I'm very interested in trauma and being able to help manage it.
Of course managing trauma wouldn't be helpful if you were asked to stop thinking about it! Man, just the thought of someone being asked to do that makes me sad. It makes me a little angry too - like the person has been through so much and the therapist is providing super unhelpful therapy!
I really hope that listeners aren't giving advice about trauma - it's such a tough one to work with and even if you know about trauma well it's so hard because we'll never fully know the whole picture and be able to support members through it all. I even think that online therapy can be a little tricky - it's hard to make someone feel safe and be able to connect at the same time.