How Therapy Helps Rewire the Brain After Trauma

Welcome to the world of trauma therapy and cognitive healing! In this article, we will unravel the intricate relationship between trauma and the brain, and how therapy plays a crucial role in rewiring thought patterns for individuals who have experienced trauma. 

A Quick Look at Trauma and Its Impact on the Brain

To better understand what trauma is and the different types of trauma, check out my last blog post on the benefits of trauma therapy! Each year, about 1-3% of people experience a significant trauma. 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can cause significant changes in the brain, particularly in areas responsible for processing emotions, memory, and stress responses. Before PTSD, the brain functions relatively normally, with a balanced response to stress.

However, after trauma, areas such as the amygdala (responsible for detecting threats and assigning emotional reactions) become hyperactive, leading to heightened fear responses and hypervigilance.

Conversely, the prefrontal cortex, which helps regulate emotions and decision-making, often becomes underactive, impairing an individual’s ability to process emotions and make calm, rational decisions.

Additionally, the hippocampus, involved in memory and distinguishing between past and present experiences, can shrink, leading to difficulties in distinguishing between past trauma and current situations.

These changes help explain the intrusive memories, emotional dysregulation, and heightened stress responses that are common in PTSD. While not comprehensive, understanding some basics about how the brain changes can inform post-trauma growth, healing and recovery. 

The Role of Therapy in Cognitive Healing

Trauma counselling plays a crucial role in helping individuals recover from trauma by providing evidence-based treatments and a structured environment for healing. Therapy can help individuals process traumatic memories, regulate emotions, and develop coping strategies to manage the lasting effects of trauma.

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), nearly 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime, and trauma-related disorders such as PTSD are a significant contributor to this statistic. Studies show that 60-80% of individuals with PTSD experience a significant reduction in symptoms after completing trauma-focused therapy.

These treatments help individuals regain control over their lives, improve their emotional well-being, and restore a sense of safety and stability. For those struggling with trauma, seeking professional help is often the first and most essential step toward recovery.

Psychologists use a variety of resilience-building techniques to help people heal from trauma, build a strong mind-body connection and offer psychological healing. Some techniques that we are proud to offer include: 

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

TF-CBT is an evidence-based treatment that helps individuals identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors associated with trauma. TF-CBT focuses on reducing distressing symptoms by restructuring negative beliefs and teaching healthy coping skills.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (e.g., guided eye movements) to help individuals process and reframe distressing memories. EMDR has shown to be particularly effective in treating PTSD, with many individuals reporting significant symptom relief after treatment. 

Somatic Experiencing (SE)

Somatic experiencing focuses on the connection between mind and body, helping individuals release stored physical tension and trauma. SE aims to help the body and mind integrate and resolve traumatic experiences through mindful awareness of physical sensations.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Mindfulness therapies teach individuals to stay grounded in the present moment, reducing the tendency to ruminate on past trauma or worry about the future. Mindfulness practices can help individuals manage the stress and emotional pain associated with trauma.

Does Therapy Alter the Brain?

The answer is we don’t know for sure. There is strong evidence that trauma-focused therapy improves emotional regulation, emotional resilience, cognitive functioning as well as overall functioning.

That is, 60-80% of individuals benefit from therapy after trauma. There is mixed evidence around if this therapy directly alters the brain structure or activity.

We do know that certain interventions, such as mindfulness, alter brain activity; however, we need more research to say for sure the neurological impact of therapy on the brain structure and activity. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, mental health therapy can be a powerful tool in helping individuals heal and recover from trauma, even if we don’t know the exact impacts on the brain itself. If you or someone you know has experienced trauma, consider exploring the benefits of trauma therapy and cognitive healing to support brain rewiring and promote overall well-being.