Trauma therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that focuses on addressing the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in individuals who have experienced trauma. When applied to trauma treatment, CBT helps patients develop new beliefs about their traumatic experiences, learn coping skills, and reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through techniques such as exposure therapy and cognitive restructuring

Trauma memories possess unique characteristics that distinguish them from ordinary memories. These properties include involuntary recall, where memories intrude on conscious thought without warning, and a sense of “nowness,” causing individuals to relive the traumatic event as if it were happening in the present. Trauma memories are often dominated by vivid sensory representations, such as sights, sounds, smells, or even physical sensations like pain, which can be experienced in isolation from the broader memory context. 

Additionally, these memories tend to be fragmented and disorganised, lacking proper integration into autobiographical context due to impaired encoding processes during the traumatic event. The vividness and immutability of trauma memories contribute to their persistent and distressing nature, often leading to symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and intense emotional reactions when triggered by environmental cues. These properties of trauma memories play a significant role in the development and maintenance of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and can have a profound impact on an individual’s daily functioning and overall well-being