What is trauma and how can trauma therapy help?

Lorraine McReight

‘Big T’ Trauma and ‘Little T’ Trauma

Trauma is often considered to be caused by one major, life-changing event (such as an accident, assault, or life-changing injury) that leaves a profound impact on a person’s mental health. Such events are often known in the therapy world as ‘Big T’ traumas.

By contrast, the cumulative impact of smaller, repetitive negative experiences is known as ‘Little T’ traumas. These include things like bullying, ongoing criticism, and relentless ridicule.

Whilst I accept this is a term used by professionals to differentiate between the two types of traumas (and their causes and effects); I do feel uncomfortable describing someone’s life impacting negative experiences, ‘little’. Most of my trauma clients fall under the ‘Little T’ designation (although I work with clients from both categories) and the effects of their experiences are just as damaging as ‘Big T’, if not more.

Recovering completely from the effects of Little T’ trauma is challenging as its devastating effects are very deeply embedded. Sadly, those who experience ‘Big T’ trauma are often treated with more empathy (or seriousness) by friends, family or employers. The devastating impact of ‘Little T’ is not fully appreciated by those who haven’t lived with it and sometimes survivors of this insidious type of trauma are blamed (or shamed) for their ‘issues’.

What is trauma therapy and how does it work?

Trauma therapy helps your brain process distressing memories that have become lodged at a deep level.

Unprocessed traumatic memories can be reactivated by real-time events, news reports, films or TV drama; this is more common with ‘Big T’.

But memories of traumatic experiences frequently linger quietly in the background, pushed down consciously or unconsciously by the individual so that they can function. These suppressed memories affect the individual’s self-esteem and can leave them feeling vulnerable, anxious, easily overwhelmed, or hypersensitive. The individual may have a perpetual negative narrative running in the background or have developed unhelpful patterns because of early, ongoing trauma.

The effects of trauma and how to overcome it

Trauma, including abuse (in all its forms) shapes how you perceive yourself, the beliefs that you hold about yourself and how you see yourself in relation to others.

Trusting people (especially in intimate relationships) is not easy if you believe (at a deep, rather than surface level) that you are unlovable or not good enough. Some clients describe themselves as ‘people-pleasers’ and fear criticism or abandonment if they don’t accommodate the needs of others. Many have difficulty setting and maintaining boundaries and allow other people to take advantage of them.

I tailor my sessions to each individual, so there is no set protocol that I apply. Typically, I will want to instil a positive, more compassionate self-view.

A regular part of my work is helping the client to develop assertiveness skills. When someone needs external validation to feel good about themselves, we work together using a range of techniques to increase their self-esteem.

If forgiveness of themselves or others is appropriate (it’s not always, and it’s up to each client to decide what will be most helpful for them) we address that.

If they wish, I teach my clients techniques such as Nervous System Regulation and EFT Tapping which they can use at home between sessions or when therapy is completed.

I use a blend of hypnosis and CBT combined with modern approaches rooted in neuroscience such as bilateral stimulation and eye movement therapies which reduce the emotional charge associated with trauma. Many techniques I use are ‘content-free’, so you won’t need to recount painful details. Thankfully, therapy doesn’t need to be harrowing or protracted. Emotional healing is possible and often happens more quickly and fully than you might expect.

What are the benefits of Trauma Therapy?

When recovering from trauma you can expect to notice shifts in your mindset and physiology. Such as:

Feeling calmer and less emotional
Less jumpy
Sleeping better
Less quick to anger
No longer hypervigilant
Ability to talk about your experience without being re-traumatised
A greater sense of physical and emotional wellbeing

Is trauma therapy right for me?

First, ask yourself if you think you’d benefit from therapy.

People seek therapy with me because they have issues that affect their quality of life. I’m not a fan of labelling people or describing them by their symptoms or the root cause of their discomfort. I prefer to focus on their individual experience; what they think, how they feel, and how they want to feel at the end of their therapy.