Norfolk
Therapy
Services
Norfolk
Therapy
Services
What are the best therapies for PTSD / Trauma?
NICE recommends Trauma-Focussed CBT and EMDR as first-line treatments for PTSD. Both are effective, but they work differently. The best choice depends on your experiences, preferences and individual needs.
Other approaches, including Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), may also be helpful - particularly when working alongside trauma-focussed therapy,
How the different therapies work
EMDR helps the brain process traumatic memories so they feel less vivid and distressing. You focus briefly on aspects of the memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye moments or alternating sounds. Like some trauma therapies, it does not require you to describe the experience in detail.
Trauma-Focussed CBT helps you understand and change the thoughts, emotions and behaviours that have developed following the trauma. It usually involves revisiting and processing the traumatic experience in a safe, structured way, helping the memory become less distressing over time.
ACT helps you make room for difficult thoughts and feelings without allowing them to control your life. Rather than directly processing the traumatic memory, it focusses on helping you reconnect with what matters to you and take meaningful steps guided by your values.
MCT focussed on changing the patterns of worry, rumination and threat-monitoring that can keep trauma symptoms going. Rather than processing the traumatic memory directly, it helps you step back from distressing thoughts and regain control over where you place your attention.