Trauma Therapy Uncovered: Evidence-Based Approaches for Healing
Trauma therapy offers effective pathways to process traumatic experiences and restore mental health. When painful traumatic events remain unprocessed, they can manifest as anxiety, perfectionism, self-criticism, and relationship difficulties. Fortunately, specialized trauma focused treatment approaches can help individuals process these experiences and create lasting positive change in their feelings and overall wellbeing.
Audrey Schoen, LMFT, offers innovative and effective trauma therapy approaches in Roseville, CA, and online throughout California and Texas. As a solo practitioner specializing in trauma resolution, Audrey provides personalized trauma informed care tailored to each individual's unique needs and traumatic experiences.
Understanding Trauma and Its Impact on Mental Health
Trauma doesn't always stem from catastrophic traumatic events like natural disasters or serious injury. Many individuals experience trauma through painful childhood experiences, relationship dynamics, or accumulated stress over time. These traumatic experiences can create lasting patterns in the nervous system and brain, leading to various mental health conditions and symptoms:
Persistent anxiety and hypervigilance
Self-criticism and imposter syndrome
Perfectionism and people-pleasing behaviors
Difficulty in relationships and communication
Money anxiety and financial avoidance
Unpredictable emotions and emotional reactivity
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms
What makes these challenges particularly difficult is that they often feel disconnected from their original source. You might experience anxiety, perfectionism, or relationship difficulties without recognizing their connection to earlier traumatic experiences. Trauma reminders can trigger intense fear and emotional responses that seem out of proportion to current circumstances.
Effective trauma therapy addresses both the symptoms and their underlying causes, creating lasting positive change rather than temporary relief. Treatment approaches focus on helping individuals gain control over their feelings related to traumatic memories.
Specialized Trauma Resolution Approaches
Audrey Schoen, LMFT offers several cutting-edge approaches to treating trauma, each designed to address trauma efficiently and effectively:
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
As a Certified Master ART Practitioner, Audrey specializes in this innovative approach to trauma resolution. Accelerated Resolution Therapy combines elements of several effective therapeutic techniques into a cohesive, streamlined process that typically works much faster than traditional talk therapy alone.
ART uses specific eye movement techniques and a structured protocol to help the brain process traumatic memories differently. During an ART session, you can:
Process painful memories without having to talk about them in detail
Experience relief from emotional triggers connected to past traumatic experiences
Replace distressing images with positive ones
Address memories and negative thoughts without becoming overwhelmed
Retain the wisdom and insights from experiences while releasing the emotional charge
Many clients report significant relief from mental health symptoms after just a few sessions, making ART an efficient option for those seeking timely resolution of traumatic experiences.
Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a powerful therapeutic approach based on the connection between where we look and how we feel. This technique helps identify and process specific points in the visual field that correlate with stored trauma in the brain.
By focusing on these "brainspots" while processing emotional experiences, clients who have experienced trauma can:
Access deeper brain regions where trauma is stored
Process emotions that talk therapy alone may not reach
Transform cognitive patterns and negative beliefs associated with traumatic events
Experience healing at a neurobiological level
Resolve issues that have been resistant to other treatment methods
Brainspotting harnesses the brain's natural capacity for healing, allowing for profound transformation with less verbal processing than traditional approaches require. This method is particularly effective for complex trauma and developmental trauma where other methods may fall short.
Intensive Therapy Sessions
For those seeking deeper, more concentrated work, Audrey offers intensive therapy sessions. Unlike the standard 50-minute weekly therapy model, intensives provide extended time to work through complex issues without interruption.
Benefits of intensive therapy sessions include:
Deeper processing of traumatic memories in a condensed timeframe
Momentum that builds throughout the extended session
Opportunities to work through multiple layers of traumatic experience
Less time spent recapping between sessions
Potential for breakthrough experiences in treating trauma
Intensives can range from half-day sessions to multi-day retreats, depending on individual needs and goals. These concentrated healing experiences can be particularly beneficial for those dealing with complex PTSD or those who prefer to work through issues in a more immersive way.
Couples Retreats
Trauma doesn't just affect individuals—it impacts relationships as well. Couples retreats offer a concentrated opportunity for partners to understand how past traumatic experiences influence their current relationship dynamics and develop healthier patterns together.
During a couples retreat with Audrey, partners can:
Identify how individual trauma histories affect the relationship
Develop compassion for each other's emotional responses to trauma reminders
Learn effective communication strategies that account for trauma triggers
Create new, more supportive relationship patterns
Deepen connection and intimacy while addressing trauma informed approaches
These retreats provide a focused environment for transformation, allowing couples to make significant progress in trauma focused treatment in a condensed timeframe.
Financial Therapy
Money concerns often trigger deep emotional responses rooted in earlier traumatic experiences. Financial therapy addresses the psychological aspects of money management, helping clients understand and transform their relationship with finances.
Through financial therapy, clients can:
Explore the emotional roots of money avoidance or anxiety
Understand how childhood experiences shape current financial behaviors
Develop healthier money management approaches
Address perfectionism and self-criticism related to finances
Create practical strategies aligned with personal values and improved mental health
This specialized approach recognizes that financial wellness involves both practical skills and emotional healing, particularly for entrepreneurs and individuals experiencing money-related stress.
The Neuroscience Behind Trauma Resolution
Understanding how trauma affects the brain helps explain why specialized approaches like ART and Brainspotting can be so effective. When traumatic events occur, they can become stored in the brain differently than ordinary memories.
How Trauma Affects the Brain and Mental Health
Traumatic experiences can impact the brain in several key ways:
Amygdala Activation: The brain's alarm system becomes highly sensitive, leading to heightened stress responses even in safe situations where there is no immediate danger.
Disrupted Memory Processing: Traumatic memories often remain fragmented and unprocessed, stored as sensory impressions rather than coherent narratives.
Nervous System Dysregulation: The body's stress response systems may remain in states of hyperarousal (anxiety, hypervigilance) or hypoarousal (disconnection, numbness).
Altered Self-Perception: Trauma can affect how we view ourselves, often leading to negative beliefs about self-worth, safety, or capability.
These neurobiological effects help explain the widespread impact of trauma on mental health conditions and physical wellbeing.
How Specialized Therapies Facilitate Healing
Approaches like ART and Brainspotting work directly with the brain's natural healing mechanisms:
Bilateral Stimulation: Eye movements used in ART help activate both hemispheres of the brain, similar to how EMDR therapy involves eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, facilitating information processing and integration.
Subcortical Processing: These approaches access deeper brain regions where trauma is stored, bypassing the limitations of purely cognitive therapy approaches.
Nervous System Regulation: Specialized trauma focused treatment helps restore balance to the nervous system, reducing both hyperarousal and hypoarousal states.
Memory Reconsolidation: The brain can actually revise how traumatic memories are stored, reducing their emotional charge while preserving important information.
This neurobiological approach to healing explains why many clients experience rapid relief with these specialized trauma therapy methods, even after years of struggling with symptoms of trauma.
Beyond Traditional Exposure Therapy: Superior Alternatives for Trauma Treatment
While exposure therapy has long been considered the standard approach for treating trauma, it comes with significant limitations and risks. Traditional exposure methods require clients to repeatedly confront trauma reminders, which can be painful, long-lasting, and may lead to re-traumatization. Many clients find exposure therapy overwhelming, resulting in high dropout rates and only moderate effectiveness.
The Limitations of Traditional Exposure Therapy
Traditional exposure therapy faces several critical challenges:
Prolonged and painful process of repeatedly confronting traumatic material
High risk of re-traumatization when clients become flooded with emotions
Significant dropout rates due to the intense nature of exposure work
Limited effectiveness for many clients despite the emotional cost
Unnecessarily lengthy treatment timelines
ART and Brainspotting: The Modern Solution
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and Brainspotting offer revolutionary alternatives that address the limitations of traditional exposure therapy. These cutting-edge approaches provide:
Minimal Exposure to Painful Content Unlike traditional exposure therapy that requires detailed revisiting of traumatic events, ART and Brainspotting enable healing with minimal exposure to painful material. Clients can process trauma without becoming overwhelmed or flooded with emotions.
Rapid Results While exposure therapy can take months or years with only moderate success, ART and Brainspotting often deliver significant relief in just a few sessions. These approaches work with the brain's natural processing mechanisms for faster, more efficient healing.
Protection Against Re-traumatization Both ART and Brainspotting are designed to prevent re-traumatization through careful management of emotional activation. Clients remain in control throughout the process, significantly reducing the risk of emotional flooding.
Higher Success Rates The gentler nature of these approaches leads to better client retention and more consistent positive outcomes. Clients are more likely to complete treatment and achieve their therapeutic goals.
These modern trauma therapy approaches represent a significant advancement in the field, offering hope and healing to those who may have been discouraged by the limitations of traditional exposure therapy.
Specific Issues Addressed Through Trauma Therapy
Audrey Schoen, LMFT specializes in addressing several specific issues through her trauma informed therapy approach:
Trauma & Painful Experiences
Unresolved trauma can manifest in numerous ways, from obvious symptoms like flashbacks to subtle patterns like people-pleasing or perfectionism. Audrey's approach to trauma resolution focuses on processing these traumatic experiences at their source, creating relief that extends to all related mental health symptoms.
Through specialized trauma therapy, clients can:
Process painful memories without becoming overwhelmed
Reduce emotional triggers connected to past traumatic experiences
Integrate fragmented aspects of experiences
Develop a coherent narrative that makes sense of their experiences
Move forward with new insights and perspectives
Perfectionism and Negative Thoughts
Perfectionism often develops as a response to criticism or unpredictability in early life. While it may begin as an adaptive strategy, it frequently becomes limiting and exhausting over time.
Trauma informed therapy for perfectionism helps clients:
Identify the origins of perfectionist tendencies
Recognize perfectionism as a protective response to traumatic events
Develop self-compassion and more flexible standards
Create healthier ways to feel safe and worthy
Maintain high-quality work without the emotional toll
Anxiety and Other Mental Health Symptoms
Anxiety commonly stems from unprocessed trauma or chronic stress. Rather than just managing symptoms, Audrey's approach addresses the root causes of anxiety for more comprehensive relief.
Through specialized therapy for anxiety, clients can:
Understand the connection between past traumatic experiences and current anxiety
Process the underlying experiences triggering anxiety responses
Develop a more regulated nervous system
Learn effective coping strategies for managing anxiety in daily life
Build confidence in their ability to handle challenging situations
Self-Criticism & Self-Doubt
Harsh inner dialogue and persistent self-doubt often have roots in earlier experiences where criticism was prevalent or where perfectionism became necessary for approval or safety.
Trauma informed therapy for self-criticism helps clients:
Identify the origins of their critical inner voice
Process traumatic experiences that reinforced negative self-perception
Develop self-compassion and more balanced self-assessment
Create new internal messages based on current reality rather than past experiences
Build a stronger, more positive sense of spiritual well-being and self-worth
People-Pleasing
People-pleasing behaviors typically develop when a person learns that their needs, preferences, or authentic expression are unwelcome or unsafe. Addressing the underlying experiences that created these patterns can lead to more authentic living.
Through trauma informed therapy for people-pleasing, clients can:
Understand the protective function these behaviors have served
Process experiences where boundaries were unsafe or invalidated
Develop comfort with expressing authentic needs and preferences
Learn healthy boundary-setting skills as coping strategies
Build relationships based on mutuality rather than accommodation
Unhelpful Relationship Patterns
Many relationship difficulties stem from early attachment experiences or relationship traumas that created problematic templates for connection.
Trauma therapy for relationship patterns helps clients:
Identify recurring relationship dynamics and their origins in traumatic experiences
Process attachment-related experiences that created these patterns
Develop awareness of trauma triggers and reactions in relationships
Learn new ways of relating that foster connection and security
Create healthier relationships based on current needs rather than past patterns
Reactivity and Unpredictable Emotions
Emotional reactivity—responding to situations with intensity that exceeds the current circumstance—often signals unprocessed trauma or chronic stress.
Through trauma informed therapy for reactivity, clients can:
Identify triggers that provoke reactive responses to trauma reminders
Process the underlying traumatic experiences connected to these triggers
Develop greater nervous system regulation
Create space between trigger and response
Respond to current situations based on present reality rather than past conditioning
Money Anxiety & Avoidance
Financial concerns often trigger deep emotional responses rooted in earlier experiences of scarcity, unpredictability, or shame.
Financial therapy helps clients:
Understand the emotional components of their relationship with money
Process experiences that created financial anxiety or avoidance
Develop a healthier relationship with earning, spending, and saving
Create practical strategies aligned with personal values
Build confidence in financial decision-making
Imposter Syndrome
Feelings of fraudulence despite objective success commonly relate to early experiences where recognition came with conditions or where authenticity was unsafe.
Trauma informed therapy for imposter syndrome helps clients:
Identify the origins of fraudulent feelings in traumatic experiences
Process experiences that created disconnection from authentic accomplishment
Develop internal validation systems less dependent on external approval
Recognize and internalize legitimate successes and abilities
Build a more coherent sense of professional identity and competence
Who Can Benefit from Trauma Informed Therapy
Audrey Schoen, LMFT works with diverse clients seeking resolution for various challenges related to traumatic experiences:
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy provides a personalized approach to addressing trauma and its effects on mental health. Whether dealing with specific traumatic events or the accumulated impact of difficult experiences, individual clients benefit from tailored approaches that honor their unique circumstances and goals.
Individual therapy is particularly beneficial for:
Processing personal experiences at your own pace
Addressing individual patterns and symptoms of trauma
Developing personalized coping skills
Exploring topics that might be difficult to discuss in other contexts
Building insight and self-awareness in the therapy process
Couples Therapy
Trauma impacts relationships in profound ways, often creating patterns of disconnection, conflict, or distance. Couples therapy with a trauma informed approach helps partners understand how past experiences influence current dynamics and develop healthier ways of relating.
Couples particularly benefit from trauma informed therapy when:
Recurring conflicts stem from triggered responses to trauma reminders
Communication patterns feel stuck or unproductive
Partners struggle to understand each other's emotional responses to trauma
Trust has been damaged through relationship injuries
One or both partners have experienced trauma affecting the relationship
Entrepreneurs with Trauma History
Entrepreneurs face unique challenges that can trigger or exacerbate trauma responses, including financial uncertainty, performance pressure, and isolation. Trauma informed therapy can help entrepreneurs navigate these challenges while addressing underlying patterns.
Entrepreneurial clients benefit from specialized support with:
Managing the uncertainty inherent in business ownership
Addressing perfectionism and imposter syndrome in professional contexts
Developing healthier relationships with money and success
Creating sustainable work patterns that prevent burnout
Building resilience for navigating business challenges while processing traumatic memories
Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Spouses
Partners of law enforcement officers face distinct stressors, including concern for safety, unpredictable schedules, and the impact of secondary trauma. Trauma informed therapy provides specialized support for these unique circumstances.
LEO spouses particularly benefit from support with:
Managing anxiety related to safety concerns and traumatic events
Developing coping strategies for unpredictable schedules and stress
Processing secondary trauma exposure
Maintaining personal identity and mental health
Creating relationship strategies that account for the unique demands of law enforcement careers
The Therapeutic Process with Audrey Schoen, LMFT
Working with Audrey involves a personalized approach designed around your specific needs and goals. While each client's experience is unique, the process typically includes these elements:
Initial Consultation
The therapeutic journey begins with an initial consultation to determine if Audrey's approach aligns with your needs. During this conversation, you'll have the opportunity to:
Share your current challenges and goals related to mental health
Learn about Audrey's therapeutic approach to trauma focused treatment
Ask questions about the therapy process
Determine if specialized trauma approaches might be beneficial
Discuss practical matters like scheduling and session formats
This consultation helps ensure that the therapeutic relationship will be a good fit before proceeding with formal sessions.
Personalized Treatment Plan
After the initial consultation, Audrey works with each client to develop a personalized treatment plan. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, this plan considers:
Your specific goals and priorities for trauma healing
The nature of your challenges and traumatic experiences
Your preferences for therapeutic approaches
Practical considerations like timeline and intensity
The integration of various trauma focused treatment modalities as needed
This collaborative planning process ensures that therapy addresses your unique needs rather than following a standardized protocol for all clients who have experienced trauma.
Flexible Session Formats
Recognizing that different challenges require different approaches, Audrey offers several session formats:
Standard Sessions
50-minute appointments
Typically scheduled weekly or bi-weekly
Suitable for ongoing work and regular support in treating trauma
Extended Sessions
90-minute appointments
Allow for deeper processing of traumatic memories in a single session
Beneficial when working with complex trauma issues
Intensive Sessions
Half-day or full-day sessions
Provide concentrated work without interruption
Offer momentum for significant breakthrough experiences
Retreats
Multi-day immersive experiences
Allow for comprehensive work on complex trauma issues
Particularly beneficial for couples or those with significant traumatic experiences
Convenient Access Options
Audrey offers both in-person and online therapy options:
In-Person Therapy in Roseville, CA
Traditional face-to-face sessions
Located in a comfortable, private office setting
Particularly beneficial for those who prefer in-person connection
Online Therapy throughout California and Texas
Secure video sessions
Convenient access from your location
Equal effectiveness to in-person sessions for most trauma issues
Particularly beneficial for those with busy schedules or transportation limitations
Evidence-Based Trauma Therapy Approaches
Research studies consistently support the effectiveness of specialized trauma therapy approaches. Evidence-based methods like those used by Audrey have been shown to significantly reduce symptoms of PTSD and other trauma-related mental health conditions.
While traditional talk therapy can be helpful for many issues, trauma often requires specialized approaches that address how traumatic experiences are stored in the brain and body. Methods like ART, which shares some similarities with how EMDR therapy consists of eight phases of treatment, offer unique benefits for processing traumatic memories:
More rapid symptom relief than many traditional approaches
Ability to process traumatic experiences without extensive verbal recounting
Direct access to how trauma is stored in the body and nervous system
Integration of disturbing thoughts and feelings related to the traumatic event
Reduced likelihood of re-traumatization during the treatment process
Trauma informed care principles guide all aspects of treatment, ensuring that therapy actively resists re-traumatization while promoting healing and resilience.
Integrating Healing into Daily Life and Real-Life Situations
Effective trauma therapy extends beyond the therapy room into sustainable changes in daily life. Audrey helps clients integrate their healing experiences through:
Practical Application of Coping Skills
Healing experiences in therapy become most valuable when applied to everyday situations. Audrey works with clients to develop practical coping strategies for:
Recognizing trauma triggers in daily contexts
Applying new insights to recurring situations
Implementing nervous system regulation techniques
Practicing new communication approaches
Building upon therapeutic experiences in real-world settings
Sustainable Growth Planning
Rather than creating dependency, effective therapy builds capacity for independent functioning. Audrey helps clients develop sustainability plans that include:
Identifying ongoing support resources for mental health
Recognizing early warning signs of old patterns
Developing maintenance practices for continued growth
Planning for potential future challenges
Building confidence in self-directed healing after experiencing trauma
Frequently Asked Questions about Trauma Therapy
What exactly is trauma therapy?
Trauma therapy is a specialized approach designed to help individuals process and heal from difficult or overwhelming traumatic experiences. Unlike general talk therapy, trauma focused approaches like ART and Brainspotting work directly with how traumatic memories are stored in the brain and nervous system.
These approaches help the brain process experiences that remain "stuck" in an unprocessed state, reducing their emotional charge and impact on current functioning. Trauma therapy addresses both the symptoms and their underlying causes, creating comprehensive and lasting change in mental health.
How do I know if I need trauma therapy?
Many people associate trauma only with catastrophic events like sexual violence or natural disasters, but trauma can result from many types of experiences, including:
Childhood difficulties or adverse experiences
Relationship patterns that created emotional harm
Persistent stress or smaller adverse experiences that accumulated over time
Witnessed events or secondary exposure to others' trauma
Signs that trauma therapy might be beneficial include:
Persistent anxiety, perfectionism, or self-criticism
Relationship patterns that feel beyond your control
Emotional responses that seem disproportionate to current situations
Avoidance of certain situations, feelings, or traumatic memories
A sense that past experiences continue to affect current functioning and mental health
During an initial consultation, Audrey can help determine whether trauma focused approaches might be beneficial for your specific situation.
How long does trauma therapy take?
The duration of trauma therapy varies widely depending on individual factors, including:
The nature and complexity of the traumatic experiences being addressed
The length of time these patterns have been in place
The client's current circumstances and resources
The specific therapeutic approaches used
The frequency and format of therapy sessions
While some clients experience significant relief within a few weeks using approaches like ART or how EMDR therapy involves rapid processing, others benefit from longer-term work to address complex trauma or developmental trauma. Audrey works with each client to develop a timeline that aligns with their specific needs and goals for treating trauma.
Is trauma therapy only for PTSD or severe trauma?
No. While trauma therapy is certainly beneficial for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD, it can help with many challenges that don't meet the clinical criteria for these diagnoses, including:
Anxiety disorders and stress-related issues
Perfectionism and people-pleasing behaviors
Relationship difficulties
Self-criticism and imposter syndrome
Emotional reactivity and unpredictable emotions
Money-related concerns
Many of these challenges have roots in earlier experiences that created lasting patterns in the nervous system and brain. Trauma focused approaches can address these patterns even when they don't stem from what might typically be considered "severe trauma" or traumatic events.
What's the difference between trauma therapy and regular therapy?
While traditional talk therapy focuses primarily on developing insight through discussion, trauma focused approaches like ART and Brainspotting work directly with how experiences are processed and stored in the brain and nervous system.
Key differences include:
Trauma therapy directly addresses the neurobiological aspects of traumatic experiences
Specialized approaches can process experiences without requiring detailed verbal discussion
Trauma therapy often works more quickly for certain mental health conditions
These approaches can reach experiences stored subcortically (in deeper brain regions)
Trauma therapy specifically aims to resolve how past experiences affect current functioning
Many clients find that trauma focused approaches help them make progress in areas where traditional talk therapy alone was insufficient.
Is trauma therapy emotionally overwhelming?
A common concern about trauma therapy is that it might require re-experiencing painful emotions intensely. However, effective trauma informed therapy should not be overwhelming or retraumatizing.
Approaches like ART and Brainspotting are designed to process traumatic material while maintaining emotional safety through:
Titration (working with manageable amounts of material)
Dual awareness (maintaining connection to present safety)
Resource development (building capacity before processing difficult material)
Specific techniques that reduce emotional overwhelm
Careful pacing based on individual needs
Audrey emphasizes creating emotional safety throughout the therapeutic process, ensuring that healing occurs without unnecessary distress.
How do I get started with trauma therapy?
If you're considering trauma therapy with Audrey Schoen, LMFT, the first step is to schedule an initial consultation. During this conversation, you can:
Discuss your current challenges and goals related to trauma healing
Learn more about Audrey's approach to trauma focused treatment
Determine if her specialized services align with your needs
Address any questions or concerns about the therapy process
Discuss practical matters like scheduling and session formats
This consultation helps ensure that Audrey's approach is the right fit for your specific needs before proceeding with formal therapy sessions.
Begin Your Healing Journey
Trauma and its effects don't have to define your life or limit your potential. With specialized trauma therapy approaches and personalized trauma informed care, lasting positive change is possible for those who have experienced trauma.
Audrey Schoen, LMFT offers innovative trauma resolution approaches in Roseville, CA and online throughout California and Texas. Whether you're seeking individual healing, relationship transformation, or support with specific challenges like perfectionism or anxiety, these specialized trauma focused approaches can help you create the change you're seeking.
To learn more about how these trauma therapy approaches might benefit your specific situation or to schedule an initial consultation, reach out to Audrey Schoen, LMFT. Taking this first step opens the possibility for profound healing and transformation in both your mental health and overall wellbeing.