Mission Connection Releases Insights On Trauma Theory & Emerging Therapies

Recent statistics from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing estimated that 70% of adults in the U.S., equivalent to 223.4 million people, have experienced a traumatic event in their lifetime. This is a worrying number for many mental health professionals; trauma is a risk factor in nearly all behavioral health and substance use disorders, but due to its complexities, it’s often difficult to treat. However, trauma theory provides therapists with a novel framework for helping patients address their trauma, with new technologies and therapies continuing to emerge today, explains Mission Connection.

Causes of Psychological Trauma

As Mission Connection’s guide explains, psychological trauma may occur when an individual experiences an overwhelming event that threatens life or safety or creates intense feelings of helplessness. 

While there are many causes of psychological trauma, it commonly arises due to accidents, violence, natural disasters, or severe neglect. Due to the complexities of the condition, traumatized individuals are often impacted emotionally, neurologically, and physically; if left untreated, this can worsen into long-term mental health issues, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

Innovations in Trauma Theory

Trauma theory was developed in response to studies on the impacts of trauma on an individual, and it is built upon four core concepts: 

• Safety and the importance of restoring one’s sense of security
• Re-experiencing, the possibility that individuals may relive traumatic events through flashbacks or nightmares
• Avoidance, where survivors might avoid anything that reminds them of their trauma
• Hyperarousal, which posits that many victims exist in a heightened state of alertness that can disrupt daily tasks

Naturally, this requires therapies that can treat the entire person, rather than just the symptoms of their trauma. Recently, there have been new developments in this field; emerging modalities include somatic experiencing (SE), art therapy, and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and Mission Connection says that mental health professionals can consider implementing these into their treatment plans.

The clinic also notes that trauma theory is continuously evolving, and researchers are now focusing on identifying biological markers, which can be any genetic or neurobiological patterns that can be used to predict an individual’s response to treatment. Scientists are also looking at wearable technologies that can detect physiological changes related to stress, along with virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) that will allow patients to address traumatic experiences in safe clinical environments.

And of course, these therapeutic modalities will be even more effective when combined with conventional treatment. That includes trauma-informed care and evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), all of which have been proven to be effective.

About Mission Connection

Mission Connection is a mental health provider that offers outpatient and intensive outpatient programs to adults suffering from depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and trauma. The company has treatment centers in California, Virginia, and Washington, and it is well-known for its comprehensive virtual therapeutic services, which are offered through its telehealth platform.

Interested parties can learn more by visiting https://missionconnectionhealthcare.com/