Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Trauma: How Counselling and Psychotherapy Can Help

Experiencing trauma can feel like your life has been suddenly and permanently changed. Many people describe it as if their nervous system is stuck on high alert, even long after the danger has passed. At the LifeChange Psychotherapy and Counselling Practice in Dublin, we understand how confusing, exhausting, and isolating trauma can be. The good news is that counselling and psychotherapy can offer effective, compassionate ways to help you heal and regain a sense of safety and control.

This article explains trauma and its treatment in clear, simple terms, so you can understand what is happening in your mind and body—and how therapy can help.

What Is Trauma?

“Traumatic events are extraordinary, not because they occur rarely, but rather because they overwhelm the ordinary human adaptations to life”
– Judith Herman from Trauma and Recovery

Trauma is not defined solely by what happened to you, but by how your nervous system responded to it. Trauma can result from a single overwhelming event (such as an accident, assault, or sudden loss) or from ongoing experiences (such as childhood neglect, emotional abuse, or chronic stress).
We now know that we don’t have to be a combat soldier in war to have encountered trauma. The word “trauma” is used to describe experiences or situations that are emotionally painful and distressing, and that overwhelm people’s ability to cope, leaving them feeling powerless. Trauma has been defined in reference to circumstances that are outside the realm of normal human experience. Trauma is a development obstacle to normal human development. Therefore, it can hinder or stunt us intellectually, emotionally and physically.
With trauma there is a breakdown or a split between the mind and the body and that is why helping people to overcome childhood trauma and/or single event in adulthood is an integrative process. Individuals who have suffered physical, emotional, sexual abuse or neglect in childhood will find themselves suffering from an un-integrated sense of self.
A helpful way to think about trauma is to imagine a smoke alarm. It is designed to protect you by reacting quickly to danger. After trauma, that alarm can become oversensitive. It may go off even when there is no fire—triggered by reminders, stress, or emotions that resemble the original experience. Therapy helps recalibrate that alarm system so it can respond appropriately again.

How Trauma Affects the Mind and Body

Trauma is not just something we “remember.” It is something the body learns.

You might notice:

• Anxiety, panic, or constant tension
• Emotional numbness or shutdown
• Intrusive memories or flashbacks
• Difficulty trusting others
• Sleep problems or fatigue
• Strong emotional reactions that feel out of proportion

These responses are not signs of weakness. They are survival strategies your system developed to protect you. Psychotherapy helps you gently update those strategies so they no longer run your life.

Sometimes in an attempt to cope individuals can dissociate or feel that they are disconnected from their sensory experience, sense of self, or personal history. Dissociation is usually experienced as a feeling of intense alienation or unreality, in which the person suddenly loses their sense of who they are, or what they are doing. This is sometimes described as an “out-of-body” experience. However, dissociation can be distressing when it continues to occur, even when people are engaged in everyday activities. At other times individuals can engage in self-destructive behaviours or consume addictive substances to self-soothe and to cope. Therefore, psychotherapy is the most effective form of treatment for trauma. Therapy can enable people who have experienced trauma, develop plans to stay safe and grounded in their own bodies.

Counselling and Psychotherapy Approach to Trauma

Trauma therapy works step by step. It does not involve reliving experiences all at once or being pushed beyond your limits. At LifeChange, therapy always proceeds at your pace.

Step 1: Creating Safety

The first and most important part of trauma therapy is safety. This includes emotional safety, predictability, and trust. Your therapist provides a calm, non-judgmental space where you are in control of what you share and when.
Think of this stage like building solid foundations before renovating a house. Without safety and stability, deeper work cannot last.

Step 2: Understanding Your Responses

Once safety is established, therapy helps you make sense of your reactions. When you understand why your body responds the way it does, shame often reduces.
For example, instead of thinking “There’s something wrong with me,” clients begin to see, “My nervous system learned this to protect me.” This shift alone can be deeply relieving.

Step 3: Processing Trauma Gently

Different psychotherapeutic approaches process trauma in different ways, but all aim to help your brain and body realise that the danger is no longer happening now.
Rather than being trapped in the past, memories become something you can remember without re-living.

Step 4: Rebuilding and Moving Forward

Trauma therapy is not just about reducing symptoms—it is about helping you reconnect with yourself, others, and your future. Clients often report increased confidence, emotional regulation, healthier relationships, and a stronger sense of self.

Common Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Trauma

At LifeChange, our therapists are trained in evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches, including:

Trauma-Informed Therapy

This is not a single technique, but a way of working that prioritises safety, choice, and collaboration. You are never forced to revisit experiences before you are ready.

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

This approach explores how early experiences shape current patterns. By understanding these connections, you can loosen long-standing emotional and relational difficulties linked to trauma.

Cognitive and Integrative Approaches

These approaches help identify unhelpful thought patterns and beliefs that trauma often leaves behind (such as self-blame or fear). Therapy supports you in developing more balanced and compassionate ways of relating to yourself.

Body-Aware and Nervous System-Focused Work

Because trauma lives in the body, therapy may also include gentle attention to physical sensations, breathing, and grounding techniques. This helps calm the nervous system and restore a sense of control.

What Trauma Therapy Is Not

Many people worry that therapy will mean constantly rehashing painful memories. Effective trauma therapy does not overwhelm or retraumatise. You are always in charge, and therapy focuses on regulation and integration—not exposure for its own sake.

Why Choose LifeChange Psychotherapy and Counselling?

At LifeChange, we offer a professional, confidential, and compassionate environment where healing is possible. Our therapists are experienced in working with trauma and understand the importance of pacing, trust, and respect.
We recognise that taking the first step can feel daunting. Whether your trauma is recent or long-standing, obvious or difficult to name, you are welcome here. Therapy at LifeChange is tailored to you as a whole person—not a diagnosis.