You may wonder, which therapy is best for developmental trauma? While psychodynamic, attachment-based, somatic, and therapeutic writing practices are highly effective, the best therapy depends on your individual needs. Some people benefit from a combination of therapies. The key is finding a therapist who understands trauma and can tailor their approach to your personal history. I personally work with the therapies mentioned above but there are others you might want to consider too.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) While CBT can be helpful for managing specific symptoms like anxiety or depression, it may not go as deep as psychodynamic or somatic therapies in addressing the root causes of trauma. You can find a CBT therapist here.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR can be very effective for some people, but it is not always the best fit for developmental trauma, which tends to be more relational and ongoing. You can find an EMDR therapist here.
Whilst the therapy I offer is informed by somatic ideas, it is possible to work with a purely somatic psychotherapist, that is someone who only works with the body. This is a lengthy 4 year training usually undertaken after initial psychotherapy training. You can find out more about practitioners in this area at:
Other types of therapy might also be worth considering, e.g. Art therapy, Group Therapy, Local support groups, walk and talk groups. Local notice boards, libraries, online local pages, such as facebook, as well as therapy directories are good places to look for what is on offer local to you.
