6 types of trauma and how they differ

There are several different evidence-based approaches used to treat trauma and trauma-related conditions (including trauma disorders such as PTSD). Each therapy works differently to support processing and recovery.

Cognitive processing therapy

Cognitive processing therapy, or CPT, is a structured, 12-session psychotherapy that helps people with PTSD understand how their thoughts and beliefs are shaped by trauma and how those thoughts influence emotions. Treatment starts with building awareness and identifying “automatic thoughts” that may be contributing to symptoms, and then processing the trauma more directly, often through writing and talking about the experience to reduce avoidance. Over time, people can learn to challenge and reframe harmful beliefs — such as self-blame or shame — and apply these skills in daily life to improve trust, safety, and relationships. 

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing 

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR, is a structured, trauma-focused therapy that helps people process distressing memories by briefly recalling them while engaging in guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation (stimulating both sides of the brain). The goal of EMDR is to reduce the emotional intensity of the memory and help the brain reprocess it in a more adaptive way. Over time, this can lessen PTSD symptoms and shift negative beliefs tied to the trauma, without requiring detailed verbal recounting of the experience.

Written exposure therapy 

Written exposure therapy, or WET, is a brief, structured PTSD treatment — typically about five sessions — where people write in detail about a traumatic experience and their feelings about it. This repeated, guided writing helps reduce avoidance, allowing people to process the traumatic memory with decreasing emotional distress over time and develop more balanced ways of thinking about what happened. Sessions usually involve short writing exercises and brief discussion with a therapist. As treatment progresses, symptoms like anxiety and physical stress responses tend to decrease. 

Accelerated resolution therapy 

Accelerated resolution therapy (ART) is another short, structured trauma-focused therapy that helps people process distressing memories with guided eye movements and visualization techniques. During sessions, people recall traumatic experiences while following the therapist’s hand movements, then use a technique called “image replacement” to swap distressing mental images for more neutral or positive ones. This can reduce the emotional and physical impact of the memories. ART can ease symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and related conditions without requiring people to verbally recount their trauma. 

Somatic therapies

Somatic therapies such as somatic experiencing and sensorimotor psychotherapy are body-centered therapy approaches that focus on physical sensations and a “felt sense” rather than simply talking about traumatic events. These approaches recognize that trauma is often stored in the body, potentially showing up as tension, pain, or dysregulation. Unlike “top down” talk therapy, which focuses on mental shifts that can affect the body, somatic therapies use a “bottom up” approach that influences mental and emotional symptoms by addressing physical ones first. The goal is to help regulate the nervous system so it can shift out of the chronic stress caused by trauma, supporting a greater sense of safety, stability, and emotional resilience over time.

Prolonged exposure 

Prolonged exposure (PE) is a structured, trauma-focused therapy — typically delivered over 8 to 15 sessions — that helps people with PTSD reduce avoidance and process traumatic memories by gradually confronting them in a safe, controlled way. Treatment involves two core techniques: imaginal exposure, where people verbally revisit and recount the traumatic memory with their therapist, and in vivo exposure, where they gradually re-engage with real-world situations, places, or activities they have been avoiding since the trauma. Over time, repeated exposure reduces the fear and distress associated with these memories and situations, helping people reclaim a fuller sense of daily life.

Medication management

While therapy is often the first line of treatment for trauma-related conditions, medication can play an important supporting role — particularly for managing symptoms such as anxiety, depression, hyperarousal, and sleep disturbances. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are among the most commonly prescribed medications for PTSD and are FDA-approved for this use. Medication is typically used alongside therapy rather than as a standalone treatment, and a psychiatrist or prescribing clinician can help determine whether it is appropriate, monitor its effects, and adjust dosage over time based on individual response.