Why "Trauma-Informed" Therapy Might Be Keeping You Stuck 🧠
Trauma "Informed" Therapy Isn't TRAUMA Therapy... (7min Read)
TL;DR Summary
“Trauma-informed” therapy isn’t the same as trauma therapy.
Trauma-informed care creates safety but doesn’t always use methods built to resolve trauma.
“Trauma-informed” has become a buzzword in therapy that often lacks the depth and training needed for real trauma healing.
Many common therapy types (like CBT) weren’t designed to treat trauma at the root.
If you feel stuck in therapy, it might not be you—it might be the method.
Real trauma healing often requires body-based or brain-based methods like IFS, EMDR, SE, or DBR.
I Might Get Canceled for Saying This…
But I’m gonna say it anyway.
Have you ever felt like your "trauma-informed" therapist isn't that good at helping you process and heal your trauma?
The number of times my audience has emailed me, DM’d me, or commented on my content something along these lines is near infinite.
You're not crazy. There's a reason for this.
Being "trauma-informed" is not the same as being trained in a therapy method that was made for trauma processing.
Many therapists call themselves trauma-informed, but that doesn’t mean they have actual training in trauma-specific methods.
Today, we’re breaking down this conundrum, and at the end, I’ll give you the exact questions to ask your therapist or coach to ensure you’re getting the treatment you need!
Let’s dive in.
What’s the Key Difference?
The key difference between “trauma-informed” therapy & trauma therapy is awareness vs. training.
Trauma-informed therapists understand trauma’s impact and create a safe space, but it's more an awareness of trauma and its effects, not a method to heal it.
Trauma-informed care is not a method.
It’s a lens. A way of seeing.
And while that’s essential, it’s not the same as knowing how to heal trauma.
Think of it like this: Imagine someone who’s “heart-attack informed.”
They know the signs, the risks, and how to keep you calm while help is on the way.
That’s valuable. But would you want them to perform the heart surgery?
Probably not.
The same goes for trauma.
Trauma therapists, on the other hand, are people trained in methods that help you process and heal trauma like IFS, Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, and DBR.
How “Trauma-Informed” Became a Buzzword
The term “trauma-informed” didn’t come from clinical therapy—it actually began in places like public health, education, social work, and community care.
It started gaining traction in the 1990s and early 2000s, largely thanks to the groundbreaking Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study, which showed that childhood trauma wasn’t rare—and that it had long-term effects on physical and mental health (Felitti et al., 1998).
That led to a big realization: trauma wasn’t just something that affected a few people.
It was everywhere—especially in schools, hospitals, prisons, foster care systems, and yes, therapy.
In response, institutions began adopting a trauma-informed approach to avoid re-traumatizing the people they were trying to help.
This meant training staff to:
Recognize signs of trauma
Avoid triggering environments or language
Offer more choice, empowerment, and safety
And that was a huge step forward—because before this, systems were often unknowingly making things worse.
But here’s where it gets messy:
Over time, “trauma-informed” became a buzzword—a kind of checkbox term that people started using without clear definition or actual training behind it.
Some therapists added it to their websites after reading a few books or taking a single workshop.
Others assumed it meant “I’m compassionate,” or “I won’t judge you.”
But again, being trauma-informed isn’t the same as being trained in methods that help the brain and body actually process and resolve trauma.
This blurry definition has led to a lot of confusion—and for many trauma survivors, a lot of disappointment when therapy feels safe but doesn’t actually heal.
Why Does This Matter?
Great question, as always, imaginary reader in my head!
It matters because it means that a therapist can be trauma-informed but still use methods that aren’t designed for trauma healing.
For example, they use CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) or DBT (Dialect Behavioral Therapy)—which both can be great for certain issues but often miss the nervous system’s role in trauma.
There is a type of CBT called trauma-focused CBT that gets closer, but CBT wasn't built from the ground up for trauma specifically.
Oftentimes, trauma-informed therapists focus on “talking about it” instead of using body-based methods—meaning your nervous system still reacts like the trauma is happening, which can be re-traumatizing.
So, instead of truly healing:
You learn to “think differently,” but your body still reacts like you're in danger.
You talk about the trauma, but the reliving keeps your nervous system activated.
You try coping skills, but wonder why you're still so triggered, so often.
This is like trying to reboot a glitchy computer with a new wallpaper—it looks better on the surface, but the underlying code is still corrupted.
This is why so many people feel stuck in therapy—they’re getting trauma-aware care, but not trauma-resolution care.
What Actually Works for Trauma Healing?
If you want to heal trauma at the root, you need a method that:
Speaks the language of the nervous system
Includes the mind, brain, and body, not just one or the other
Builds safety from the inside out
Here are some of my favorite trauma-specific therapy methodologies!
IFS (Internal Family Systems)
Long-time readers know this is what I’m trained in!
IFS works with different parts of you that carry trauma, helping them release their burdens without re-experiencing the trauma.
If you’re interested in IFS, I’d suggest checking out the IFS Directory to find an IFS-trained therapist or coach!
Somatic Experiencing (SE)
SE was created by Peter Levine, this approach focuses on how trauma gets stuck in the body and incomplete survival responses.
It uses movement, breathwork, and nervous system regulation to restore safety.
Looking for an SE practitioner near you? Here’s the directory!
DBR (Deep Brain Reorienting)
DBR is a cutting-edge modality that targets the brainstem, where the orienting reflex lives.
DBR can access and release trauma that occurred before language, making it especially helpful for attachment trauma and early experiences!
I recently wrote a whole blog on this if you’d like more information on it.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (usually eye movements) to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories without being overwhelmed by them.
EMDR is also one of the most well-researched trauma therapies out there.
If you’re looking for an EMDR therapist, here’s the directory!
Questions to Ask When Looking for a Trauma Therapist
Alright, I promised you the exact questions to ask a potential therapist, so here they are!
First of all, if you’re starting your healing journey (or wondering if your current therapy is the right fit), don’t just ask:
“Are you trauma-informed?”
As you now know, their saying yes to this question doesn’t mean they’re trained in a trauma-specific therapy method!
I would suggest asking these kinds of questions instead:
“What trauma-specific methods are you trained in?”
“Do you use approaches like IFS, EMDR, SE, or DBR?”
“How do you work with the nervous system in trauma healing?”
These questions will help you find someone who’s not just safe—but skilled in helping you transform.
If they can’t answer these questions, they might not have the training you need.
It’s Not You.
The reason I wrote this blog, even though it may be controversial, is to let the people who are trying so freaking hard to heal, but not getting anywhere, know that it’s not them.
It’s not that you’re “too broken.”
It’s not that you’re “doing therapy wrong”.
You might just be in the wrong kind of therapy for the healing you need!
And that’s not your fault.
You’ve likely been doing everything you were told—showing up, being honest, doing the work—but the method wasn’t made to reach the places in your brain and body where trauma actually lives.
Your stuckness is not a sign of failure. It’s a signal.
A signal that you’re ready for deeper healing.
So if you’ve felt stuck, discouraged, or ashamed—please let this be your permission to look beyond “trauma-informed” and find something that’s truly trauma-trained.
You deserve healing that works.
You deserve to feel free in your own mind and body.
And that’s not too much to ask for.
That’s your birthright.
Until next time… Live Heroically 🧠
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Supporting Research
van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Penguin Books.
Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation. W. W. Norton & Company.
Levine, P. A. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness. North Atlantic Books.
Fisher, J. (2017). Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors: Overcoming Internal Self-Alienation. Routledge.
Shapiro, F. (2017). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures. Guilford Publications.
Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., Koss, M. P., & Marks, J. S. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-3797(98)00017-8
Dear Adina, how I wish I had your advice years ago :). I'm glad you wrote this because I'm positive it will help numerous people
Thank you for sharing, very informative!!!