Trauma Blocking Recovery: When Unresolved Trauma Prevents Progress
A lack of progress in therapy can feel disheartening. You might worry that you’ll never get better or get past the trauma you’ve experienced. However, there is no set timeline for recovering from trauma, and it’s normal to go through periods in therapy where less progress feels like it’s being made.
It is important to decenter the idea of ‘progress’ in therapy, as this can create far too much pressure. Though it may feel like unresolved trauma is “in the way” of you getting better, it’s important to acknowledge how difficult it is and work at whatever speed is necessary.
Though complex trauma treatment for adults can feel like an impossible battle, there are clear reasons why trauma affects mental health treatment. Understanding these reasons can help you work more effectively with your therapist to find approaches that address your specific needs. This article will cover:
- How trauma affects mental health treatment.
- Unresolved trauma symptoms in adults.
- Reasons for trauma blocking therapy progress.
- Alternative explanations for blocks in therapy.
- Ways of effectively addressing trauma in treatment.
Why Trauma Can Slow Progress in Therapy
Trauma can be seen as any psychological wound that hasn’t healed yet. Modern psychotherapists and trauma experts explain that it can be “stored” in the body and keep the nervous system in a state of constant alert.[1]
Everybody responds to trauma differently, but it’s normal for trauma to linger and affect people both physically and emotionally over extended periods.[2]
Unresolved trauma is associated with both conscious and unconscious resistance to therapy. But the reasons why trauma can hinder therapy are complex, and understanding what is really happening can help guide treatment and support.
Signs That Trauma Is Blocking Therapeutic Progress
If trauma seems to be blocking your progress in therapy, you’re most likely picking up a sense that something major is unresolved and preventing you from moving forward. This feeling is probably correct, so it is important to share it with your therapist.
Meanwhile, it can be helpful to understand some of the common unresolved trauma symptoms adults tend to experience. These include:[2]
- Feeling a loss of hope about the future.
- Fears that life will end abruptly.
- Continuous periods of distress without periods of relative calm.
- Dissociation, which can manifest as feeling disconnected from one’s body, appearance, character, life story, the world, other people, or close relationships.
- Intrusive recollections of traumatic events or nightmares.
- Persistent fatigue and sleeping problems.
- Avoidance of activities and emotions that may remind one of a traumatic event.
- Intense feelings of anger, sadness, shame, or guilt.
- Using substances to cope with difficult feelings.
- Engaging in activities that are high-risk or potentially harmful.
- Physical health complaints that affect pain, digestion, skin, sleep, or breathing.
These responses to trauma are normal, expected, and do not indicate a lack of character strength. Symptoms of unresolved trauma don’t mean that you are psychologically broken or have been permanently damaged.[2]
They signify that your body is having an expected reaction to extremely adverse events. However, these responses can make it difficult to see progress in therapy.
Trauma and Treatment Resistance
“Resistance” is a concept from the tradition of psychoanalysis that describes moments in therapy when the work seems to be halted in its tracks.
It was thought to appear when clients disagreed with a therapist’s interpretations or when clients began to feel confused when retelling their dreams. This view was quite condescending as it suggested that the therapist, as the expert, was always right.[3]
More modern approaches to therapy acknowledge that clients can have valid objections to therapist interpretations, as they won’t always get it right.
However, clients with depression or anxiety, both common with post-traumatic stress disorder, may be less likely to challenge their therapists when they disagree, which can block progress.[3] That is one of the reasons behind post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) preventing recovery from depression and anxiety.
Furthermore, if you’ve experienced trauma in close interpersonal relationships, you may find it particularly hard to confront people with different opinions. So, when your therapist says or does things that you don’t agree with, it might be that much harder to voice your true feelings. The problem is that these disagreements can often be really valuable for progressing in therapy.
Those with trauma may be more likely to experience a lack of progress in therapy for various other reasons. There is an important link between childhood trauma and adult mental health. Those who have experienced trauma in childhood tend to have poorer treatment outcomes, particularly if they lack social support.[4]
In addition, if trauma is of an interpersonal and chronic nature (such as violent combat or long-term abuse in relationships), the PTSD people develop tends to be more resistant to treatment.[4]
It is common for trauma to impact therapy outcomes and result in a feeling of resistance. However, exploring what that resistance is telling you can be instrumental in moving through it.
Reframing the Idea of “Blocks” in Therapy
The idea of trauma blocking therapy progress should be examined more closely, as it may indicate an overly rigid approach to “getting better.” Everyone in mental health treatment wants to get better, but the idea of “progress” can put pressure on you, and it’s important that therapy goes at a natural pace.
Instead of looking at trauma as something that is blocking your progress, it can be helpful to reframe it. For example, your trauma could be telling you:
- This is painful to revisit.
- Go slower.
- There are more things to look at before moving on.
- Don’t look too closely, it’s too much.
Trauma is a complex mental health condition, and some practitioners risk retraumatizing clients if they don’t approach the work carefully. That is why addressing trauma in treatment is often slow and careful. If you’re experiencing a sense of resistance or blockedness, it could be that your therapist is working intentionally slowly.
Still, trauma is delicate and must not be seen as something that can be quickly overcome. Often, those with unresolved trauma will either feel too much and be overwhelmed or feel numb and disconnected from their pain.[2] Both of these states should be approached carefully, as they indicate there is something unresolved and painful.
Mission Connection is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
What Else Can Block Progress in Therapy?
Therapy can feel slow or ineffective for many reasons. While you may have unresolved trauma that’s keeping you in a certain state of mind, there could be other things going on, too. Other possibilities include:[5][3]
- The therapeutic approach isn’t the right fit for you: You may need something that is more directive (like cognitive behavioral therapy) or less directive (like psychodynamic therapy).
- There are things yet unspoken: Your therapy may not have addressed things like your core beliefs (which can impact everyday behavior and feelings) or how previous experiences in relationships are affecting current ones.
- Therapist factors: Your experience of therapy will be significantly influenced by your therapist. If they’re anxious, unsure, or defensive about their own abilities, you’re likely picking up on it unconsciously. These factors could make a therapist less confident to explore certain things with you or make you feel less held.
- Not expressing feelings about your therapist: If you feel irritated, misunderstood, or strongly affectionate towards your therapist, it can be important to share those feelings with them. Not doing so could block progress because these feelings may contain valuable insights about your inner world and relationship patterns.
- Unaddressed therapeutic ruptures: Ruptures are to be expected in therapy; these could be disagreements or moments when your therapist has said something that didn’t resonate with you. Addressing ruptures can deepen your relationship, help you practice conflict resolution, and release unexpressed emotion.
Whatever might be going on, it can be valuable to express any dissatisfaction you have with your therapist. This can lead to helpful work together.
What Can Be Done to Address Trauma?
If you feel that you have unresolved trauma and would like to remain with your therapist to work through it, there are many things that can be done. If you express your feelings honestly, a good therapist will acknowledge how difficult it feels and think with you about what you can both do moving forward.
Depending on their approach, your therapist might:[2]
- Explain how traumatic stress manifests in the body.
- Recommend certain wellness activities (such as yoga or breathwork) to reduce physical anxiety.
- Normalize your experience and response to trauma.
- Develop a plan with you for future trauma triggers and relapses.
- Ask how it feels to be attending therapy that feels like it’s not going anywhere.
- Carry out trauma-informed exploration that respects your pace and boundaries.
If, after you’ve given it time, you still feel that your therapy isn’t progressing, you might like to consider alternative approaches.
Alternative Therapy Options for Addressing Trauma
There are many trauma therapy options for adults to choose from, each with its own focus and methods. Here, we will explore two therapy options: somatic therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. You can also explore options like CBT, art therapy, and narrative therapy.
When seeking a new therapist, you should look for trauma-informed therapy, as it’s important that practitioners have the appropriate qualifications, training, and sensitivity to work effectively with trauma survivors.
Somatic Therapy for Trauma in Adults
Somatic therapy is a combination of psychotherapy and body work, bringing mind and body together. Somatic therapy for trauma in adults recognizes that traumatic experiences are held not just in memory but in the body itself.
Practices such as yoga, breathwork, movement, and mindfulness can help people work through trauma because of how they impact the brain. Neuroscientists suggest that these activities can calm the nervous system by impacting the amygdala and insula in the brain, which are responsible for the fight or flight response and emotional regulation.[1]
As people with trauma often experience periods of hyperarousal, mental health treatment must include elements of deactivation, such as movement and breathwork. These activities help reduce anxiety and get people into a state where they can regulate their emotions more easily.[1]
Somatic therapists will help you develop a language for understanding bodily sensations and emotional states, working with trauma differently from traditional talking therapies.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an evidence-based approach for alleviating symptoms of PTSD and processing traumatic experiences.
EMDR therapy for trauma recovery begins like regular therapy, with an assessment of your symptoms and history. An EMDR therapist will then explain what you can expect before getting started.
The main work in EMDR involves what’s known as bilateral stimulation, which means stimulating both sides of something. If using eye movements, it’s moving your eyes from left to right; if using tapping, it could be tapping your left then right thighs or shoulders.
During this, you and your therapist will talk through your recollections of painful memories, as well as any thoughts and beliefs you have about them. Your work may involve emphasizing different, more positive or neutral thoughts instead, and checking in with how your body feels throughout.
The theory behind EMDR is that this process helps to reprocess traumatic experiences and desensitize the emotional charge they carry. Often, people experience some quick symptom relief and prefer the way in which they don’t need to speak as much as in other talking therapies.
Get Personalized Support for Trauma at Mission Connection
Healing trauma and mental health recovery can be a difficult road. Blocks to progress and moments of clarity are all part of the journey. However, it can be difficult when it feels like your therapy isn’t going anywhere and that you’ve hit a wall.
If you’re thinking about working with a new trauma-informed therapist, reach out to us here at Mission Connection. We offer a range of therapeutic approaches for different mental health conditions, both online and at our in-person facilities.
We welcome you to express any difficult experiences you’ve had with therapy so far so that we can tailor your treatment to your individual needs. Get in touch to learn more about our services.
Call 866-833-1822 for a free, no-obligation conversation about how we can support your healing.
