Understanding the Role of Trauma Therapy and How It Supports Healing
At Cova Psychology, many of the individuals we work with have experienced trauma in some form—sometimes in childhood, sometimes more recently, and often without initially recognising it as trauma. Whether the experience was a one-off event or part of a longer-term pattern, the effects of trauma can be deeply woven into how we think, feel, and relate to others.
This article offers a psychologist’s perspective on what trauma therapy involves, the different types of trauma, and how seeing a trauma therapist in Melbourne might support your mental health and wellbeing.
What is PTSD and How Does it Develop?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can occur after someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. These events vary widely and may include physical or sexual assault, accidents, natural disasters, war, or violence. In some cases, the trauma may not be a single incident, but a series of experiences that unfold over time.
PTSD symptoms may include:
Distressing flashbacks or nightmares
Avoidance of places, people, or topics related to the trauma
Feeling constantly on edge or easily startled (hypervigilance)
Intrusive thoughts or memories
Emotional numbing or disconnection
Difficulties with sleep or concentration
While not everyone exposed to trauma will develop PTSD, for those who do, it can significantly disrupt daily life. Getting help early from a trauma-informed psychologist can make a real difference. You can read more about our approach to PTSD treatment in Melbourne and how therapy can support recovery.
What is Complex Trauma?
Not all trauma looks the same. Complex trauma refers to prolonged or repeated exposure to distressing experiences—often beginning in childhood. This might include emotional or physical abuse, neglect, or ongoing exposure to family violence. Rather than a single incident, complex trauma tends to occur in relationships where the person feels powerless or unsafe over an extended period.
The impacts can be wide-ranging. Some people struggle with emotional regulation, find relationships overwhelming or unsafe, or experience chronic anxiety, dissociation, or low self-worth. Many clients don’t recognise these struggles as linked to early trauma until later in life.
At Cova Psychology, we often see individuals who have learned to survive in incredibly adaptive ways—keeping things together outwardly, while internally feeling disconnected, confused, or exhausted. Trauma therapy aims to help people better understand those patterns, shift out of survival mode, and feel safer in themselves and with others. You can find a deeper discussion on this in our blog post on understanding complex trauma symptoms.
What Does a Trauma Therapist Do?
A trauma therapist is a mental health professional—typically a psychologist or clinical psychologist—who has additional training and experience in working with the effects of trauma. While all therapists are trained to support people through emotional distress, trauma therapists have a deeper understanding of how trauma affects the brain, body, relationships, and sense of self.
Trauma-informed therapy goes beyond symptom reduction. It’s about creating a space that feels safe, predictable, and empowering. It often involves helping people:
Understand their symptoms and triggers
Explore how past experiences may be impacting present-day reactions
Develop emotional regulation and grounding skills
Reprocess traumatic memories (when appropriate)
Reconnect with strengths and a sense of identity outside the trauma
Therapy is always guided by the individual’s pace, needs, and goals. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, and not everyone wants or needs to talk about the traumatic event in detail.
Types of Therapy Used in Trauma Treatment
Different approaches can be used in trauma therapy, depending on the individual and what they’re seeking support for. At Cova Psychology, our trauma-informed psychologists may draw from several evidence-based treatments, including:
1. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT):
This structured form of therapy helps people understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are linked to the trauma. TF-CBT helps clients develop tools to manage anxiety, reduce avoidance, and gently process their memories in a supported way.
2. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR):
EMDR is a widely used trauma therapy that involves recalling difficult memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements. This process helps reduce the emotional charge of the memories and allows new, more adaptive beliefs to form.
3. Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT):
CPT is another structured therapy focused on identifying and challenging unhelpful beliefs that may have formed as a result of trauma. It’s particularly effective in treating PTSD and helping people make sense of their experiences.
4. Prolonged Exposure Therapy:
In some cases, gradually and safely confronting memories or situations that have been avoided since the trauma can help reduce their power over time. This method is usually used when someone is ready and has strong support in place.
5. Somatic and Mindfulness-Based Approaches:
Because trauma can be stored in the body, many therapists integrate somatic techniques such as grounding exercises, breathwork, or mindfulness practices. These help individuals reconnect with their body in a way that feels safe and manageable.
Creative therapies such as art or movement therapy may also be helpful, especially for those who find it hard to articulate their experience in words.
If you’d like to learn more about what trauma therapy can look like in practice, see our article on top trauma therapy services in Melbourne.
Recognising Trauma Symptoms in Yourself or Others
Not everyone who has experienced trauma will realise that what they’re dealing with is trauma-related. Sometimes it shows up as anxiety, panic attacks, chronic shame, or difficulties with trust and closeness. Other times, trauma symptoms might include:
Feeling disconnected or “numb”
Irritability or emotional outbursts
Trouble concentrating or remembering things
Difficulty relaxing, even in safe environments
A sense of hopelessness or helplessness
These responses are not signs of weakness—they are often the brain and body’s way of trying to stay safe based on past experiences. Our blog on the psychological impact of trauma covers this further if you’re wanting to learn more.
If this sounds familiar, know that you’re not alone—and that help is available.
Trauma Therapy in Melbourne
Melbourne has a growing number of psychologists and clinical psychologists trained in trauma-informed approaches. At Cova Psychology, many of our team members work with individuals affected by trauma, PTSD, and complex trauma, both recent and historical.
Therapy with a trauma-informed psychologist begins with a focus on safety and stabilisation. We’ll take time to get to know your unique experiences and goals, and work with you to develop a personalised approach. Sometimes that includes building emotion regulation strategies, other times it may involve EMDR or exploring relational patterns that have formed in the aftermath of trauma.
You don’t need to have a diagnosis of PTSD to benefit from trauma therapy. If something distressing has happened and it continues to affect your daily life, relationships, or mental health, then therapy can help.
The Impact of Trauma on Mental Health
The effects of trauma can ripple across many areas of life. Common challenges include:
Emotional dysregulation: Feeling overwhelmed by emotions or struggling to feel anything at all
Anxiety and depression: Lingering fear, worry, sadness or numbness that won’t shift
Low self-esteem: Internalised beliefs that you’re “too much,” “not enough,” or unsafe
Interpersonal difficulties: Finding it hard to trust, open up, or feel secure in relationships
Chronic physical symptoms: Fatigue, headaches, gut issues, or pain that doesn’t seem to have a medical explanation
Sometimes people come to therapy for issues like burnout, relationship problems, or difficulty coping with work stress—only to uncover underlying trauma that hasn’t been addressed.
What to Expect from Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-informed care is not a technique—it’s a whole approach. It means that the therapist understands the widespread impact of trauma and works in a way that avoids re-traumatisation and prioritises healing.
Core principles of trauma-informed care include:
Safety: Physical, emotional, and psychological safety is always prioritised
Trust and transparency: Therapy is collaborative, with open communication and clear boundaries
Empowerment: Clients are seen as active participants in their healing, not passive recipients
Choice and control: You’ll never be pushed to share more than you’re ready for
Cultural sensitivity: Your individual context, identity, and background are respected and acknowledged
This framework helps to create a foundation where real healing is possible.
How Trauma Therapy Can Help
For many people, trauma therapy can be life-changing. Some of the outcomes we’ve seen include:
Feeling more grounded and less overwhelmed
Greater understanding of how trauma has shaped your responses
Increased self-compassion and reduction in shame
Stronger relationships and clearer boundaries
More energy, hope, and freedom in everyday life
The goal of trauma therapy is not to erase what happened—but to help you live a fuller, more connected life without being controlled by the past.
Of course, progress isn’t always linear. There might be moments where things feel stuck or old patterns return—that’s part of the process and not a sign of failure.
Final Thoughts
If you’re considering trauma therapy, you don’t need to wait until things feel unbearable. Sometimes the most powerful work happens when you decide it’s time to understand yourself more deeply or stop repeating painful patterns.
At Cova Psychology, our team of psychologists and clinical psychologists in Melbourne provide trauma-informed, evidence-based support for adults dealing with trauma, PTSD, and complex emotional experiences. Whether you’re new to therapy or returning after time away, we’re here to help you feel understood and supported.
Get in Touch
If you’ve experienced trauma or recognise some of the symptoms described above, you don’t have to work through it alone. Reach out to Cova Psychology to connect with an experienced psychologist in Melbourne who understands trauma and how to support recovery.
Together, we’ll help you find a path forward that feels safe, respectful, and empowering.
Dr. Chris Coleiro
Chris is Clinical Psychologist and a co-director of Cova Psychology, located in the Melbourne CBD, where he provides supervision to psychologists whilst cultivating a supportive culture within the Cova team. Chris has worked extensively in the assessment and treatment of trauma, PTSD, and Borderline Personality Disorder. He combines a range of therapies in his approach including CBT, Schema Therapy, EMDR and IFS. Chris is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), the APS college of Clinical Psychology, and of the Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing Australian Association (EMDRAA).
