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Healing Toolkit
"One size doesn't fit all...In order to recover from trauma,
you need to address a large number of different systems"
Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score,
interview with Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health
Professionally Assisted Healing Options
Types of Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy is a type of talk therapy that brings awareness of thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and actions and focuses on understanding how the past impacts the present, developing greater self-reflection to improve mental health and ways of relating to others
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is a type of talk therapy which helps you stop the cycle of unhelpful thoughts, bad feelings, and bad actions
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy that can be very helpful for symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Somatic Experiencing (SE) addresses the way that the body carries the memory and experience of sexual trauma and is also a powerful approach to healing from trauma.
Sensorimotor Therapy, similar to SE, body movements and postures are important focal points of treatment as is body awareness and mindfulness during treatment.
Holistic therapy integrates mind, body and spiritual forms of well-being, drawing upon a combination of traditional therapies, somatic practices, and a variety of other spiritual, artistic, and other healing approaches.
Providers with SSTA Lived Experience
Holistic Therapy by an SSTA survivor, many options to choose from: Brinn Langdale, LMFT
Play Therapy, Individual and Family Therapy for children, adolescents, and adults, by a parent of SSTA who guided her child through healing from trauma: Bridget Meranda, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S™
Are you a licensed professional with SSTA lived experience? Email info@5waves.org and give us your information if you would like to be listed here.
Trauma-Informed Coaching
Personalized coaching is offered by individuals with a variety of training backgrounds. The provider commonly has personal lived experience in the field in which they coach. The trauma coaching profession is not licensed or regulated in the US, and it is not covered by health insurance. There are some avenues for voluntary certification (see below).
International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaching | Listing of Certified Trauma Recovery Coaches
Providers with SSTA Lived Experience
Coaching on Navigating Trauma and guided peer support group, by parents of SSTA: Grace Wine, Certified Trauma Informed Coach, People First Always, LLC
Relationship Healing
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy therapist locator page
Self Guided Healing Options
Guided Self-Help Videos
Trauma Recovery 101 video series with incest survivor and advocate Nubia DuVall Wilson and trauma recovery coach Monika Hendrix
Tapping with Steph EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Tapping guided video series
University of Minnesota Extension Trauma-Informed Yoga for Families and Kids
CPTSD Foundation: Online Trauma-Informed Yoga group classes
Vagus Nerve Reset Activities designed to activate your body's self-calming system
Stress Management Tools | Therapist Aid videos, activities, worksheets
Somatic Exercise guided videos
Whole Family Healing
Healing Together: A Family Guide to Recovering from Sexual Harm, by Elizabeth Clemants includes chapters exploring the needs and perspectives of all family members, and how each can contribute to healing
Hidden Water Circle is a community opportunity to practice this type of healing.
Recommended Reading
Blog: Healing After Child Sexual Abuse | 7 Choices That Help You Reclaim Your Life authored by Rachel Grant, website hosted by SSTA survivor and 5WAVES advisory board member Diane Tarantini
Treating Trauma-Related Chronic Pain list of recommended options by 5WAVES cofounder Maria Socolof
Survivors Healing Survivors blog by and for survivors of child sexual abuse
Bessel Van der Kolk,MD: The Body Keeps the Score
Pat Ogden and the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute: Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Peter Levine: Waking the Tiger
Robert Scaer: The Body Bears the Burden
John E. Sarno, MD: The Mindbody Prescription
Resmaa Menakem, MSW, LICSW: My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies
Sherryl Hamby, PhD: Stronger Than You Think: Building Lifelong Resilience
Guided Writing/Journaling
Online Self-Guided Trauma & Self-Care Recovery Course for Victims/Survivors of Sexual Abuse or Assault at any age from Somerset & Avon Rape & Sexual Abuse Support (free, online)
SARSAS Easy Read Self-Help Guide for Survivors (free, online)
SARSAS Self-Help Guide for Men and Boys (free, online)
SARSAS Self-Help Guide for Friends and Family (free, online)
Ellen Bass & Laura Davis: Courage to Heal - There’s a reason this book is a classic; it has been a beacon for healing for women survivors of child sexual abuse since 1992. Companion workbook also available.
MeQ and Me Journaling Tool Regular sentence prompts, created by sibling sexual abuse survivor & psychologist Nancy Morris, specifically for other survivors of sibling sexual abuse or trauma. (small fee)
Rupi Kaur: Healing Through Words - guided journaling exploring themes of trauma, loss, healing, love
McKay, Wood, & Brantley: DBT Skills Workbooks - Guide to learning and applying mindfulness techniques to manage emotions and deal with difficult people and situations.
Robert Enright, PhD: Forgiveness is a Choice - Based on research that included incest survivors; Guided journaling to deal with shame and anger, with the option to go on to forgiveness. Useful even if you never decide to forgive.
Recommended Listening
Siblings Too Podcast: Therapy and Mindfulness Part I (41 min) and Part II (30 min) with Patricia Downing, Integrative Psychotherapist and Mindful Practitioner
Wholistic Approach to Healing Podcast with Brinn Langdale, LMFT, explores a variety of alternative approaches to healing, from writing to tapping to social justice work and more
Other Healing Options
Acts of Kindness or Service
Art: 100 Art Therapy Prompts (Expressive Art Workshops)
Fishing, Hunting
Gardening (or Horticulture Therapy)
Martial Arts or Tai Chi
Medication, under professional supervision: Antidepressants, Anti-anxiety
Music (making and/or listening)
Natural Beauty, Outdoors
Pets, Emotional Support Animals, Animal-Assisted Therapy
Religious or Spiritual Practices, Prayer, Meditation
Sports, Exercise
Target Shooting
