Understanding Trauma Part 4: Why Different Therapy Approaches Work for Different Parts of the Brain
- Calder Psychology
- Jul 20
- 6 min read
“There is no single therapy that is best for everyone. Effective therapy begins by understanding the person—not just the diagnosis.”
By now, we’ve explored three important systems of the brain:
the Thinking Brain, which helps us reason, plan, solve problems, and regulate our behaviour;
the Emotional Brain, where memories, attachment, and emotions shape our experiences; and
the Survival Brain, whose primary role is to keep us safe by preparing us to fight, flee, freeze, or shut down when danger is perceived.
Understanding these systems also helps explain the different types of therapies in psychology and answer one of the most common questions people ask when looking for psychological support:
“Which type of therapy is the best?”
It’s a reasonable question.
Search online and you’ll quickly find dozens of approaches.
CBT.
ACT.
EMDR.
Schema Therapy.
DBT.
Mindfulness.
Compassion-Focused Therapy.
Attachment-Based Therapy.
The list goes on.
It can feel overwhelming.
The encouraging news is that these therapies are not competing with one another.
Instead, many of them complement one another because they support different aspects of human functioning.
Just as a doctor wouldn’t prescribe the same treatment for every physical illness, psychologists don’t rely on a single approach for every emotional difficulty.
Effective therapy begins with understanding what is maintaining the person’s difficulties, which brain systems appear to be involved, and what evidence-based interventions are most appropriate.
That is one of the reasons why therapy is so much more than simply talking.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Strengthening the Thinking Brain
One of the most researched psychological treatments is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
If you've ever wondered how does cognitive behavioural therapy work, it begins by helping people understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and physical responses.
CBT is based on the understanding that our thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and physical responses are closely connected.
Sometimes our minds develop patterns of thinking that are unintentionally unhelpful.
Examples include:
catastrophising
all-or-nothing thinking
assuming the worst
excessive self-criticism
overestimating danger
underestimating our ability to cope
These thinking patterns can influence how we feel and how we respond to situations.
CBT helps people recognise these patterns and develop more balanced, flexible ways of interpreting life’s challenges.
Because CBT relies on reflection, learning, and problem-solving, it primarily engages the prefrontal cortex, the thinking brain.
For many people experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, perfectionism, or low self-esteem, CBT can be highly effective.
However, CBT is not simply about “thinking positively.”
Instead, it encourages realistic, evidence-based thinking while helping people develop practical behavioural skills that support lasting change.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Building Psychological Flexibility
Many people come to therapy believing they must eliminate anxiety before they can live the life they want.
But what is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy? It's an evidence-based approach that helps people respond differently to difficult thoughts and emotions instead of trying to eliminate them altogether.
ACT offers a different perspective.
Rather than asking,
“How do I get rid of difficult thoughts and feelings?”
ACT asks,
“How can I live a meaningful life even when difficult thoughts and feelings show up?”
This shift can be incredibly liberating.
Instead of becoming trapped in an ongoing battle with internal experiences, ACT helps people develop psychological flexibility—the ability to remain present, respond according to personal values, and make choices that move life forward.
ACT combines the strengths of the thinking brain with greater awareness of emotional and bodily experiences.
It encourages people to notice difficult thoughts without automatically believing them and to experience emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them.
This approach has strong evidence supporting its use for:
anxiety disorders
depression
chronic pain
health conditions
life transitions
Perhaps most importantly, ACT reminds us that emotional discomfort is part of being human.
The goal is not a life without struggle.
The goal is a life that remains meaningful despite life’s inevitable challenges.
EMDR: Helping the Brain Reprocess Distressing Experiences
One of the most significant developments in trauma therapy over the past three decades has been Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).
What is Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing?
Unlike therapies that rely primarily on discussion, EMDR focuses on helping the brain reprocess distressing memories that continue to influence present-day emotions, beliefs, and behaviour.
People often describe feeling “stuck.”
They know the traumatic event is over.
Yet emotionally, it still feels present.
EMDR aims to help the brain integrate these experiences so they become part of the person’s life story rather than something that continually intrudes into the present.
As processing occurs, many people notice:
reduced emotional intensity
fewer intrusive memories
improved emotional regulation
less avoidance
increased confidence
greater sense of safety
Importantly, EMDR does not erase memories.
Instead, it helps reduce the distress associated with them.
Numerous international clinical guidelines recommend EMDR as an evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and growing research supports its use for other trauma-related presentations.
Schema Therapy: Understanding Long-Standing Patterns
Have you ever found yourself thinking,
“Why do I keep ending up in the same situations?”
Perhaps you repeatedly struggle with:
feeling not good enough
fearing rejection
putting everyone else’s needs before your own
expecting criticism
striving for perfection
finding it difficult to trust others
These patterns often develop gradually over many years.
Schema Therapy helps people understand how early life experiences can shape enduring beliefs about themselves, other people, and the world.
These deeply held beliefs—known as schemas—can continue influencing behaviour long into adulthood.
Rather than focusing solely on current symptoms, Schema Therapy helps people identify where these patterns originated and develop healthier ways of relating to themselves and others.
For many people with long-standing interpersonal difficulties, childhood trauma, or recurring life patterns, Schema Therapy offers a compassionate framework for lasting change.
How long does Schema Therapy take? It varies from person to person, depending on their goals, the patterns being addressed, and the complexity of their experiences.
Trauma-Informed Therapy: Seeing Behaviour Through the Lens of Survival
Perhaps one of the greatest shifts in modern psychology has been moving away from asking:
“What’s wrong with you?”
towards asking:
“What happened to you?”
Trauma-informed therapy recognises that many behaviours make sense when viewed as adaptive responses to overwhelming experiences.
So, how is trauma informed therapy different from other approaches? Rather than focusing only on symptoms, trauma-informed therapy considers how past experiences may have shaped the ways people think, feel, and respond to the world today.
Avoidance.
Hypervigilance.
Perfectionism.
Emotional shutdown.
People-pleasing.
Difficulty trusting others.
These are not necessarily signs of weakness.
Often, they began as strategies that helped someone survive difficult circumstances.
Understanding behaviour through this compassionate lens reduces shame and creates opportunities for healing.
Rather than forcing change, trauma-informed therapy prioritises:
emotional safety
collaboration
empowerment
choice
trust
respect
Only when people feel sufficiently safe can deeper therapeutic work begin.
Why Calder Psychology Integrates Multiple Approaches
One of the questions we’re often asked is:
“What type of therapy do you use?”
The answer is:
It depends on you.
At Calder Psychology, we don’t believe in applying the same approach to every client.
Instead, we begin by understanding your experiences, your strengths, your goals, and the factors that may be contributing to your current difficulties.
Some people benefit greatly from CBT.
Others find ACT particularly helpful.
For individuals recovering from trauma, EMDR or trauma-informed therapy may be more appropriate.
Many clients benefit from an integrative approach that draws on several evidence-based therapies over time.
Our role is not to fit you into a therapeutic model.
Our role is to tailor therapy to fit you.
Because no two people have lived the same life.
And no two healing journeys are exactly alike.
Healing Is About Working With the Whole Person
Throughout this series, one message has remained consistent.
Healing is rarely achieved by addressing only one aspect of human experience.
Lasting psychological wellbeing often involves supporting:
the thinking brain through understanding and insight;
the emotional brain through processing and connection; and
the survival brain through safety and regulation.
These systems are constantly influencing one another.
When one begins to heal, the others often become more accessible as well.
Rather than asking,
“Which therapy is the best?”
perhaps a more meaningful question is,
“What does my brain and nervous system need right now?”
For some people, the answer begins with understanding.
For others, it begins with emotional processing.
For others still, it begins with helping the body rediscover a sense of safety.
There is no single pathway to healing.
But there is hope.
Because the brain remains capable of learning, adapting, and changing throughout life.
And with compassionate, evidence-based psychological support, meaningful and lasting change is possible.
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