Talking about Trauma won't heal you

Mar 22, 2025

Discuss the misconception that talking about trauma leads to healing, as it often exacerbates symptoms. Explore how visualization can help reprocess trauma and rewrite negative narratives. Learn techniques for identifying limiting beliefs and replacing them with empowering 'I am' statements. Get inspired by success stories of visualization manifesting goals and understand the neurobiology behind this practice. Discover practical steps to integrate daily visualization for lasting healing and self-worth.

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INSIGHT

Visualization Can Re-Traumatize

Visualizing past trauma triggers the same physiological danger response as real threats.
Rehashing trauma can reinforce fear, panic, and shame pathways in the brain.

ADVICE

Talk Alone Won’t Heal Trauma

Don’t rely on telling your trauma story repeatedly to heal; talking alone rarely resolves trauma.
Use safe therapeutic relationships, body-based grounding, and narrative work to process trauma effectively.

ADVICE

Use Visualization To Rewire Responses

Use visualization to target flashbacks and negative self-messaging when talk therapy stalls.
Visualization engages the same brain pathways but redirects them toward healing.

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Talking about trauma doesn’t heal trauma.

For a lot of people, it makes them feel much worse especially if you have PTSD.

This is one thing that sets human brains apart from animals. When we visualize something, whether it’s a past trauma or a worry about the future, we perceive danger. And our brain triggers the same physiological reaction to perceived danger as it does to real danger. It triggers that cascade of stress chemicals that kick off the fight/flight/freeze response.

Instead, I'm going to teach you an approach from narrative therapy, where you heal from trauma and PTSD by writing a new story, exploring how you trauma narratives impact you in the present moment and how to replace them with a practical visualization exercise.

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Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger Institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe

If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.