“Trauma therapist” sounds like proven expertise – but it’s not. I recently listened to a podcast in which a self-proclaimed trauma therapist interpreted premenstrual symptoms as the result of hidden sexual trauma. Such interpretations sound technical, but in this general sense they are shortened and risky. They unsettle people with psychological symptoms and fuel the search for supposedly forgotten traumas.
Scientifically untenable statements made to a broad audience
In clinical practice, I see that “rediscovered memories” can arise in this way. Although we cannot rule out that these are false memories, they lead to massive stress and even trauma-related disorders.
Empirically, most of those affected remember trauma quite well – complete amnesia, as typical in this podcast, is the exception. At the same time, studies show the risks of suggestive approaches. Nevertheless, a woman who makes such sweeping and scientifically unfounded statements not only gains a broad audience, but her statements are also received relatively uncritically as facts – because she describes herself as a trauma therapist.
No recognized qualification
This example points to a structural problem: Many people consider “trauma therapist” to be a recognized qualification and trustingly seek treatment from appropriate title holders. However, the name is not legally protected. There are no minimum standards for training, supervision, diagnostics or treatment. Anyone who works in “trauma therapy” without a license – for example as a alternative practitioner (psychotherapy) – is not subject to chamber supervision, the quality assurance of the statutory health insurance companies does not apply, and the methodology is not systematically monitored. This opens up space for non-guideline-based procedures.
I am unsure whether someone who describes themselves as a trauma therapist without a license is guilty of misleading people under Section 5 of the Unfair Competition Act. But even if this paragraph were to apply, it would only be a downstream protection.
Protection for those affected
What we need, however, is preventative clarity – title protection. Anyone who treats those affected with trauma-related disorders psychotherapeutically should have a license to practice medicine and therefore have evidence-based knowledge of the consequences of trauma and their treatment and should treat them in accordance with guidelines. In my opinion, people without a license to practice medicine (coaches, consultants, alternative practitioners) should not be authorized to treat trauma-related disorders and should not be allowed to call themselves trauma therapists.
Misconceptions about trauma processing and treatment are not uncommon – which makes solid training, supervision and evidence-based procedures all the more important. A strictly regulated title would protect those affected from being misled by unscientific statements and ensure the quality of their treatment.
Larissa Wolkenstein is a licensed psychological psychotherapist with additional qualifications in “special psychotrauma therapy (DeGPT)”. She researches at the LMU Munich and is the therapeutic director of the psychotherapeutic university and trauma clinic there.
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