Are Trauma-Informed Therapies Part of Inpatient Rehab for Married Couples?

Understanding Trauma-Informed Care in Inpatient Rehab

For many married couples struggling with addiction, trauma plays a significant role in both their substance use and relationship dynamics. Unresolved trauma—whether experienced individually or as a couple—can contribute to addiction and create toxic patterns of communication, distrust, and emotional distress.

At Trinity Behavioral Health, inpatient rehab programs for married couples incorporate trauma-informed therapies to address the underlying emotional wounds that may contribute to addiction. By understanding and treating trauma, couples can heal together, rebuild trust, and develop healthier coping mechanisms for long-term recovery.

The Role of Trauma in Addiction and Relationships

1. How Trauma Affects Addiction

Trauma can be a major contributing factor to substance abuse. Many individuals turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with past traumatic experiences, including:

• Childhood abuse or neglect

• Domestic violence

• Loss of a loved one

• Sexual assault

• Military combat or PTSD

• Severe accidents or medical trauma

For married couples, both partners may carry trauma into the relationship, which can lead to codependency, enabling behaviors, or mutual substance use as a coping mechanism.

2. How Trauma Affects Relationships

Trauma impacts relationships in several ways:

• Emotional detachment – One or both partners may struggle to express emotions due to past pain.

• Trust issues – Trauma survivors often develop hypervigilance, fear of abandonment, or difficulty trusting their partner.

• Unhealthy coping mechanisms – Some couples use substances to escape emotional pain, leading to a cycle of addiction.

• Reenactment of past trauma – Some individuals unconsciously repeat abusive or harmful patterns from their past.

By integrating trauma-informed therapies, inpatient rehab can help couples break these destructive patterns and foster a healthier relationship dynamic.

What Is Trauma-Informed Therapy?

1. Core Principles of Trauma-Informed Care

Trauma-informed therapy recognizes that past trauma influences present behavior and emphasizes safety, trust, and empowerment in the healing process. Key principles include:

• Safety – Creating a secure environment where couples feel physically and emotionally safe.

• Trust and Transparency – Encouraging open communication between therapists and clients.

• Peer Support – Utilizing shared experiences to build understanding and connection.

• Collaboration and Choice – Empowering couples to take an active role in their recovery.

• Understanding Trauma Responses – Addressing fight, flight, freeze, and fawn behaviors in relationships.

2. The Difference Between Traditional and Trauma-Informed Therapy

Traditional addiction treatment focuses primarily on substance use behaviors and relapse prevention. While effective, it may not fully address the deep-rooted trauma that often drives addiction.

Trauma-informed therapy, on the other hand, prioritizes emotional healing alongside addiction treatment, allowing couples to understand:

• How trauma has influenced their substance use.

• How their trauma responses affect their relationship.

• How to develop healthier coping strategies.

Types of Trauma-Informed Therapies Used in Inpatient Rehab

1. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR therapy is a highly effective approach for treating PTSD and trauma-related addiction. It helps individuals reprocess painful memories through guided eye movements, reducing emotional distress associated with past experiences.

For married couples, EMDR can:

• Help each partner process personal trauma that may contribute to addiction.

• Reduce triggers and flashbacks related to past events.

• Improve emotional regulation and stress management.

2. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a cornerstone of trauma-informed addiction treatment, helping individuals:

• Identify and change negative thought patterns.

• Develop healthier coping mechanisms.

• Address self-destructive behaviors that stem from trauma.

For couples, CBT can improve communication, reduce reactive behaviors, and strengthen emotional resilience.

3. Somatic Experiencing

Since trauma is stored in the body, somatic experiencing focuses on releasing physical tension related to past trauma. This therapy helps couples:

• Recognize how stress and trauma manifest physically.

• Develop grounding techniques to reduce anxiety and panic.

• Regain a sense of control over emotional responses.

4. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT is particularly useful for individuals with trauma-related emotional dysregulation. This therapy teaches:

• Mindfulness techniques to stay present.

• Distress tolerance skills to handle emotional triggers.

• Emotional regulation strategies to prevent impulsive behaviors.

For couples, DBT can reduce conflict, improve emotional stability, and promote healthy communication.

5. Group Therapy with a Trauma-Informed Approach

Participating in group therapy with other trauma survivors can help couples:

• Recognize that they are not alone in their struggles.

• Develop a support system beyond their relationship.

• Gain insight from shared experiences.

How Trauma-Informed Therapy Helps Married Couples in Recovery

1. Breaking Codependent Patterns

Many couples struggling with addiction also experience codependency, where one partner enables the other’s substance use or emotional dysfunction. Trauma-informed therapy helps couples:

• Recognize unhealthy patterns in their relationship.

• Establish healthy emotional boundaries.

• Develop independent coping strategies instead of relying on substances.

2. Rebuilding Trust After Addiction and Trauma

Addiction can erode trust between partners, especially if there has been lying, financial strain, or infidelity due to substance use. Trauma-informed therapy helps couples:

• Process past betrayals in a structured, supportive setting.

• Practice active listening and empathy.

• Rebuild emotional intimacy without substances.

3. Addressing Relapse Triggers Rooted in Trauma

For many individuals, trauma triggers relapse. Trauma-informed therapy equips couples with:

• Coping strategies to handle stress without turning to substances.

• Self-awareness of personal and shared triggers.

• Emergency relapse prevention plans tailored to their relationship.

Conclusion

Trauma-informed therapies are an essential component of inpatient rehab for married couples at Trinity Behavioral Health. These therapies help couples understand the role of trauma in addiction, address emotional wounds, and develop healthier coping strategies for long-term recovery.

By incorporating EMDR, CBT, DBT, and somatic experiencing, couples can break unhealthy relationship patterns, rebuild trust, and create a supportive foundation for lasting sobriety.

For couples seeking comprehensive addiction treatment, trauma-informed rehab programs provide the tools and support necessary to heal both individually and as a partnership.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are trauma-informed therapies part of inpatient rehab for married couples?
A: Yes, trauma-informed therapies are an integral part of inpatient rehab for married couples at Trinity Behavioral Health. These therapies address past trauma, improve emotional regulation, and help couples build healthier relationship patterns.

Q: What types of trauma-informed therapies are used in rehab?
A: Inpatient rehab programs often use EMDR, CBT, DBT, somatic experiencing, and group therapy to help individuals and couples process trauma and develop healthy coping strategies.

Q: Can trauma therapy help couples rebuild trust after addiction?
A: Yes, trauma-informed therapy provides structured support for processing past betrayals, improving communication, and rebuilding emotional intimacy after addiction.

Q: How does trauma contribute to addiction in relationships?
A: Many individuals use substances to cope with unresolved trauma, which can create codependency, emotional detachment, and unhealthy coping mechanisms within a relationship.

Q: Is trauma therapy included in all inpatient rehab programs?
A: Not all inpatient rehab programs offer trauma-informed care, but Trinity Behavioral Health specializes in integrating trauma-focused therapies into their addiction treatment plans for married couples.