What Evidence Exists on the Effectiveness of Psychotherapy for Trauma-Related Distress? A Scoping Review

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HighlightsWhat are the main findings?Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) are the most studied and effective treatments for trauma-related distress, with Prolonged Exposure and Narrative Exposure Therapy showing promise but requiring more research.Alternative psychotherapies, including psychodynamic approaches, demonstrate effectiveness in complex trauma cases (e.g., intimate partner violence, child loss) where EMDR and CBT may be less effective, though these remain understudied.What are the implications of the main findings?Clinicians should consider a broader range of therapeutic options beyond CBT and EMDR, selecting interventions based on clients’ individual needs, cultural context, and trauma complexity rather than defaulting to the most studied approaches.The identified evidence gaps highlight the need for further research into alternative therapies and emerging approaches, like the Walters Method, which may offer accessible options for clients who find traditional evidence-based treatments challenging.Background/Objectives: Trauma-related distress poses significant mental health challenges, with psychotherapy serving as a primary intervention. The Walters Method is a promising new alternative that may help where traditional methods fall short (i.e., in complex or violent cases), but before it can be implemented widely, the existing evidence on the effectiveness of other psychotherapies for trauma-related distress must be mapped to see how and where it relates to other techniques. The aim of this scoping review was to provide an overview of existing evidence on the effectiveness of psychotherapy for trauma-related distress. Methods: A scoping review was conducted to better understand the effectiveness of psychotherapies for trauma-related distress (including PTSD, acute stress disorder, or other serious mental health issues). Results: Thirty-three articles were analysed. Included articles included adults with PTSD, incarcerated women, childbirth trauma survivors, female survivors of sexual abuse, hospitalised COVID-19 patients, adults with serious mental illness, veterans and active soldiers, firefighters, and refugees. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy were the most studied and effective treatments. Prolonged Exposure and Narrative Exposure Therapy were less common but noteworthy. Other therapies, including psychodynamic approaches, are seldom studied but have proven effective when explored, highlighting knowledge gaps and potential missed opportunities. Success with these alternative approaches—especially in complex trauma cases like intimate partner violence or child loss where EMDR and CBT may be less effective—suggests they have potential, but further research is needed for validation. Conclusions: This review offers novel contributions to the field by emphasising innovative therapeutic perspectives that extend beyond traditional, more studied, evidence-based approaches such as CBT and EMDR, thereby expanding treatment options for diverse clinical presentations. Alternative therapies show promise, particularly for complex trauma cases like intimate partner violence or child loss where established approaches may be less effective; however, further research is needed to validate their efficacy across diverse populations. Selection of psychotherapy should be based on clients’ goals and comfort, and the cultural and contextual compatibility between the person and intervention. Future research should prioritise underexplored therapies to address current knowledge gaps and improve treatment accessibility for varied clinical needs.