1. Trauma-Focused Therapy
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing)
- Helps the brain process traumatic memories without reliving them fully.
- Reduces emotional charge, anxiety, and flashbacks.
- Especially effective for life-threatening trauma like strangulation.
- Trauma-Focused CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
- Helps survivors reframe thoughts and beliefs formed during abuse.
- Builds coping skills for fear, anxiety, and hypervigilance.
- Somatic Therapies / Body-Based Approaches
- Strangulation trauma often leaves physical nervous system imprints.
- Therapies like somatic experiencing, sensorimotor psychotherapy, or trauma-informed yoga help release stored tension safely.
- Combined Approach
- Many clinicians use a combination of EMDR, trauma-focused CBT, and somatic therapy to address both body and mind.
2. Medical and Neuropsychological Support
- Brain injury screening: Repeated strangulation can cause hypoxia and brain injury.
- Neurological follow-up: Memory, attention, and cognitive issues may require rehab.
- Routine physical exams: Check for carotid, neck, or airway damage that may not be visible.
3. Psychosocial Support
- Peer or survivor groups: Sharing with others validates experience and reduces isolation.
- Case management / social work: Helps navigate legal, housing, and financial safety.
- Legal advocacy: Critical if the abuser is still a risk, particularly for restraining orders or criminal charges.
🔒 Safety Planning After Strangulation
Safety planning is essential — survivors are at high risk of escalation or repeat abuse.
Immediate Safety Steps
- Identify safe locations: Friends, family, shelters, or hotels.
- Keep essentials ready: ID, medications, money, keys, and important documents.
- Phone safety: Have a charged phone, emergency contacts, and hidden emergency numbers.
- Restraining orders: Legal measures can provide protection; involve legal advice.
Ongoing Risk Reduction
- Trusted network: Identify safe people who understand the abuse pattern.
- Technology safety: Be aware of GPS tracking, phone monitoring, or social media exposure.
- Code words or signals: Use them with family or friends for immediate help.
- Avoid isolation: Abusers often exploit isolation to regain control.
Professional Coordination
- Therapist + Social Worker + Lawyer: A coordinated approach ensures both emotional safety and physical/legal protection.
- Document incidents: Photos, medical notes, journals — safely stored — can support legal action if needed.
⚠️ Key Takeaways
- Strangulation is a life-threatening form of abuse; risk does not end after one incident.
- Recovery requires multi-layered support: medical, psychological, and legal.
- Therapy should be trauma-informed, paced, and safe. EMDR is especially effective.
- Safety planning is non-negotiable; practical measures save lives.
