What is the link between the compulsion to repeat trauma and avoidance of situations reminiscent of it?

Trauma reenactment theory is very interesting regarding rape. from what i remember its more about repeating the trauma "mentally" and harming yourself than it is about the situation. A lot of girls who are orally raped end up with bulimia and the vomiting becomes symbolic to oral rape. you can't expose people to "situations" like you would if someone has a phobia. that sort of structured behaviour modification programme is not at all helpful for rape and trauma. the cognitive approach works much better.