Most of us will experience trauma in our lifetimes, whether it’s a car accident, abuse or neglect, the sudden death of a loved one, a violent criminal act, exposure to the violence of war, or a natural disaster.
Following trauma, some people experience lasting impacts of these painful life events. In these circumstances, the support, guidance, and assistance of a therapist is fundamental to healing from trauma.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health condition experienced by some individuals who have lived through one or several traumatic experiences. According to the DSM-5, PTSD is characterized by the following symptoms:
Avoidance Symptoms
- Avoiding specific locations, sights, situations, and sounds that serve as reminders of the event
- Anxiety, depression, numbness, or guilt
Re-experiencing Symptoms
- Intrusive thoughts, nightmares or flashbacks
Hyperarousal Symptoms
- Anger, irritability, and hypervigilance
- Aggressive, reckless behavior, including self-harm
- Sleep disturbances
Negative Mood and Cognition Symptoms
- Loss of interest in activities that were once considered enjoyable
- Difficulty remembering details of the distressing event
- Change in habits or behavior since the trauma
Research has proven psychotherapy to be the most effective form of treatment for trauma-related symptoms. In my years as a trauma-focused clinician, I have engaged in extensive training in order to provide evidence-based therapies for PTSD and have seen the powerful difference in people’s lives when they are able to process and heal. I provide two evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD:
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation/Narrative Therapy (STAIR/NT)
Please also know that many people experience trauma-related difficulties that do not fit neatly into the PTSD symptom categories of the DSM 5. If you are someone whose traumatic experiences have led to relationship difficulties, problems regulating big emotions, moral injury, or sleep disturbance, I would be happy to explore with you the ways in which psychotherapy can help!