Trauma & PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• Severe Anxiety
• Agitation/Irritable mood
• Difficulty Sleeping
• Nightmares
• Flashbacks
• Feeling Guilty
• Hypervigilance
• Self-Destructive Behavior
• Loneliness
• Loss of interest in usual activities
• Distrust of others
• Excessive Fear
• Social Isolation
• Hostility

HOW TRAUMA THERAPY CAN HELP

Psychotherapy is the most effective form of treatment for trauma. The types of therapy most effective with trauma sufferers are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Our therapists are able to work with both clients who have experienced traumatic experiences using by helping clients using both of these modalities.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) enables trauma sufferers to connect thoughts, feelings, and reactions so that they can be more aware of their experience and feel more in control. This awareness helps to integrate their physical and emotional experience thus reducing many of the symptoms and making sense of the traumatic experience.
Another leading therapy for trauma is EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.

EMDR is designed to help process through troubling memories that have gotten “stuck,” and are causing distressing symptoms of PTSD. Often these memories are interfering with an individual’s quality of life, and ability to function. Even though the person may have good insight and understand what is taking place on a logical/intellectual level, often the memory still has an emotional “charge,” and can affect the way they relate to the world.

Trauma often affects us on a level deeper than words can reach; which is why the mind/body connection is so important, and why many people find relief through EMDR. If someone has experienced a traumatic event, they might feel as if they are a slave to their multiple triggers, and may spend the majority of their time in a hypervigilant state. If they are out shopping and hear a loud noise or smell a certain food, then suddenly they’re involuntarily pulled back into the past as if attached to a bungee cord.

EMDR helps to “cut the cord,” and can allow individuals to become fully engaged in their lives again, instead of putting so much of their energy into avoiding potential triggers. They will still be able to access the memory, but can operate from a place of emotional neutrality when doing so. Basically the event will move from the forefront of their mind, to the peripheral thus reducing the distressing symptoms of person has been experiencing.

BENEFITS OF EMDR THERAPY

One benefit of EMDR is that clients do not have to go into detail about distressing memory. This is great news for people who are not ready to share what took place or those that struggle to articulate it. In some situations verbalizing a traumatic event can actually re-traumatize individuals, and delay their treatment progress.

Another reason people are drawn to EMDR is how quickly clients feel notice it “working.” In fact, many report an improvement in symptoms after just one session. This helps to keep them motivated and engaged in treatment, which greatly improves outcomes.