Trauma and PTSD

I know Trauma and PTSD difficulties are treatable.  I filter my therapy through a hopeful lens.  I believe meeting trauma head on and learning not to avoid will move a person to their best life.  This doesn’t mean I think you should barge right in and face your trauma.  I believe it is important for you to make a decision about what will best benefit you in your journey.  We will explore your situation at your pace.  You are the one who sets the speed.  When a person suffers, witnesses or experiences a traumatic event, it is normal to have a reaction.  You may feel grief, loss, irritability, insomnia, nightmares, increased anxiety, hyperawareness, fear, rage and other symptoms.

This is a normal reaction to an extreme situation.  Sometimes, though, people get stuck and the symptoms persist and get in the way.  There may be struggles with relationships, work, substances or even living a “normal” life.

If you come in presenting for trauma we will complete an assessment which includes a complete trauma history.  At the end of the assessment we will discuss what options you have and you can decide which path will be most beneficial for you.

I am able to use several interventions when working with trauma.

• Supportive/Cognitive/Relational Therapy
• Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

For both PE and CBT I have been trained in the military version of the protocols.  PE and CBT are structured, time-limited therapies, however, they should only be chosen if the client is able to really commit to the process.  Follow the path that will best suit you.

Children

Children sometimes are involved with or witness traumatic events.  Sometimes even repeated exposure to horrifying images such as seen in the media can bring on difficult emotions.  Children are notoriously resilient so are often able to process and get back to life as normal.  I work with children living with the effects of trauma, using relationship building, a child version of CBT and parental involvement.