Trauma & Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Many people who experience trauma, whether from war, violence, abuse, terrorism, an accident, or a natural disaster, find that they are no longer able to live their lives in the same way as they had before. Their day-to-day experiences are impacted by pervasive fear and anxiety, their relationships suffer, and their thoughts about the world change in significantly negative ways. Often times, these reactions dissipate after a period of time but in certain cases, they persist and develop into a consistent, perpetual pattern.

Symptoms

If you have been exposed to a traumatic event, either recently or in the past, and find yourself continuing to experience any of the following, you may benefit from seeking help:

• Recurring, intrusive thoughts, memories, or dreams about the event

• Feeling on edge all or most of the time

• Feeling as though there is danger everywhere

• Emotional numbing or an inability to experience positive emotions

• Difficulty feeling close to people

• Avoiding people, places, or things which remind you of the event

Trauma-Focused Treatment

I employ an evidence-based approach to treating trauma which involves systematically getting you back into the activities of your life that you have been avoiding, improving your connections with other people, and giving you tools to manage your symptoms. Treatment also involves helping you process the emotional aspects of the trauma itself. Sessions are typically 80 minutes long and treatment usually takes about eight to twelve sessions.

Please feel free to contact me to discuss how this might work for you.