Have you experienced a traumatic event? Are you suffering from lingering fear and anxiety? Do you feel like you no longer have any control over how you think, feel, and behave?

Posttraumatic stress disorder - also known as PTSD - is a mental health challenge that may occur in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a terrorist act, an act of war, a serious accident, rape, or any other violent personal assault.  Many individuals may have also suffered ongoing sexual abuse as a child.

It is believed that PTSD affects nearly four percent of the U.S. adult population. While it is usually linked with veterans who’ve experienced combat, PTSD occurs in all people regardless of age, race, nationality, or culture. In fact, women are twice as likely to experience PTSD than men.

What are the Symptoms of PTSD?

People with PTSD often experience intense thoughts and feelings related to their traumatic experiences. These can last for a long time after the initial event. Many people with PTSD also relive the event through flashbacks and nightmares.

People with PTSD often feel intense emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, and detachment from friends, family, and community members. They often avoid people and situations that remind them of the traumatic event. Ordinary sounds or incidents such as a door banging or accidental touch in a crowd may cause a strong and uncontrollable reaction.

How Can Treatment Help?

There are a variety of treatments that can be used to treat PTSD. Four interventions are Strongly Recommended by the American Psychological Association (APA), all of which are variations of CBT.  These treatments are: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Cognitive Therapy and Prolonged Exposure (PE.)

I have training and experience in offering Prolonged Exposure Therapy.  In this therapy, individuals learn that they can gradually approach trauma related cues that have caused anxiety in the past and learn that these people, places, and situations are no longer dangerous.  I am also trained and have experience in utilizing DBT-PE for clients with PTSD that also may be at risk for Suicide, Self-harm or other high risk behaviors.

If you suffer from PTSD and would like to explore treatment options, please reach out to me. I have personally seen amazing transformation through therapy and want to offer the help you need to enjoy life again.