trauma therapy

Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime 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.  

While many people can recover from trauma over time with the love and support of family and friends and bounce back with resiliency, others may discover effects of lasting trauma, which can cause a person to live with deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or post-traumatic stress far after the event has passed. 

In these circumstances, the support, guidance, and assistance of a therapist is fundamental to healing from trauma.  

Trauma Symptoms 

According to the four types of symptoms listed in the DSM-5  

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  

Hyper-arousal Symptoms      

-Anger, irritability, and hyper-vigilance    

-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. Most commonly, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT),  and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) are used in treating trauma.  

If you or someone you know matches the trauma symptoms listed above, I am confident that I can help.