trauma

does not have to define you

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that develops in certain people who experience or witness a terrifying event. PTSD can be treated. With trauma-focused psychotherapy, trauma survivors can feel safe in the world again and live happy and productive lives.

An estimated one in 11 people will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetime, so being a trauma-informed therapist is important. I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, which means I have had additional training in the area of trauma and continue to receive training in order to maintain the certification and stay informed in the treatment of PTSD and trauma.

The VA/DoD PTSD Clinical Practice Guideline for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder recommends treating PTSD using individual trauma-focused psychotherapy over medications based on the current state of the PTSD treatment research. Two recent reviews of research compared the treatment effects of psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies. “The results showed that trauma-focused psychotherapies lead to greater improvement in PTSD symptoms than medications, and that these improvements last longer. In addition, the risks for negative side effects or negative reactions are generally greater with medication than with psychotherapy.”

Resources

The approaches I use with trauma:

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) *

Written Exposure Therapy (WET) **

Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)

* Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is an evidenced-based, efficient therapy for PTSD and other psychiatric conditions. It is derived from Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). The NREPP (National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices), a subsidiary of SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), determined that accelerated resolution therapy is an effective form of treatment for PTSD.

** Written Exposure Therapy (WET) is recommended as a first-line treatment for PTSD in the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for Managing PTSD and it is listed as an emerging recommended treatment in the International Society for the Study of Traumatic Stress (ISTSS) guideline.

More about Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

More about Written Exposure Therapy (WET)

Schedule your free 15-minute introductory meeting

I’m here to help you find the relief and peace you are looking for. I have helped many people overcome the debilitating effects of their trauma. If you are suffering from trauma, let’s talk!

Life is too short to suffer silently.

Contact me now for a complimentary, initial 15-minute conversation to see if I’m the right counselor for you and to get your questions answered.

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