Trauma Therapy
Over the course of a lifetime, many people experience various forms of emotional and psychological trauma. Such trauma can result from single events (such as witnessing or being the victim of a violent crime), a series of events (such as recurring abuse via a parent or partner), or a combination of events over time.
Changes in behavior and mood can result from these events - leading to feeling on edge or depressed, avoiding people or activities, re-experiencing some aspect of the trauma, and feeling disconnected from oneself or the world around you. Such changes can lead to decreased ability to fulfill life obligations and goals – such as work/school, healthy relationships, or reaching expected milestones across the lifespan.
Due to the often complex nature of trauma, the changes and symptoms can emerge shortly after the event or much later (sometimes years later). If left untreated, symptoms can wax and wane over time. This process creates additional problems in the lives of those with trauma and also frequently impacts loved ones. Should someone with trauma symptoms choose not to seek help, these individuals are at risk for increased vulnerability to the effects of future life stressors – which will likely worsen symptoms.
When these symptoms are particularly severe, a person may meet the criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); however, trauma takes many forms and can be just as distressing and problematic even if the full criteria for PTSD are not met.
Thankfully, several psychotherapeutic interventions have proven to be very effective in resolving PTSD and other forms of trauma.
Currently, I utilize these approaches in my therapy for trauma:
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
