TRAUMA WORK AND PTSD TREATMENT
trauma work vs. ptsd treatment
Not all trauma work is PTSD treatment. Trauma work can include PTSD treatment when someone meets the diagnostic criteria after a traumatic event, but many people seek trauma therapy without having PTSD.
Trauma is subjective to a degree. If an experience felt deeply distressing, disturbing, or threatening, it may have been traumatic for you. However, in order to meet criteria for PTSD, the event must involve actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence.
PTSD is a specific condition that can develop after a traumatic event. It is often understood as a normal response to an abnormal experience. It reflects the brain’s attempt to make sense of something horrifying, overwhelming, and/or devastating. PTSD commonly includes intrusive memories or nightmares, efforts to avoid reminders of the event, ongoing feelings of being on guard or hyperalert, and shifts in mood, beliefs, or the way someone sees themselves or the world.
Even without PTSD, trauma can shape how we think, feel, and move through our lives. Trauma work in therapy can help people process these experiences and reconnect with a sense of safety and meaning. Only a licensed mental health professional can diagnose PTSD.
PTSD VS. C-PTSD
PTSD typically develops in response to a single or limited traumatic event, while Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) arises from prolonged or repeated exposure to traumatic environments. C-PTSD involves many of the same symptoms as PTSD, like intrusive memories, avoidance, and hyperarousal, but also includes additional challenges such as difficulties with emotional regulation, a negative self-concept, and trouble maintaining relationships. Unlike PTSD, which is recognized in the DSM-5-TR, C-PTSD is not officially listed in the DSM-5-TR, though it is widely acknowledged in clinical practice and international diagnostic frameworks.
types of trauma I work with
-
Suicide and other traumatic loss
-
Medical trauma
-
Childhood trauma
-
Sexual trauma
-
Psychological abuse
-
LGBTQA+ trauma
-
Motor vehicle and other accidental traumas
MY APPROACH
Trauma work is highly individual, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. It often includes learning skills for emotional regulation and healthy relationships, engaging in somatic or body-based work, and processing how traumatic experiences have affected your sense of self, your connections with others, and your understanding of the world, past, present, and future.
For treating PTSD and reducing distress from traumatic memories, I most often use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Many clients, even those who have been in therapy for years, notice a unique and significant sense of relief after EMDR compared to other approaches. I am also trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Trauma, which I can use if EMDR isn’t the right fit for you.
emdr
EMDR is probably unlike any other therapy you’ve ever tried. It is an eight-phase protocol widely recognized as a treatment of choice by national and international trauma treatment organizations and supported by multiple controlled studies. EMDR helps reprocess traumatic memories in a safe and contained environment, reduce distress, alleviate symptoms, and foster greater compassion and understanding for yourself and others. It is based on the understanding that our brains have an innate capacity to heal from emotional and psychological distress.
​
​
​
​
​
The eight phases of EMDR include taking a history, creating a treatment plan, learning coping skills and building resources, reprocessing traumatic memories, and increasing the ability to stay present with thoughts, emotions, and body sensations. EMDR may feel unusual or unexpected at times, but I truly believe in the process and its ability to help you process and heal from traumatic experiences.​​​​​​
Research has shown that trauma survivors can experience a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms after just three sessions. The length of EMDR varies from person to person, with some clients completing all eight phases in six to eight sessions and others taking 26 to 30 sessions. EMDR can also be done in the comfort of your own space and is safe and effective via telehealth when conducted with a well-trained trauma therapist.
​
Contact me to get started today