Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is characterized by “re-experiencing", such as unwanted memories and nightmares of a trauma event, flashbacks, and distress when recalling traumatic event(s).  People alternatively may experience   “avoidance or numbing”, such as avoiding remembering the trauma,  blunting of positive emotions or interest in activities, feeling alienated or detached or sensing a foreshortened future.  Additionally, there can be “arousal” symptoms associated with PTSD, such as irritability, anxiety, problems with concentrating, and sleep difficulties.

Examples of therapy goals for treating PTSD:

• Design a treatment plan to address your individual needs and concerns.
• Incremental exposure therapy to access the feelings associated with the traumatic event and promote emotional processing.
• Systematic desensitization (imaginal or in vivo).
• Relaxation training and stress management therapy.
• Reducing avoidance behaviors.
• Learn to decrease symptoms impacting depressed mood and anxiety symptoms.
• Cognitive therapy to replace exaggerated, fearful thinking with more realistic and healthy thinking.
• Step-by-step coping tools and problem-solving strategies, such as interpersonal skills training, anger management training, and guided self-dialogue.
• Develop coping strategies to manage stressful situations.
• Relapse prevention strategies.