Trauma & PTSD Therapy
Symptoms of trauma can seep into every aspect of your life…
You haven’t been yourself ever since the traumatic event happened. It’s changed you. Showing up fully to work, school, and even relationships is challenging, because your mind is far from present. Maybe you aren’t sleeping well, or you wake up with nightmares. Some people who have experienced trauma feel out of control, scared or hopeless. You may be wondering ‘will the pain ever go away’? Or perhaps you’ve heard of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and wonder if counseling for trauma and PTSD could help.
Maybe you’re filled with anxiety, panic, and fear. No matter what you do, you constantly feel unsettled like you're going to lose control. You never know what will trigger your past trauma. You're confused, overwhelmed, and exhausted from the roller coaster ride of emotions, restless sleep, and normal day-to-day tasks that keep piling up.
Your friends and family try their best to support you, but they just don’t know what to do to help. The symptoms of trauma can seep into every aspect of your life, leaving you depressed, helpless, and sometimes even hopeless.
If you feel like the effects of a traumatic experience and/or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are taking over your life, rest assured, there is hope. EMDR therapy, trauma therapy, and PTSD counseling can help you reclaim your life!
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”
— Socrates
Trauma takes many forms
Many people think that “trauma” refers only to rape or war. The truth is that many different types of situations can cause you to have a trauma response. Trauma is an emotional response to a serious physical or emotional injury or event that can cause significant distress and disruption to your life. It can happen to anyone at any age–child, teen or adult.
Some traumatic events can be the result of common life experiences such as accidents or personal relationships. Other trauma can result from extraordinary events, such as natural disasters, witnessing domestic violence, or terrorism. Whatever has happened to you, I understand that trauma hurts. Whether you were in a horrible car accident, military combat, witnessed a loved one die, have been physically assaulted or raped–your experience has left you wondering if you will ever be the same again.
At its most basic level Trauma is the point where we are no longer able to cope with our stress and distress. That can come in the form of a single terrifying event, but it does not have to. It can also come from the accumulation of smaller events that eventually add up and overwhelm us. This can be hard to identify though. No single thing seems to be a big enough problem to be the cause of our struggle. And so it is easy to overlook, and easy to think the problem is within us.
The Effects of Trauma
· Difficulty concentrating
· Sleep disturbance
· Fixated thoughts
· Anxiety
· Depression
· Feeling lethargic
· Low Self-Esteem
Not Everyone Who Experiences Trauma Develops PTSD
Some people may have a few initial symptoms that disappear over time. Others will have symptoms that linger longer and cause significant disruption to their lives. So, how do you know if you may have PTSD? Some symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder include:
· Being easily startled
· Feeling tense or “on edge”
· Having difficulty sleeping
· Having angry outbursts
· Nightmares
· Frightening thoughts
· Reliving the trauma repeatedly
· Loss of interest in activities
· Distorted feelings (guilt/shame)
· Negative thoughts
“Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence.”
— Peter A. Levine
My Approach to Trauma & PTSD Therapy
At Growth for Living Counseling in Warren, NJ, I will help you heal and move forward. You don’t have to be trapped by what happened in the past. Although a difficult process, the journey of healing that I have witnessed has proven the resilience and courage that each individual embodies. Finding ways to regulate your body, get relaxed, and connect with others in a positive and meaningful way will help to overcome the trauma.
Individuals leave their session with me feeling ‘lighter’, less anxious, and less controlled by their past. They begin to take control of their present and future by becoming free from the chains of trauma. This is done through the use of trauma-focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and EMDR.
Because trauma is correlated with shame and a sense of not belonging or being good enough, you will find through trauma therapy a new way of connecting with yourself and others, which will lead you to live a more fulfilling life and have healthier and happier relationships. Imagine how great it would be to feel calm and confident throughout your day, to be able to recognize and highlight your accomplishments, and develop healthy and genuine connections with others.
Reclaim Your Life - Schedule Today!
To set up your free 15-minute phone consult for trauma therapy, call me at 908-342-2463. For more information you can also email me at deb@growthforliving.com. I look forward to talking with you. I offer online therapy via video sessions on a secure, HIPAA compliant platform and limited evening face-to-face sessions in Warren, NJ. I am here to help!