Counseling for Trauma & PTSD
It is normal to feel overwhelmed, fearful, hopeless, or numb after going through a traumatic experience. Counseling has often helped clients feel more hopeful and connected to their own resilience. This may manifest as a greater sense of control and self-confidence, which allows them to move forward in life knowing they have the tools to cope.
How Does Counseling Help with Trauma & PTSD?
Counseling can help individuals process their traumatic experiences and encourage a person to express and explore their feelings. Talking to a counselor can provide a person with skills and tools to help them manage their symptoms more successfully.
In addition to these benefits, counseling can also help individuals heal from trauma by allowing them to gradually gain a sense of control over their lives. Many people are able to become more in tune with their feelings and develop healthy coping methods. This helps to reduce the intensity of symptoms and can ultimately help resolve any lingering distress.
Common Causes of Trauma & PTSD
- Physical, verbal, or sexual abuse
- Experiencing a natural disaster
- Difficult life transition, such as divorce or job loss
- Exposure to war and violent conflict
- Occupational Stress, such as military, police, and hospital staff
- Witnessing death
- Loss of a loved one
- Serious accident or injury
- Medical illness, procedure or treatment
- Chronic illness or disability
- Childhood neglect or abandonment
- Domestic violence
- Social exclusion and discrimination
- Harassment and bullying
Difficulties Linked to Trauma & PTSD
- Flashbacks and nightmares
- Heightened startle response
- Sleep disruption
- Difficulty concentrating or focusing
- Negative thoughts and beliefs about oneself and others
- Hypervigilance and exaggerated feelings of danger
- Extreme emotional reactions to triggers and reminders
- Fear of abandonment and connection difficulties
- Struggles with self-esteem and self-confidence
- Non-stop worry, dread, or anxiety
- Constant feelings of guilt, shame, and worthlessness
- Irritability or anger
- Substance abuse
- Avoidance behaviors
Has Traditional Therapy Not Helped Your PTSD/Trauma Symptoms?
KAP and Hypnosis are excellent alternative methods that have been proven to help.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) is a promising option for many people who are struggling to find symptom relief. This holistic option is used to complement therapy sessions in order for the client to experience more frequent breakthroughs and sustained improvement in symptoms.
Another method that has helped improve the emotional mindset is hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy has been found to help many people tap into their inner strength. This allows them to take control of their thoughts, overcome unhealthy habits, and improve their overall well-being.
How Does Therapy Work for Trauma & PTSD?
As a licensed professional counselor, one of my therapeutic approaches is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT for trauma or PTSD will focus on teaching individuals to process their traumatic experience, develop effective coping skills, and create healthier ways of dealing with distress. Clients will learn to manage their residual distress with techniques like relaxation exercises and positive self-talk.
As a seasoned counselor, my goal is to help my clients to take an active role in their own healing and to increase their sense of control over their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. With counseling, you can develop ways to reduce the intensity and recurrence of your symptoms. This can ultimately help you cope with distressing feelings and move forward from your trauma.