Trauma Therapy
Unfortunately, many people will experience a significant traumatic event during their lifetime. Traumatic events include, but are not limited to, experiences such as accidents, physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, diagnosis of a serious medical condition, the death or loss of a close friend or family member, or witnessing catastrophic events during combat or in first responding situations.
Most people experience distress immediately after these experiences, including nightmares, intrusive and upsetting images or memories of what happened, sleep difficulties, and negative thoughts about oneself, others, or the world. While some people recover over time without any formal intervention, others find that they continue to experience these symptoms for months or even years after the event. These symptoms may lead to development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, fear or anxiety, anger, impulsive behavior, relationship disturbances, and inability to function effectively and comfortably in one’s life.
Symptoms of PTSD include:
- Re-experiencing – such as nightmares, intrusive thoughts or memories, flashbacks;
- Avoidance of trauma-related reminders – not talking about what happened, not going to places that resemble the trauma situation;
- Negative changes in thought patterns and mood – detachment from others, self-blame, difficulties trusting others; and
- Changes in reactivity – being easily startled, impaired sleep, inability to concentrate.
The Trauma Treatment Program is designed to help clients overcome these symptoms of PTSD and re-engage in life without debilitating fear and anxiety. The appropriate course of treatment is designed based on the individual’s specific symptoms and needs to ensure the greatest likelihood of improvement.
Treatments offered are evidence-based, and cognitive-behavioral in nature. They have been shown to be effective treatments for PTSD as well as other comorbid conditions. The research has indicated that with such interventions, these symptoms diminish over time and one’s overall quality of life improves. Treatment is available for clients of all ages.
Treatments Offered at CCDBT:
- TF-CBT– for children and adolescents
- Prolonged Exposure (PE)– for adolescents and adults
- DBT-PE– for adolescents and adults who need both Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Prolonged Exposure
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)– for adults