Trauma & PTSD
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Have you been through something that has left you feeling forever changed in a negative way? Do you experience flashbacks of a painful event? Struggle with waking from nightmares that remind you of the past? Do you avoid things because you associate them with a past event?
If so, you may struggle with post-traumatic stress. Post-traumatic stress can occur following a single event that has occurred in recent times, and it can also be experienced for many years after a single or chronic traumatic experiences. Here are some experiences that may trigger post-traumatic stress: -Abuse (physical, sexual, or emotional) -Neglect (physical or emotional) -An accident, injury, or illness (including treatment for such) -Bullying -Divorce or sudden changes to family structure -Witnessing death or injury to someone else -Experiences as a first responder Here at Healing & Growth Counseling, we believe that trauma is in the eye of the beholder. This means that identifying whether an experience that you have had was traumatic or not is determined by your perspective through your eyes, not through ours. Often, people feel that they have been through a traumatic experience and others try to help by telling them that "It could have been worse" or "It wasn't that bad". These statements, though they may be meant to help, often minimize the impact that the event has had on the person and dismisses their request for help. Healing from traumatic experiences can be a long journey. Our therapists are focused on meeting you where you are and working with you step-by-step towards healing. We utilize talk therapy, mind-body approaches, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) to assist those who have experienced trauma to heal from the past and build toward a brighter future. |
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What is trauma?
When people hear the term "PTSD" or "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder", they often think that it can only apply to people who have been soldiers at war. However, this is not the case. Trauma, as defined in the DSM-V-TR, is the experience of actual or threatened death, or the experience of sexual abuse.
Trauma can also include things that do not fall within that description but still cause some of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Bullying at school or work, going through a divorce, or emotional/verbal abuse can fit a different description of trauma. In the world of therapy these are often referred to as "small t" traumas.
Whether your experience of trauma fits the DSM criteria or not does not change the way in which your therapist at Healing & Growth Counseling will consider your experiences and your therapy.
Trauma can also include things that do not fall within that description but still cause some of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Bullying at school or work, going through a divorce, or emotional/verbal abuse can fit a different description of trauma. In the world of therapy these are often referred to as "small t" traumas.
Whether your experience of trauma fits the DSM criteria or not does not change the way in which your therapist at Healing & Growth Counseling will consider your experiences and your therapy.
What therapy is best for trauma?
The therapy that is best for trauma can be different based on each individual. Some clients benefit most from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Therapists utilizing a CBT approach may work with clients to challenge and reframe thoughts that are irrational as they pertain to traumatic experiences.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a 12-session manualized treatment for PTSD that is based in CBT. It involves evaluating and changing the painful thoughts that you carry around today based on your past experience of Trauma. CPT involves working with a therapist in session and homework between sessions.
Some people who have experienced trauma have difficulty living life in the present and feeling safe enough in the present moment. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) can be a helpful approach to assist clients who would benefit from learning many coping and grounding skills to help them be in the present moment. This approach can help people who experience dissociation, or feeling disconnected from oneself or the world around you, which can occur after experiencing a trauma.
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) is a type of therapy that focuses on reprocessing past traumatic experiences using bilateral stimulation, which can include moving one's eyes back and forth, tapping, or alternating sounds in left and right ears. The goal of EMDR is to lower the distress related to the memory and install a more positive or neutral belief, replacing the negative self-belief that often stems from experiencing a trauma (for example: "I am broken."). Read more about EMDR on our EMDR Service Page.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a 12-session manualized treatment for PTSD that is based in CBT. It involves evaluating and changing the painful thoughts that you carry around today based on your past experience of Trauma. CPT involves working with a therapist in session and homework between sessions.
Some people who have experienced trauma have difficulty living life in the present and feeling safe enough in the present moment. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) can be a helpful approach to assist clients who would benefit from learning many coping and grounding skills to help them be in the present moment. This approach can help people who experience dissociation, or feeling disconnected from oneself or the world around you, which can occur after experiencing a trauma.
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) is a type of therapy that focuses on reprocessing past traumatic experiences using bilateral stimulation, which can include moving one's eyes back and forth, tapping, or alternating sounds in left and right ears. The goal of EMDR is to lower the distress related to the memory and install a more positive or neutral belief, replacing the negative self-belief that often stems from experiencing a trauma (for example: "I am broken."). Read more about EMDR on our EMDR Service Page.
Online Therapy in NY for Trauma
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Online therapy in NY can be effective in treating trauma and PTSD. If you have a safe enough and comfortable enough space that is private to engage in your sessions, then it is possible to heal from your trauma and grow towards your goals without coming to a therapy office. Our online therapists are trained and experienced in providing online therapy for trauma and PTSD.
Our online therapists are able to use any of the treatment modalities described above to help you in working past your trauma. They will work with you to identify which modality, or modalities, would be best based on your current situation and symptoms. |
Questions about Therapy for PTSD & Trauma?
Call us at (516) 406-8991. Speak with a therapist to answer your questions about therapy for trauma.
