Trauma & PTSD

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.

If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, reach out to us at (516) 406-8991.