Is it Stress or Trauma?

Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder or PTSD is a recognized term but often misunderstood. As a therapist who specializes in treating trauma, I teasingly tell my clients, “I can smell it walk in the door!”. Although, PTSD symptoms, typically are thought to be related to the military in war zones, symptoms can also be present in disasters, abuse, violence, and terrorism right here in the United States.

The National Center for PTSD reports that, “6 of every 10 men (or 60%) and 5 of every 10 women (or 50%) experience at least one trauma in their lives. Women are more likely to experience sexual assault and child sexual abuse. Men are more likely to experience accidents, physical assault, combat, disaster, or to witness death or injury.”www.ptsd.va.gov  
 
Diagnosing trauma begins with the clinician looking for signs of the client re-experiencing the trauma: do they tend to avoid particular places or people? Are they easily aroused or are there any negative changes in beliefs and feelings? 
 
Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk M.D. (www.besselvanderkolk.net) has worked with children and adults who have experienced trauma for over four decades. His research has discovered that trauma can have a distinct impact on individuals at different stages of development. This relatively new discovery has now broadened the scope of trauma and who is affected.
 
Dr Peter Levine, a psychiatrist who has worked in the field of stress and trauma for over forty years writes in his best seller, Waking The Tiger, that many incidents can cause traumatic reactions later in life making them not feel safe. Some of these include: birth trauma, loss of a parent or close family relative, illness, high fevers, physical injuries, severe abandonment, certain medical and dental procedures, and prolonged immobilization are just a few. 
 
There are several treatments recommend to help relieve the effects of trauma:
EMDR, bio-feedback, therapeutic yoga,  prolonged exposure therapy,  Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and medication.
 
As an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) trained therapist, I have personally worked with many clients who receive relief  from intrusive thoughts, nightmares, emotional distress, as well as difficulty concentrating and sleeping. I treat those with small “t” traumas as well as big “T” traumas. Sessions typically require a thorough history, teaching ‘safe place’ and working through the 8 phases of the therapy.
 
Please call today for your initial appointment to find out if EMDR could help you.
980-250-2438 or email collaborativecounselinggroup@gmail.com
 
I look forward working along with you as you seek a healthy 2018!
 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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