Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops after a terrifying ordeal that may have involved physical harm or the threat of physical harm. The person who develops PTSD may have been the one who was harmed, the harm may have happened to a loved one, or the person may have witnessed a harmful event that happened to a loved one or a stranger. People who have suffered abuse as children or who have had other previous traumatic experiences are more likely to develop the disorder.
Through the retelling of the traumatic event, the individual may achieve a greater sense of self-esteem, more effective ways of thinking and coping and different ways of working with the intense emotions that may emerge during therapy. It is important to identify what current life situations may trigger traumatic memories and worsen PTSD symptoms. We will work together and explore your thoughts and feelings about the trauma. It is critical that the individual work through feelings of guilt, self-blame and distrust of others. Flashbacks and intrusive memories are areas that will need to be explored as well. Repressed feelings around the trauma may have to be carefully worked through as well as working with current life situations that remind you of the trauma.
