Have you experienced a traumatic event? Are you suffering from lingering fear and anxiety? Do you feel like you no longer have any control over how you think, feel, and behave? At CW Psychological Services, we have extensive experience helping individuals work through trauma-related challenges with compassionate, evidence-based care. Individuals seeking support in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, can benefit from working with a trusted counseling practice that offers personalized treatment, practical coping tools, and guidance for concerns such as PTSD.
What Is PTSD?
Posttraumatic stress disorder—also known as PTSD—is a mental health challenge that may occur in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a terrorist act, an act of war, a serious accident, rape, or any other violent personal assault.
It is believed that PTSD affects nearly four percent of the U.S. adult population. While it is usually linked with veterans who’ve experienced combat, PTSD occurs in all people regardless of age, race, nationality or culture. In fact, women are twice as likely to experience PTSD than men.
What are the Symptoms of PTSD?
People with post-traumatic stress disorder often experience intense thoughts and feelings related to their traumatic experiences. These can last for a long time after the initial event. Many people with PTSD also relive the event through flashbacks and nightmares.
People with PTSD often feel intense emotions such as fear, anger, sadness and a detachment from friends, family, and community members. They often avoid people and situations that remind them of the traumatic event. Ordinary sounds or incidents such as a door banging or accidental touch in a crowd may cause a strong and uncontrollable reaction.
Additional symptoms may include:
- Trouble sleeping
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Feeling constantly on edge
- Experiencing guilt and shame related to the trauma
Some individuals notice that their symptoms interfere with work, relationships, or everyday routines. PTSD can look different from person to person, which is why working with a qualified therapist is so important.
How Can Treatment Help?
There are a variety of treatments that can be used to manage PTSD. However, there are three specific techniques that are consistently gaining research-based evidence of their effectiveness in successfully treating PTSD.
At CW Psychological Services, we understand that trauma recovery is not one-size-fits-all. Our PTSD therapy services are personalized to meet your needs, experiences, and comfort level. We work at a pace that feels safe while helping you build tools for long-term healing.
Cognitive Processing Therapy
This modality focuses on how a person perceives a traumatic event and processes it. A therapist can help their client work through stuck points, which are certain thoughts related to the trauma that prevent the person from recovering.
EMDR
EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. This technique uses bilateral sensory input such as side-to-side eye movements to stimulate the brain to process difficult thoughts, memories, and emotions.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a form of talk therapy that focuses on how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are related to one another. The goal of a CBT therapist is to help a client with PTSD return to a place of hope with a greater sense of being in control of their thoughts and behaviors.
Why Seek PTSD Therapy?
Untreated trauma can continue affecting emotional health, relationships, and physical well-being. PTSD therapy can help reduce flashbacks, manage anxiety, improve sleep, rebuild trust, and restore confidence. Many people find that therapy gives them the structure and support needed to move forward after trauma.
Schedule a Consultation for PTSD Therapy
If you or a loved one are struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, know that healing is possible. At CW Psychological Services, we provide compassionate PTSD therapy in King of Prussia, PA, designed to help you regain stability and reconnect with life. We have personally seen amazing transformation through therapy and want to offer the help you need to enjoy life again. Reach out today to schedule a consultation.