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Trauma & PTSD Therapy - Ottawa, Ontario
Now providing virtual sessions all over Ontario
MN Psychotherapy Services Ottawa
Trauma & PTSD Therapy Services Ottawa, Ontario
Trauma and PTSD can be debilitating, and traumatic events can change our perspectives and relationships with ourselves, others, and the world. Many people recover from trauma, but some get stuck with symptoms like nightmares, flashbacks, and avoidance.
Trauma is not one size fits all. When triggered in the present, individuals often reenact their trauma response to the actual event from the past.
If you want to learn more about trauma and what you can do to overcome it, you can contact me for support and services. Commonly, people are scared or not ready to talk about their traumas, which is a typical response.
During our sessions, I facilitate processing trauma reactions, traumatic dreams, and adaptations in a safe and supportive environment. As a result, you will be able to reconstruct a narrative that helps you uncover your strengths and break free from trauma cycles.
Call me today to discuss how I can help.
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Symptoms of Trauma and PTSD
Symptoms of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and trauma can include:
- Intrusive thoughts or memories of the traumatic event
- Nightmares or flashbacks of the event
- Avoiding things or places that remind the person of the event
- Negative changes in mood and cognition, such as feeling guilty, ashamed, or detached from others
- Increased anxiety or aggression
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Irritability or outbursts of anger.
You don't have to try to handle the burden of trauma on your own.
Several types of psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, may be used to treat trauma/PTSD.
Cognitive Processing Therapy
This type of talk therapy helps you recognize the ways of thinking (cognitive patterns) that are keeping you stuck — for example, negative beliefs about yourself and the risk of traumatic things happening again. For PTSD, cognitive processing therapy often is used along with exposure therapy.
Narrative Exposure Therapy
This behavioral therapy helps you safely face both situations and memories that you find frightening so that you can learn to cope with them effectively. Exposure therapy can be particularly helpful for flashbacks and nightmares.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR combines exposure therapy with a series of guided eye movements that help you process traumatic memories and change how you react to them.I do not offer EMDR.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
PTSD treatment approaches can help you gain understanding of your trauma reactions and decrease symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks and avoidance. You and I can discuss what type of therapy or combination of therapies may best meet your needs.
How can Trauma & PTSD therapy Ottawa help you?
Psychotherapy can be very beneficial for individuals who are experiencing PTSD and trauma. Some of the benefits of PTSD and trauma psychotherapy include:
- Decreased symptoms: Psychotherapy can help reduce symptoms of PTSD and trauma such as intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and avoidance behaviors.
- Improved mood: Psychotherapy can help individuals improve their mood and overall emotional well-being.
- Increased coping skills: Psychotherapy can help individuals develop coping skills and strategies to deal with difficult thoughts, emotions, and situations related to their trauma.
- Increased social support: Psychotherapy can provide a safe and supportive environment where individuals can share their experiences with a trained professional and receive feedback and encouragement.
- Improved relationships: Trauma can often affect an individual’s relationships with others. Psychotherapy can help individuals understand how their trauma is impacting their relationships and how to improve them.
- Improved self-esteem: Trauma can take a toll on an individual’s self-esteem. Psychotherapy can help individuals understand and challenge negative thoughts and beliefs about themselves, leading to improved self-esteem.
It’s worth noting that different types of psychotherapy may be better for different people, so it’s important to work with a therapist to find the right approach for you.
FAQs - Trauma & PTSD Therapy Ottawa
Trauma is a psychological response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event or series of events that overwhelm an individual’s ability to cope. Trauma can be caused by a wide range of events, such as physical or sexual abuse, car accidents, natural disasters, war, or other forms of violence. Trauma can also be caused by long-term exposure to distressing situations, such as living in poverty, experiencing discrimination, or working in a high-stress occupation.
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a mental health condition that can develop after an individual experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. It is an anxiety disorder that can occur after exposure to events such as combat, sexual or physical assault, serious accidents, or natural disasters.
There are several evidence-based treatments for PTSD, which can be divided into three main categories:Psychotherapy: This type of therapy is based on the idea that talking about traumatic experiences can help individuals process their feelings and emotions related to the event.
Some common types of psychotherapy for PTSD include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): This type of therapy helps individuals identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors related to their trauma.
- Prolonged Exposure therapy (PE): This type of therapy involves talking about traumatic experiences in a safe and controlled environment to help individuals confront and overcome their fears.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): this therapy uses eye movement or other forms of bilateral stimulation to help individuals process traumatic memories
Psychotherapy can be a highly effective treatment for PTSD and can help individuals reduce symptoms and improve their overall well-being. However, it’s important to note that PTSD is a complex condition that can have a lasting impact on an individual’s physical and mental health.
- Recovery from PTSD can vary widely from person to person and can depend on a number of factors such as the type and severity of the traumatic event, an individual’s coping mechanisms, and the support they have available.
- For some individuals, symptoms of PTSD may improve significantly within a few weeks or months of treatment, while for others it may take longer. Studies show that most individuals who receive appropriate treatment experience a significant reduction in symptoms within 6 to 12 weeks. However, some people may continue to experience symptoms for months or even years.
- It’s important to understand that recovery from PTSD is an ongoing process, and it may require ongoing therapy, medication management, or other forms of support. Some people may need to continue therapy for a longer period of time to manage symptoms, especially if they have experienced multiple traumatic events, or if they have other co-occurring conditions such as depression or anxiety.
- It’s also important to note that recovery from PTSD is not always a linear process, individuals may have good days and bad days, and may experience setbacks along the way. It’s important to have realistic expectations and to work closely with a therapist to set achievable goals for recovery.
- It’s also important to remember that recovery is different for everyone and it’s not always possible to completely eliminate symptoms, but with therapy and support, individuals can learn to manage and cope with them.
