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Trauma | PTSD Therapy
Trauma and PTSD
You are more than what happened to you.
Trauma is more common than you might think, with 70% of Americans experiencing at least one traumatic event in their lifetimes. Once experienced, it can feel like it’ll always stay with you.
But you are so much more than what happened to you. There are ways to heal from your past and enjoy life again. Therapy at Palm Beach Therapy Center in Boca Raton can help.
What are distressing experiences and PTSD?
Difficult life experiences can lead to emotional and psychological challenges. While many individuals may experience distress after a difficult event, not everyone develops Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after exposure to highly distressing situations, characterized by symptoms such as:
- Intrusive memories: Persistent and distressing recollections of the experience, often in the form of flashbacks or nightmares.
- Avoidance behaviors: Steering clear of reminders, including places, people, or activities that may trigger distressing memories.
- Negative changes in mood and cognition: Persistent negative beliefs about oneself or the world, feelings of detachment, and difficulty experiencing positive emotions.
- Hyperarousal: Heightened reactivity, including hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, and difficulty concentrating or sleeping.
The likelihood of developing PTSD is influenced by various factors, including previous experiences. It is not a sign of weakness—anyone can be affected after going through overwhelming situations.
The impact on mental health
Difficult life events can have a profound impact on emotional well-being. Individuals who have experienced distressing situations may be at increased risk for developing mental health conditions such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance use issues, and other related challenges.
How therapy can help
Therapy provides hope and healing for anyone struggling with overwhelming life experiences. It empowers you to process the past, reduce and manage symptoms, embrace healing, and reclaim your life.
Through a collaborative and supportive approach, therapy at our clinic offers a safe space for you to embark on a journey of recovery and resilience.
There are many effective treatments available. Here are the ones we offer.
- Our therapists utilize Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to address trauma and PTSD symptoms. EMDR is a specialized and effective form of therapy that incorporates bilateral stimulation to help you process traumatic memories and reduce distress. By guiding you through sets of eye movements, taps, or sounds, EMDR aims to facilitate adaptive processing of traumatic experiences and alleviate PTSD symptoms. EMDR is very effective, and is considered a top evidence-based treatment for PTSD.
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help you identify and challenge negative thought patterns and beliefs associated with the traumatic event. Through cognitive restructuring and exposure therapy, you can learn to how reframe your perceptions of the trauma and stop avoiding triggers.
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) focuses on identifying and amplifying your already existing strengths and resources to create solutions to your current challenges. We will work collaboratively with you to set achievable goals and develop strategies for overcoming obstacles.
- Mindfulness techniques, such as meditation, body awareness, and breathing exercises, can help you cultivate present-moment awareness and better regulate your emotions. These practices promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-awareness. They can tether you to the here and now when PTSD symptoms try to bring you back into the past.
Signs of Trauma
When left unaddressed, trauma can dig in deeper. Here’s how trauma can affect you emotionally and mentally.
About trauma
Types of traumatic events
Traumatic events can vary widely in nature and severity, and what may be traumatic for one person may not be the same for another. Some common types of these events include:
Physical or sexual abuse: Experiencing physical or sexual abuse, whether in childhood or adulthood, can have profound and lasting effects on your mental and emotional health.
Accidents or natural disasters: Being involved in a serious accident or experiencing a natural disaster such as a hurricane can be traumatic and lead to feelings of fear, helplessness, and vulnerability.
Combat exposure: Military personnel and veterans may experience trauma as a result of combat exposure, including witnessing or participating in violent or life-threatening situations.
Witnessing violence: Witnessing violence, whether in the home, community, or through media exposure, can be traumatic and leave emotional scars.
Medical trauma: Medical experiences can result from experiences such as serious illness, injury, surgery, or medical procedures, particularly if they are life-threatening or invasive.
Loss of a loved one: Grief and loss, particularly the sudden or violent death of a loved one, can be deeply traumatic and lead to feelings of intense sadness, anger, and despair.
Childhood trauma: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as neglect, parental substance abuse, emotional abuse, or growing up in a dysfunctional or chaotic environment can have long-lasting effects on your mental and emotional health.
Community violence: Exposure to community violence, such as shootings, gang activity, or riots, can be traumatic and create a sense of insecurity and fear.
FAQs about trauma therapy
Does trauma ever go away?
These events may go away in the sense that, with treatment, it will no longer affect you the way it does today. Life may not be exactly the same as it was before, but a meaningful and happy life is possible.
What happens if PTSD is left untreated?
PTSD does not tend to get better without treatment. Images and memories can continue to haunt you, and you may continue to live with the painful (and inaccurate) thoughts about yourself that the trauma has caused. But with treatment, people who have gone through these horrible experiences can feel happy and safe again.
What is the most effective PTSD treatment?
One of the most effective treatments for PTSD is EMDR, which we offer at our clinic. EMDR is so effective because it can reach the effects of trauma that you may not be able to describe in words.
Get PTSD therapy in Boca Raton, FL
It can be difficult to see, but there is hope for a meaningful and fulfilling life after trauma. This event will not define you forever, but when left untreated, these experiences and emotions can become like a painful splinter – it digs deeper and deeper into your psyche. With the support of therapy, you can reclaim the story of what happened and start to heal from its effects.
Reclaim your life. Start the therapy process by giving us a call at (561) 485-4633. Our office is located in Boca Raton, and our clinical team is ready to support you.
How It Works
Contact Our Office
Contact our office via phone or e-mail to schedule your initial session. We are here to make this process as easy and comfortable as we can for you.
Complete Paperwork
Complete the paperwork provided to you online within 24 hours of scheduling and mark the date on your calendar, we are looking forward to working with you!
Go To Therapy
Attend your initial session and discuss treatment planning with your therapist. Treatment plans may look different for each case. It is typically suggested that sessions take place weekly or biweekly.
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