Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can develop following exposure to a traumatic or very stressful life event. Events that may trigger PTSD include car accidents, physical or sexual assault, large-scale disasters, and combat, among others. Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event goes on to develop PTSD, but the more traumatic events have happened to you, the more likely you are to experience symptoms.

People with PTSD may have a variety of symptoms. Common ones include intrusive memories or flashbacks of the stressful event, vivid and distressing nightmares, intense guilt or shame, hypervigilance, anger and irritability, and sleep disturbances. Many people also avoid thoughts, people, and situations that remind them of the traumatic event. While this can be effective in reducing PTSD symptoms in the short term, it only serves to limit your life in the long term.

PTSD can occur at any point in a person’s life, including childhood. Many people come to therapy after years of suffering with symptoms, and they rarely feel optimistic about the possibility of change. However, PTSD can be effectively treated with therapy. I use a variety of research-supported treatments, including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) to help you process your traumatic experiences, get unstuck from thought and behavior patterns that are no longer working for you, and live a fuller, more engaged life.

If you are suffering from PTSD, please know that you do not have to suffer alone. I can support you through the journey of getting better and help you develop resilience and confidence for facing the future.