Foundations Counseling in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor offers post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) therapy and counseling to help individuals confront strong and persistent emotional reactions to events like war, natural disasters, violent crimes, abuse, and other traumatic events that damage the psyche.
Psychological trauma is a type of damage to the mind that occurs as a result of a traumatic event or series of events. When that trauma leads to PTSD your brain’s chemistry can, quite literally, change. These biological changes have a very real impact on your ability to handle stress and deal with everyday life.
There are many stigmas surrounding the idea of seeking out help for PTSD, but our counselors can help. They know how difficult it can be to cope with traumatic experiences and they understand why seeking help might be difficult or feel pointless.
What You Can Expect With PTSD Therapy
There are a variety of therapeutic approaches that can be used when helping someone overcome the effects and symptoms of PTSD. We’ll begin by identifying the best healing relationship between you and your therapist. Then, the focus will shift toward helping you establish a sense of physical and psychological safety.
Together, we’ll explore your memories and the emotional pain associated with them. You’ll learn how to reduce the intensity of those emotions so that you can live your life more freely.
Therapies used in the treatment of PTSD are uniquely tailored to every individual and their experiences. They can include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Brief therapy
- Psychodynamic psychotherapy
- Play therapy
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
- Narrative therapy
When to Ask for Help
PTSD symptoms generally manifest soon after trauma, but some people may not experience symptoms for weeks, months, or even years. Symptoms can also come and go. If you’re concerned about PTSD you should keep track of your symptoms. If your life is interrupted by your symptoms, or these feelings last for a month or longer, it’s time to ask for help.
Symptoms of PTSD include getting angry easily, crying without any obvious reason, nightmares, flashbacks to the traumatic event, difficulty sleeping, being startled easily, and more. In therapy, you’ll learn how to replace any negative feelings and thought patterns with helpful, productive, and fulfilling emotional alternatives.
Asking for help to cope with your PTSD isn’t a sign of weakness. Remember that intense emotions after a traumatic event aren’t uncommon, even if many years have passed since the initial event. When you reach out for support from an experienced and empathetic therapist, you’ll be one step closer to reclaiming control of your life.
Set up a Free Consultation
If you or someone you know would benefit from PTSD therapy, please contact Foundations Counseling in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor to arrange a free consultation.