PTSD TREATMENT & TRAUMA THERAPY
Counseling after traumatic stress - Charlotte, NC Therapist
COUNSELING AFTER TRAUMATIC STRESS
You want to move on…but you just can’t. Maybe you’re having difficulties sleeping. Little things startle you, and you feel constantly on edge. Sometimes you think you’re depressed, but you know it’s more than that. You’re avoiding things and feel stuck. You want to “move on” and try to forget the stressful things you’ve been through, but memories and negative thoughts keep coming back.
Maybe others don’t understand what you’ve been through. It can be difficult for those who have not experienced trauma and/or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to understand what it is like to live with trauma. It is not typically like anxiety and depression but rather a combination of the two with the volume turned up! PTSD does not just affect veterans, it can affect anyone who has experienced anything that they are not able to effectively cope with and feels like they can’t escape it.
YOU MAY WONDER . . .
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What if this is my new normal? Am I stuck like this?
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The traumatic event happened so long ago (maybe even years!) Why is this happening to me now?
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Why do bad things always happen to me? It’s like I’m a magnet!
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I’ve sought help before but don’t feel like they truly understood what I’m going through nor how I’m feeling. It makes me feel hopeless and/or that it’s my fault that I can’t get better.
PTSD SYMPTOMS
Trauma can result after a car accident, suddenly losing a loved one, or a bad breakup. Trauma can even result second-hand if someone close to you has experienced a trauma. Symptoms of PTSD include:
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Fear of situations or places that remind you of your trauma
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Constant nervousness or edginess
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Frequent “flashbacks” of the difficult thing that happened to you
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Increase in drugs, alcohol, or other substances
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Disconnect in relationships
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Anger and sudden outbursts
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Increase in risky behavior, and more…
WE CAN HELP YOU HEAL.
HOW TRAUMA THERAPY IN CHARLOTTE HELPS:
At Blue Sage Counseling and Wellness, we understand that while there are some similarities, trauma treatment is not like anxiety therapy or depression therapy. When you are seeking trauma therapy in Charlotte, it is important to be certain that you are paired with an experienced trauma therapist. In fact, receiving improper trauma treatment can sometimes even make trauma symptoms worse! We have specialized training in trauma and use effective techniques to help you find healing. Effective trauma treatment will help you get unstuck, sleep better, feel less anxious, let go of all the negative thoughts and begin truly living again.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT AFTER TRAUMA TREATMENT . . .
At the end of trauma treatment, you will have a renewed perspective on past traumatic events leading to a new appreciation for them and therefore less sadness.
Trauma treatment allows you to get the joy and purpose back in your life. Connect with one of the best trauma therapists in Charlotte, NC today!
EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION & REPROCESSING (EMDR) AS A PTSD TREATMENT
Click on the presentation to learn more about EMDR and learn if it’s right for you!
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is the gold standard in the treatment of PTSD and trauma treatment as it results are highly effective and tend to be quick! EMDR is based on the process of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) that occurs while we sleep. During REM, the body and mind are getting rid of waste and work to restore balance and wellness that are experienced during a wakeful state. During an EMDR session, we:
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EMDR Phase 1: Take a history of the painful traumatic event(s) and identify the negative thoughts about yourself (i.e. I am worthless, not good enough, unlovable, permanently damaged, etc). Also during this phase, we use mindfulness and guided imagery techniques to induce a REM state and to establish a calm, safe baseline before beginning work.
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EMDR Phase II: Next, we invite and measure a minor disturbance to ease you into the process of experiencing something bothersome without yet revisiting the past traumatic event(s).
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EMDR Phase III: Once ready, you will be led to revisit the past event(s) and guided toward the self-healing mechanisms of the mind and body to begin to transform the negative beliefs about yourself and be replaced with the positive beliefs about yourself.
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EMDR Phase IV: Lastly, we create a future template by imagining hypothetical, yet probable, future events in which the mind gets to practice effectively navigating such events prior to being discharged from therapy. This allows the mind to practice what it is supposed to do before it actually has to do it.
GET STARTED NOW
Contact Blue Sage Counseling today to learn more about holistic services to support your mental health!
Blue Sage Counseling & Wellness takes a holistic approach to mental health in Charlotte, NC. I am an experienced mental health counselor & Reiki provider. My services include: