Evidence-Based PTSD Treatment for Adults

Have you experienced a traumatic event? Are you suffering from lingering fear and anxiety? Do you feel like you no longer have any control over how you think, feel, and behave?

Posttraumatic stress disorder—also known as PTSD—is a mental health challenge that may occur in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a terrorist act, an act of war, a serious accident, rape, a violent personal assault or even persistent emotional abuse and a difficult childhood.

It is believed that PTSD affects nearly four percent of the U.S. adult population. While it is usually linked with veterans who’ve experienced combat, PTSD occurs in all people regardless of age, race, nationality, or culture. In fact, women are twice as likely to experience PTSD than men.

PTSD can also cause behaviors that interfere with your life as a way of surviving. You needed those things (whether it is substance use, people pleasing, perfectionism, etc) when the trauma was happening. Now is the time to let go of those behaviors that are no longer needed.

What Are the Symptoms of PTSD?

People with PTSD often experience intense thoughts and feelings related to their traumatic experiences. These can last for a long time after the initial event. Many people with PTSD also relive the event through flashbacks and nightmares.

People with PTSD often feel intense emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, and detachment from friends, family, and community members. They often avoid people and situations that remind them of the traumatic event. Ordinary sounds or incidents such as a door banging or accidental touch in a crowd may cause a strong and uncontrollable reaction.

Beyond the Diagnosis: Understanding Your Nervous System

PTSD is more than just bad memories; it is a physiological response that keeps your nervous system trapped in survival mode. Healing requires expanding what experts call the "Window of Tolerance"—the optimal zone where you can process emotions without feeling overwhelmed or disconnected.

When trauma occurs, the body's alarm system becomes hyper-sensitive. You may find yourself constantly on edge, experiencing hyper-vigilance (a state of high alert, panic, or anger) or falling into numbing (a state of shut down, disconnection, or depression). Specialized therapy helps your brain and body recalibrate, gently expanding your Window of Tolerance so you can restore balance and reclaim your life.

The "Gold Standard" Treatments

There are a variety of treatments that can be used to treat PTSD. However, when it comes to evidence-based recovery, EMDR and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) are widely recognized as the two most researched and effective treatments for PTSD.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

This modality focuses on how a person perceives a traumatic event and processes it. A therapist can help their client work through stuck points, which are certain thoughts related to the trauma that prevents the person from recovering. Learn more about CPT.

EMDR

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This technique uses bilateral sensory input such as side-to-side eye movements to stimulate the brain to process difficult thoughts, memories, and emotions safely. Learn more about EMDR.

If you or a loved one suffer from PTSD and would like to explore treatment options, please reach out to me. I have personally seen amazing transformation through therapy and want to offer the help you need to enjoy life again.

Frequently Asked Questions