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[Next] Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can result for numerous types of trauma
survivors including combat war veterans, victims of terrorist attacks, accident
victims, domestic violence victims, survivors of childhood incest and sexual
abuse, rape and sexual assault victims, and victims of other types of violent
and/or intimidating crimes such as property theft, assault, kidnapping, or home
invasions. In addition to those who actually are victims of the trauma,
witnessing a traumatic event can also produce the symptoms of PTSD.
Clients with PTSD may have experienced reactions of intense fear, helplessness, or horror
to the traumatic event. In PTSD, these emotions either continue, or
re-surface at a later time, in the form of flashbacks, recurring dreams or
nightmares, and/or intense psychological and physical reactions to triggers that
symbolize the trauma.
Some clients may attempt to avoid thinking, feeling, or talking about the
event or may want to avoid people, places, or things that remind them of the
event. They may repress memories of the entire event or be unable to
recall certain aspects. Additional symptoms may include problems sleeping,
anger and rage issues, difficulty concentrating, and hyper-sensitivity.
At Veritas Counseling Center, the therapist has worked with
both adolescent and adult survivors of numerous types of trauma who were
experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder. Depending on the
individual case dynamics, treatment may be brief (as is often the case with
victims of recent crimes where the trauma was an isolated incident, for
instance) or longer term (such as in cases of multiple traumatic childhood
physical or sexual abuse that occurred over a number of years). Clients
being treated for PTSD may be seen individually, or involved in family,
couples', or group therapy as appropriate to the specific circumstances.
Partners and other family members of the client with PTSD are also treated when
appropriate to help them in dealing with the client's symptoms when they
occur. When appropriate, adjunct
Equine
Assisted Psychotherapy is also available.
Beginning in June of
2014, in cooperation with Horse Lovers Park in Phoenix, Arizona, a special Equine Assisted Healing Program will be offered for
veterans and their families.
Find out more and sign
up to participate.
The therapist at Veritas Counseling Center is also an author
and offers free stress management tips that may be helpful for people suffering
from posttraumatic stress disorder. For this month's tips visit
www.calmingmeditations.com
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