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Tailored Offerings Catering to Your Needs
At Cognition Care, we offer a range of tailored services designed to support your journey to recovery. Our expert team provides telehealth cognitive therapy, traumatic brain injury counseling, and online speech therapy, all tailored to meet your unique needs. With a focus on psychological counseling, we aim to enhance your overall well-being and facilitate effective cognitive rehabilitation.
COUNSELING AND TRAUMA THERAPY
PTSD and trauma related psychological challenges can create significant barriers to emotional and cognitive recovery after an accident. Symptoms of PTSD may vary or subside over time. However, treatment and psychological counseling may speed recovery and restore a healthier path. It is important to see your healthcare provider and/or mental health provider regularly following a traumatic event. If your symptoms worsen, call your provider. If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, it’s crucial to contact 911, go to the nearest emergency department.
Sometimes it can be difficult to seek professional help following a traumatic event. It is important to know that PTSD is treatable, and with time, treatment can help you feel better. Private, accessible options are available.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common mental health condition that may develop after a traumatic event. It sometimes involves symptoms like flashbacks, anxiety, negative thoughts and beliefs, or hypervigilance. The most common and effective treatment for PTSD is psychotherapy (counseling)
People with PTSD have powerful intrusive thoughts and feelings related to the experience that may last long after the event. These thoughts and feelings cause distress and interfere with both daily functioning as well as recovery. PTSD could involve responses such as:
- Anxiety, depressed mood, or feelings of guilt or shame.
- Flashbacks or nightmares.
- Avoidance of certain social situations.
A traumatic event may be anything that severely threatens your existence or sense of safety. It may be related to experiencing an accident or witnessing disturbing events. Further, you could develop PTSD after learning that a traumatic event happened to a loved one.
A few examples of traumatic events include:
- Serious accidents.
- Severe injury
- Sudden illness.
- Military combat.
- Natural disasters.
- Severe physical or verbal abuse.
- Sexual assault or abuse.
- Sudden death of a loved one.
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Types of PTSD
Two conditions are closely related to PTSD:
Acute Stress Disorder - A short-term mental health condition that may occur within the first month after experiencing trauma. Symptoms lasting longer than four weeks may be considered PTSD.
Complex PTSD – A mental health condition that can develop if you experience chronic or long-term trauma. Chronic trauma includes issues such as long-term child abuse, long-term domestic violence and military conflict. Those with CPTSD typically have PTSD symptoms in addition to extensive issues with emotion regulation, sense of self and relationships.
Symptoms of PTSD
By definition, PTSD symptoms last for more than one month and cause significant distress or issues in your daily functioning. The symptoms of PTSD fall into four categories:
Intrusion:
- Intrusive thoughts.
- Nightmares.
- Flashbacks.
Avoidance:
- Avoiding reminders such as people, places, activities, and situations.
- Avoiding memories of the traumatic event.
- Avoiding talking about the traumatic event.
Changes in thinking and mood:
- Prevalent fear, anger, guilt or shame.
- Memory loss of important event details.
- Ongoing negative and distorted thoughts.
- Wrongly blaming yourself or others.
- Feelings of detachment.
- Lack of enjoyment of previous activities.
- Inability to experience positive emotions.
Changes in arousal and reactivity:
- Irritability and anger.
- Self-destructive behavior.
- Hypervigilance.
- Heightened fear response.
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty sleeping.
Complications of PTSD
The following conditions are common in people with PTSD, which can make PTSD symptoms worse:
- Anxiety
- Mood disorders
- Neurological conditions, including dementia
- Substance abuse
- Suicidal thoughts
Although it is unclear why people respond differently to trauma, studies show that people with PTSD have abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters and hormones and may experience changes in the brain.
Management and Treatment
How is PTSD treated?
Psychological counseling is the main treatment for PTSD, specifically forms of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
CBT utilizes a trained, licensed mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist who can provide support, education and guidance to you and/or your loved ones to help you function better and increase your well-being.
Some forms of CBT for PTSD include:
- Cognitive processing therapy was specifically to treat PTSD. CPT focuses on changing painful negative emotions and beliefs formed during trauma. It may also assist you in confronting distressing memories and emotions.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. This method involves specific eye movements while you process traumatic memories. The goal of EMDR is to expedite healing from trauma or other distressing experiences. EMDR is a relatively new therapy. However, many clinical trials show this technique can be effective and aid in a speedy recovery.
- Trauma-focused CBT involves learning about how your body responds to trauma and stress. It includes identifying and changing negative thinking patterns to learn symptom management skills.