Trauma and PTSD Treatment
Original artwork of a ship in stormy waters, acrylic on canvas, by Lisa Thomas
You feel stuck.
You are a survivor, and though it has been months, years maybe, life lately has gotten to the point that you can no longer ignore replaying those horrific memories or thinking “I just want to forget this all happened and move on with my life.” But no matter what you have tried—avoidance, self-medication with drugs, alcohol, food, or exercise, or constantly trying to stay busy— you are left feeling exhausted, constantly on edge, depressed, or stuck. You’re tired of it all.
Maybe you’ve been formally diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), or maybe you weren’t even aware that some of these consistent thoughts and behaviors that have been getting in the way of you living your life have a name.
What is PTSD?
PTSD is a brain condition that develops when there is a failure to adapt after a trauma. Trauma can stem from combat, sexual abuse, rape, childhood, a natural disaster, a serious accident, history, bullying, or intimate partner violence. The brain attempts to process the events of what happened, and in doing so develops unhelpful alterations in thoughts and behaviors that directly impact mood. Avoidance is the hallmark behavior of PTSD, and if left untreated can develop into a personality trait.
If you are wondering whether you have PTSD or not, contact a mental health professional to see if PTSD applies to you.
The good news is that if you have been suffering from trauma or PTSD, there are treatments that can help. Behaviors are learned, which means that you can unlearn those unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that prevent you from living the life you want to live. PTSD treatment can help get you unstuck!
Coastal Art Therapy Services provides Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), trauma-informed and exposure-based Art Therapy, and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) as forms of treatment for trauma and PTSD. There is no “right treatment” or a “one size fits all” treatment as each individual is unique; however, CBT and CPT are both evidence-based that show significant results for treating symptoms of trauma and PTSD. Research is emerging for art therapy as an alternative or ancillary treatment option. Future blog posts will address trends in the literature for art therapy, trauma, and neuroscience.
What happens during trauma treatment?
There will be slight variations depending on the treatment approach. Generally you will:
learn about the effects of trauma and PTSD on the mind and body
identify feelings, thoughts, and behaviors related to the trauma
learn new skills to modify and process thoughts and behaviors related to the trauma
engage in verbal, written, or creative exposure to the trauma narrative (optional)
When can I start trauma treatment?
If you choose, you can start trauma treatment immediately after your initial appointment with us! With CPT, for example, you do not need to wait to be out of a trauma-inducing environment nor do you need to complete any preparatory work before starting. You deserve to heal on your terms. If you want to treat your intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, flashbacks, nightmares, suicidal ideation, self-medicating behaviors, self-talk, views of the world, and/or chronic feelings of guilt, shame, or fear today, contact us or schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation!
Resources:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Read more information on the power of CBT at Coastal Art Therapy Services
Cognitive Processing Therapy
Read more on the evidence-based therapeutic intervention for PTSD offered at Coastal Art Therapy Services
Art Therapy
Read more about the benefits of art therapy offered at Coastal Art Therapy Services
