PTSD & Trauma Therapy: Understanding and Healing

Trauma can shake the very foundation of who we are. Whether it happened recently or decades ago, traumatic experiences can continue to affect your daily life, relationships, and sense of safety. If you've been through a traumatic event and find yourself struggling with intrusive memories, nightmares, or feeling constantly on edge, you may be experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

At Healing Therapy Center, we understand the courage it takes to seek help for trauma. Our compassionate therapists specialize in trauma therapy and are here to support you on your healing journey.

What is Trauma?

Trauma is an emotional response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms your ability to cope. Trauma can result from a single incident or from prolonged, repeated exposure to harmful situations. What makes an event traumatic isn't just what happened—it's how you experienced it and the lasting impact it has on you.

Types of Trauma

Acute Trauma

Results from a single, isolated event such as:

· Car accidents or other serious accidents

· Natural disasters

· Physical assault or violent crime

· Sudden loss of a loved one

· Medical emergencies

Chronic Trauma

Results from repeated or prolonged exposure to traumatic events:

· Domestic violence

· Childhood abuse or neglect

· Ongoing bullying

· War or combat exposure

· Living in a dangerous environment

Complex Trauma

Occurs when someone experiences multiple traumatic events, often of an invasive, interpersonal nature, especially during childhood. This can profoundly affect development, relationships, and sense of self.

Secondary/Vicarious Trauma

Can affect healthcare workers, first responders, therapists, and others who are regularly exposed to others' trauma through their work or caregiving roles.

Understanding PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. While it's normal to have some stress reactions after trauma, PTSD occurs when symptoms persist for more than a month and significantly interfere with daily functioning.

PTSD Symptoms

PTSD symptoms generally fall into four categories:

1. Intrusive Memories

· Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the event

· Flashbacks (reliving the trauma as if it's happening again)

· Nightmares about the traumatic event

· Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to reminders

2. Avoidance

· Trying not to think or talk about the event

· Avoiding places, activities, or people that remind you of the trauma

· Emotional numbing or feeling detached

3. Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood

· Negative thoughts about yourself, others, or the world

· Hopelessness about the future

· Memory problems, including not remembering parts of the event

· Difficulty maintaining close relationships

· Feeling detached from family and friends

· Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed

· Difficulty experiencing positive emotions

4. Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions (Hyperarousal)

· Being easily startled or frightened

· Always being on guard for danger (hypervigilance)

· Self-destructive behavior

· Trouble sleeping

· Trouble concentrating

· Irritability, angry outbursts, or aggressive behavior

· Overwhelming guilt or shame

Trauma Doesn't Have to Define You

Many people wonder if they can ever truly heal from trauma. The answer is yes. While you can't erase what happened, you can learn to process the experience, reduce symptoms, and reclaim your life. Trauma therapy helps you move from surviving to thriving.

Evidence-Based Trauma Treatments

At Healing Therapy Center, we use proven, effective approaches to treating trauma and PTSD:

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): Helps you understand and change unhelpful beliefs related to the trauma. CPT teaches you to evaluate and modify thoughts that have kept you stuck since the traumatic event.

Prolonged Exposure (PE): Gradually and safely helps you face trauma-related memories and situations you've been avoiding, reducing their power over you.

Trauma-Focused CBT: Combines cognitive behavioral techniques with trauma-sensitive interventions, particularly effective for children and adolescents.

When to Seek Help

Consider reaching out for trauma therapy if:

· Symptoms have lasted more than a month

· You're having trouble functioning at work, school, or home

· Relationships are suffering

· You're using alcohol or drugs to cope

· You're having thoughts of harming yourself

Begin Your Healing Journey

You don't have to face trauma alone. Our experienced trauma therapists at Healing Therapy Center create a safe, supportive environment where healing can begin. We offer both in-person sessions at our Dearborn, Michigan office and telehealth therapy throughout Michigan.

We accept most major insurance plans including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Priority Health, McLaren, and HAP. Schedule your appointment today or call us at (313) 654-1915. Your healing starts here.