If you’re in search of a therapist in Tampa that can assist with treatment from trauma and PTSD, our team at Tampa Therapy has advanced training and specialization in the treatment of trauma through the use of evidence-based trauma-focused therapies. PTSD is highly treatable, but requires you to step forward, stop avoiding, and actively pursue treatment. You can have a better quality of life in a few short weeks to months.
Immediately after experiencing trauma, people can develop Acute Stress Disorder (ASD), which is a response to a traumatic event that occurs within one month of the event and includes dissociative reactions. ASD is highly predictive of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and when symptoms persist for more than one month, the diagnosis of PTSD is relevant. However, one does not necessarily need to meet criteria for ASD to later develop PTSD. PTSD is a longer-term, or chronic, post-trauma response that develops as a result of directly experiencing or witnessing a traumatic (i.e., terrifying) event.
PTSD includes the following symptoms, which can be chronic (lasting several years or lifelong):
- Intrusive re-experiencing (through memories or reminders) of the event(s)
- Avoidance of trauma-related stimuli or reminders
- Alterations in cognitions and mood
- Increased arousal and reactivity
Whether you are a veteran who experienced combat trauma, you survived a natural disaster, crime or terrible accident, learned of a loved one’s sudden death (particularly in a traumatic or difficult way), witnessed a shooting, or experienced a sexual assault, you may find yourself feeling “changed” by what you’ve endured. People have incredible strengths in the face of such disaster, but at times it is too much – even for very capable people – to heal on their own. That is where trauma-focused therapy can help you restore life to its rightful place, even if you are forever changed by what you’ve experienced. Psychotherapy is the most effective form of treatment for healing from the effects of trauma. It is important to note that not every case of trauma results in PTSD, but trauma-focused therapies can still be very helpful in healing from the event(s). We provide a comprehensive evaluation for PTSD and three unique evidence-based trauma-focused therapies, which are treatments that are shown by research to be effective in treating trauma and PTSD.
These Trauma/PTSD treatments include:
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a 12-session trauma focused treatment that has been researched for over two decades and has been shown to be highly effective for treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other related symptoms (Chard, 2005; Monson et al., 2006; Resick et al., 2002, 2008; Resick & Schnicke, 1992, 1993) in a relatively short period of time. CPT was developed in 1993 and adapted from cognitive-behavioral therapy to originally focus on the treatment of individuals who had experienced rape and or crime. CPT implements Beck’s basic cognitive techniques including cognitive restructuring to challenge maladaptive thinking, however begins first with exploring the traumatic memory to understand thoughts, beliefs, and feelings that directly resulted from the traumatic event. The therapist then helps the client examine the trauma’s impact on their belief system and how much the person has over-generalized from the traumatic event to their beliefs about themselves, others, and the world. >>Learn More About Cognitive Processing Therapy
- Prolonged-Exposure Therapy (PE)
- Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy is an evidence-based treatment for trauma and PTSD that consists of 12 to 16 (80-minute) therapy sessions. The treatment was originally developed for use with survivors of rape, but over two decades of research has shown PE to be highly effective in the treatment of trauma and PTSD for individuals with varying traumas. PE is endorsed by the Institute of Medicine report and SAMSHA as one of the leading treatments for trauma and PTSD, and is also one of the leading treatments recommended by the VHA-DOD Clinical Practice Guidelines. The symptom-reduction experienced over a relatively short period of time makes this an appealing treatment, as well. During the first part of the treatment, the client is educated about reactions to trauma and PTSD. >>Learn More about Prolonged-Exposure Therapy
- Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a unique and powerful therapy for helping people deal with stress, trauma, painful memories and places in their lives where they are stuck. EMDR specifically targets traumas that have been “locked” in the brain, but can also be used for events that are not considered trauma in the traditional sense, such as ongoing teasing while in school, chronic childhood illness, etc. After experiencing a traumatic or stressful situation, negative thoughts and beliefs about the self can dominate. Generally, these are the feelings of not being good enough, not being safe, or not being in control. These beliefs of inadequacy, helplessness, or powerless can contribute to patterns of depression and anxiety, impacting most areas of your life. Negative feelings can also become stuck leading you to experience the negative feelings in the present even though they’re connected to the past. These feelings can impact your view of current situations, which may feel “true.” Negative sensations associated with those feelings also surface and you may try to “avoid” experiencing them. Over time, these experiences can build up and lead to depression, anxiety, or PTSD. >>Learn More about EMDR Treatment
Benefits of Trauma-Focused Therapy
-Helping you calm and soothe yourself; stabilization
-Increasing your awareness of, and access to, inner strengths and outside resources
-Processing specific memories, through carefully guided talk and/or writing
-Challenging yourself to reconnect and do non-dangerous things you have been avoiding since the traumatic event(s)
-Challenging trauma-based thinking, so that you can restore a healthy mental framework for living
-Making meaning of what happened and how it has affected your deepest self and your family
-Reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety
-Increase personal sense of confidence and competence
-Regain your quality of life, including enhanced relationships with others, greater activity level, and more positive and stable mood
-Reduce, if not eliminate, symptoms of PTSD
If you’re in search of a therapist in Tampa that can assist with treatment from trauma and PTSD, our team at Tampa Therapy has advanced training in the treatment of trauma-focused therapy. She will work with you to identify your specific concerns and problem areas, and collaboratively develop a treatment plan that best fits your needs.