Jennifer enters my office in tears. She has been through five therapists already - none of whom helped her feel better. She has talked to therapists who taught her breathing techniques, and some therapists who had her recount her past trauma in painful detail. However, it wasn’t until she found my couch, that her experience was different. Together we figured out how she could feel safe in her body for the first time. If you have been through trauma, your body learns to be on high alert and has trouble feeling safe. Doing trauma therapy with me, little by little, Jennifer’s PTSD symptoms lessened.
That same client now takes yoga classes for people who have been through trauma (I highly recommend this by the way). She is much better able to tolerate the memory of what happened to her. She feels more at peace and is not triggered so easily.
What type of therapist is best for PTSD?
It’s wonderful to see this kind of change. Jennifer’s story isn’t unique, but it does exemplify the experience of working with a trauma-informed therapist. If you have had trauma in your past, you want to choose a therapist who specializes in treating trauma.
Can PTSD be cured?
While traumatic memories won’t ever go away completely, your PTSD symptoms can absolutely change with PTSD treatment! The fewer symptoms you have of PTSD the less connected you’ll feel to that diagnosis. What is really surprising for most clients is how little control the traumatic memories have over clients after doing PTSD treatment. A memory that used to cause your body to feel anxious, angry, and afraid seems more like footage of a film you are watching on television than something you are experiencing in the present moment.
PTSD will have less of a hold on you
On the other hand, some people do like to have that label or diagnosis and hang on to it. As you improve the hold PTSD has over your life will lessen. How you choose to define that down the road is a decision that you get to make. Some view surviving PTSD as a badge of honor and some can’t wait to shed the label.
Your brain can be rewired
Your brain is a wonderful organ, and it can change! Your brain can be rewired through PTSD treatment. That is the greatest news of all. There are PTSD therapists who understand how PTSD works that would love to help you manage those symptoms to gain parts of your life back that trauma has stolen.
Guest Blog Post by Lisa Smith
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU FIND A THERAPIST THAT IS A GOOD FIT FOR YOU.
Lisa Smith LPC provides therapy to adolescents, adults, couples, and families.
Specialties:
If you are struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder or other kinds of stress and would like to talk to a professional therapist, contact us online to schedule an appointment or call 713-565-0922 to ask questions about how we can help. PTSD treatment in Texas can help you if you are feeling stuck in past trauma, are suffering from anxiety or panic, and want to start feeling better right away. You don’t have to go through this alone!