PTSD Treatment Therapy

Understanding PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic life event. It can affect individuals of all ages and backgrounds, leading to a range of symptoms that can significantly impair daily functioning.

People with PTSD often try to leave negative experiences behind by focusing on work, home responsibilities, and enjoyable activities. However, memories can still haunt us, with loud noises triggering shock, unexpected flashbacks, and nightmares disrupting sleep. Trauma’s effects can be insidious, leading to feelings of shame, anger, or low self-esteem, deteriorating relationships, and triggering anxiety and fear.

The counselors at the Evolve Therapy & Counseling understand PTSD and complex posttraumatic stress disorder. Trauma therapy provides a structured way to process and heal your trauma symptoms and regain your self-esteem.

A lot of our clients at Evolve are still able to go to work and manage their personal lives, but they notice PTSD symptoms in the form of avoiding discomfort, controlling situations, staying busy, people-pleasing, shutting down, or being hyper-independent.

If you think you may have PTSD, our therapists can assess you and create a personalized treatment plan to help you regain sovereignty.

What Are the PTSD Causes and Risk Factors?

PTSD can be caused by experiencing a disturbing or distressing event. Often, when people hear of PTSD, they think of military trauma or a natural disaster. While these experiences can lead to PTSD symptoms, there is a wide range of events that can cause PTSD.

Some causes of PTSD include:

• Threatened or actual physical assault
• Threatened or actual sexual violence
• Kidnapping
• Childhood abuse
• Terrorist attack
• Car accidents
• Life-threatening illness
• Observing threatened or serious injury
• Domestic violence
• Learning about traumatic events of close people

These are just some examples of situations that can lead to PTSD symptoms. Any event that is perceived as traumatic or distressful can lead to similar symptoms.

Living With PTSD

It is estimated that up to 8% of the population will experience PTSD symptoms at some time in their life. People who have been in the military, have experienced sexual violence, or have been through multiple traumatic events are at a higher risk of experiencing PTSD.

Impacts of PTSD AND C-PTSD on your daily life include:

• Feeling intense and overwhelming emotions such as anxiety, anger, and shame
• Intrusive thoughts such as flashbacks or nightmares
• Avoiding reminders of traumatic memories
• Hypervigilance, irritability, or difficulty concentrating
• Relationship issues
• Issues with work and productivity
• Physical health problems, such as gastrointestinal issues, headaches, or fatigue

At Evolve, we view the effects of trauma through the lens of the nervous system and somatics. Sometimes, due to highly stressful or traumatic experiences, our nervous system can learn a threat and becomes more sensitive to scanning for that danger.

This doesn’t always look like obvious fear. This can look like people-pleasing to avoid conflict, trying to over-control situations to prevent potential discomfort, or staying constantly productive. These responses become conditioned to prevent some danger. Our work focuses on helping the nervous system recognize safety again—not by eliminating fear or difficult emotions, but by increasing your ability to experience them without automatically falling into the same protective patterns.

Trauma can have wide-reaching negative impacts on your life. However, with the right professional support, you can learn coping skills and move forward with your life without the negative impacts of trauma.

Treatment Options

Importance of Seeking Professional Help

Dealing with trauma alone can be a challenging and overwhelming experience. Left untreated, symptoms may begin to worsen and can lead to major depressive disorder as well as health issues.

At the Evolve Therapy & Counseling, you are guaranteed access to evidence-based PTSD and CPTSD treatment with supportive counselors who will support and guide you every step of the way.

We use the Sovereign Body Method to treat PTSD and CPTSD symptoms. Some of our clients have participated in traditional talk therapy where they may have gained insight into their patterns. The Sovereign Body Method helps translate insight into changes in your physiological responses, beliefs, emotional patterns, and behavior.

While we use a structured framework, therapy is personalized and collaborative to make sure you recieve the tools that work for you and your life.

Different Therapy Approaches

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) along with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first line of treatment for PTSD.

Other popular and effective evidence-based interventions for PTSD include:

• Rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT): Albert Ellis developed REBT as an action-oriented type of CBT. REBT helps the individual develop a new way of thinking based on disputing irrational beliefs.
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR involves eye movements or other bilateral stimulation, which helps desensitize the emotional impacts of trauma.
• Narrative exposure therapy (NET): NET helps individuals create a coherent narrative of a traumatic event.
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): DBT is a type of talk therapy that teaches you skills to change negative thoughts and deal with stressful situations.
• Prolonged exposure (PE): PE involves slowly and gradually confronting the traumatic experience in a safe environment to prevent avoidance that can cause PTSD symptoms.
• Cognitive processing therapy (CPT): CPT assists you with challenging and changing negative beliefs about yourself, others, and the world.
• Somatic therapy: This type of therapy focuses on the connection between the body and emotions to release stored emotions in the body.

You can choose a type of therapy based on your needs and personal preferences. Your therapist can give you more information about each type of therapy to help you choose. 

The Role of Oral Medication in PTSD

Treatment of PTSD often includes both oral medication and psychotherapy. Oral medication can help manage the symptoms, but they do not treat the root cause of PTSD. Medication is a great way to help you get to a place where you can begin processing your trauma and healing.

Types of medications used for treating PTSD include:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): SSRIs are a class of antidepressants that work on serotonin levels. They can help with depression symptoms and negative thoughts related to trauma. Some examples of SSRIs are Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), Paxil (paroxetine), and Lexapro (escitalopram).
• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs): SNRIs work similarly to SSRIs but they also work on norepinephrine, as well as serotonin. Some examples of SNRIs are Effexor (venlafaxine) and Cymbalta (duloxetine).
• Prazosin: This medication was intended to treat high blood pressure but has been found to reduce nightmares associated with PTSD. Prazosin is also known by its brand name: Minipress.
• Beta blockers: Beta blockers are used in extreme cases to deal with the physical effects of PTSD such as a racing heart or shaking. Some examples of beta blockers include Inderal (propranolol) and Tenormin (atenolol).

It is important to remember that medication can complement therapy. Ask your psychiatrist or medical provider about the effects and symptoms of any medication you take.

What Is SGB Treatment for PTSD?

Stellate Ganglion Block, or SGB, is a procedure that involves an injection of a local anesthetic into the stellate ganglion. The injection inhibits nerve impulses sent to the brain and reduces the fight or flight response.

SGB is only used when all other treatment forms have been exhausted. It acts as a “reset” to the sympathetic nervous system.

SGB has shown positive results but is still a relatively new procedure with risks including hoarseness, a droopy eyelid, and changes in facial appearance due to muscle relaxation.

We don’t currently offer SGB treatment at Evolve Therapy & Counseling.

How Effective Are PTSD Treatments?

At Evolve, we look for signs of healing beyond symptom reduction. We know PTSD treatment is working when clients experience shorter recovery after triggers, less avoidance, the ability to stay present during difficult conversations, boundaries without overwhelming guilt, reduced physical activation, different choices in relationships, and greater emotional range.

Can PTSD Come Back After Treatment?

PTSD is a complex disorder. Normally, symptoms of PTSD greatly improve or completely discontinue with treatment. However, it is possible in some cases for symptoms to come back after remission.

Some factors that can contribute to PTSD symptoms resurfacing include:

• Triggers: Exposure to triggers that remind you of the traumatic event can reactivate PTSD symptoms.
• Stress: Stressful life situations can temporarily cause PTSD symptoms to resurface.
• Discontinuing treatment: Sometimes people stop therapy when their symptoms go away. However, with PTSD long-term coping skills and maintenance are needed.

It’s important to maintain healthy habits to maintain PTSD remission. Make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods, and getting some physical exercise daily.

Our goal at Evolve Therapy & Counseling is to not only reduce your PTSD symptoms, but to empower you with the tools necessary to recover from triggers faster and maintain the capacity for all of life’s experiences.

How Long Does PTSD Treatment Last?

The duration of PTSD treatment depends on your personal experiences, your therapist’s assessment, and the treatment plan you create with your counselor.

Several factors that determine the length of treatment include:

• Severity of your symptoms
• Response to treatment
• Support system

Although the duration of PTSD therapy in Brickell, Miami and West Palm Beach is your choice, Liz Chelak, LCSW, CCTSI, CRPS, recommends a minimum of 6 months to complete the somatic regulation, processing, and integration steps of trauma therapy.

Qualities to Look for in a Therapist

Finding the right therapist is a crucial part of your healing. According to renowned psychiatrist Irvin Yalom, “it’s the relationship that heals” over any specific intervention.

Important qualities to look for in a therapist include:

• Empathy: An empathetic therapist will listen nonjudgmentally and validate your experiences.
• Trustworthiness: Your therapist should value your confidentiality, respect professional boundaries, and maintain consistency.
• Cultural competence: A culturally competent therapist will be able to recognize the differences in different cultures and backgrounds.
• Communication skills: A therapist should be able to effectively communicate therapeutic concepts and be open to client feedback.
• Authenticity: An effective therapist should be genuine and authentic in all interactions in their lives to effectively teach their clients to accept and express themselves.

Our therapists have the education and credentials to provide the right level of support while being open and flexible to work with your individual needs and preferences.

Finding an EMDR-Trained Therapist for PTSD Treatment

Depending on the individual and the specific nature of the trauma, EMDR therapy is often the best therapy intervention for PTSD. EMDR therapists participate in post-graduate EMDR training and consultation. You can find an EMDR therapist at the Evolve Therapy & Counseling in Brickell, Miami and West Palm Beach or virtually, or search online on the EMDRIA website.  Schedule consultations to get to know more about PTSD or CPTSD therapy in Brickell, Miami and West Palm Beach.

If you’re seeking tailored treatment for PTSD in Brickell, Miami and West Palm Beach, take the first step toward healing by booking a therapy appointment with us today. We offer personalized treatments like CBT and EMDR, which provide promising approaches to addressing the complex nature of PTSD. Effective therapy, combined with maintaining healthy habits and recognizing triggers, is essential for achieving positive outcomes.