PTSD and Trauma Therapist in Denver, CO

Have you experienced a traumatic event? Are you suffering from lingering fear and anxiety? Do you feel like you no longer have any control over how you think, feel, and behave?

Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is a mental health challenge that may occur in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. This includes a physical or sexual assault, violence, or an accident. If you're dealing with PTSD from a situation like this, a trauma therapist can help. 

At Heart Bloom Therapy, we serve clients in Denver, Colorado, with expert guidance and support from trained trauma therapists. With help from our team, you can overcome your difficult memories, thoughts, triggers, and other PTSD symptoms, get on the road toward recovery, and eventually heal from trauma. 

What Are the Symptoms of PTSD?

Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD that requires help from a trauma therapist. If the symptoms last longer than 4 weeks, cause you great distress, or interfere with your home or work life, you may have PTSD. PTSD symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event, but they may not appear until months or years later.

There are 4 categories of PTSD symptoms, each of which can require help from a trauma therapist. These include:

Re-experiencing Traumatic Symptoms

These are also known as reliving symptoms. Reliving the event often occurs after a trauma. You may have nightmares or flashbacks. You may have distress when you see, hear, or smell something that reminds you of the event (triggers).

Avoidance of Trauma-Related Triggers

This involves efforts to avoid trauma-related thoughts, feelings or conversations, as well as efforts to avoid activities, places, or people that remind you of the trauma.

Negative Thoughts and Feelings

Those with PTSD often feel intense emotions, such as fear, anger, sadness, and detachment from friends, family, and community members. As a result, the way that you think about yourself, and others may become more negative because of the trauma. Two common negative beliefs associated with PTSD are "I'm incompetent" and "the world is extremely dangerous." 

For example, you may ruminate about the trauma or the aftermath of it. You may think the world is completely dangerous. You may feel guilt or shame about the event or believe that you are unworthy or incompetent somehow. You may also feel numb, forget about parts of the event, or not be able to talk about it.

Increased Arousal

You may experience "hyperarousal" where you feel jittery or are always on the lookout for danger. You may also have a hard time sleeping, find it hard to concentrate, or be easily startled.

About Evidence-Based Psychotherapies for Trauma and PTSD

It is the job of trauma therapist and expert in PTSD to work with you to determine the most helpful approach, tailored to your needs. For adults, some of the evidence-based psychotherapies for trauma and PTSD include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy called "Prolonged Exposure," or "PE” is particularly helpful when treating trauma. It involves teaching skills of relaxation and coping, and then gradually using exposure techniques to the source of fear, until you are not afraid of it anymore.

Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)

This form of trauma therapy involves using rhythmic left-right (bilateral) stimulation to help process and release memories, body sensations, beliefs, and emotions that have been blocked by trauma.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

This form of therapy involves challenging and modifying the unhelpful thoughts and beliefs that have developed because of trauma.

Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS)

This form of therapy involves recognizing how different parts of our "self-systems" have developed as a response to trauma. These parts include the "exiled" or wounded parts, and the "protector" parts that have developed to keep us safe. The goal is to recognize and appreciate the role these parts play in our self-systems, and to nourish our true selves.

Ways Trauma Therapy Can Help

The goal of a trauma therapist is to help you process traumatic memories in a safe and caring therapeutic environment. This eventually allows you to feel decreased emotional charge from memories and triggers of the traumatic event, and a return to a place of hope and freedom. Working through PTSD with a trauma therapist can be challenging but can also be a pathway to post-traumatic growth and a time of newfound resiliency and strength.

Learn More About Trauma Therapy in Denver, CO

If you or someone you love is suffering from trauma or PTSD symptoms, Heart Bloom Therapy can help. Our practice, led by Dr. Pamela Brody, provides trauma therapy services that will be personalized around your specific needs and traumatic experiences. Contact us today to get started with a consultation.