Trauma
Have you experienced a traumatic event where you or a loved one was in significant danger or witnessed something terrible? Have you experienced something in your life that you seem unable to push out of your mind, and instead keeps disrupting your daily thoughts and perhaps dreams? Do you find yourself being more vigilant or “on edge” than you think you should, and, is it getting in the way of living the life you want? Are you feeling anxious, depressed, stressed, or just kind of “out of it” and you think it might be related to something that happened in the past? If so, you might benefit from meeting with a therapist to help work on these issues.
What does treatment for trauma or PTSD look like?
Many effective treatments for PTSD and trauma exist. Therapy has proven to be beneficial to people struggling with emotional difficulties after a traumatic event, including those diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or other mental health issues related to a trauma. While therapy can take many forms, most approaches involve helping you to talk through the traumatic event in some form, and learn new ways to cope with the painful thoughts, feelings and memories associated with the trauma.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, there is also a focus on helping you to reconnect with those aspects of your lives (people, relationships, activities) that are most valued and important to you. It is important that you be able to trust your therapist and set a pace for therapy that works for you, since the impact of a trauma is unique to every individual. Call today for a free consultation to determine if Dr. Shanley might be a good fit for helping you to find peace in your life. Read more under “My Approach” for a more complete description of how the treatment works and call or email today for a free consultation!
PTSD and Veterans
If you or a loved one is a veteran and/or active member of the armed forces, there may be things you have experienced that have been traumatic. First and foremost, it is important to recognize that the presence or absence of any PTSD symptoms or a diagnosis does not make you weak, stupid, or lesser than. The development of PTSD happens for a multitude of reasons, and the important thing is that you seek the care you need in order to reduce your suffering. Directly experiencing and witnessing events in war and combat zones can leave one feeling anxious, lost, hopeless, depressed, or guilty, to name a few things, as well as experiencing recurrent nightmares. Dr. Shanley is committed to working with veterans and family members in the armed forces in order to help them get the help they need, and is an in-network provider with TriCare. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or would like more information about what therapy might entail and how it could be beneficial.