PTSD Treatment & Trauma Recovery
Is your past every day? We expect our past to stay just that in the past, but sometimes events are so difficult to accept or comprehend that our past won’t leave us alone. You don’t have to live in the shadow of your past any longer. Recovery is possible! Trauma and PTSD treatment can help you change your relationship to traumatic memories so that they no longer push you around.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Trauma-Related Symptoms
Have you experienced an extremely stressful life transition, abusive relationship, childhood abuse or neglect, birth trauma, traumatic loss, sexual assault, physical assault, a motor vehicle accident, combat, religious trauma, exposure to the trauma of others (e.g., work as a first responder), medical trauma, or other traumatic event? Do you find that those memories are popping up in the form of traumatic flashbacks or memories even when you don't want to think about it? Are you experiencing nightmares that remind you of a previous experience? Have you noticed that you are jumpy, nervous, fearful, avoidant of people, places, activities, or having trouble in your relationships? Trouble concentrating? Feeling irritable or on edge? Can’t stop scanning your environment? Do you prefer to sit facing doors or exits? Noticed that you feel down and have negative thoughts about yourself, the world, or others? If so, these are clear signs that you may benefit from meeting with a psychologist to discuss the impact of what you went through.
In popular culture, the terms PTSD, Complex PTSD, trauma, complex trauma, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (sometimes casually spelled Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) are often used interchangeably. While there are nuances and distinctions among them, the bottom line is that you acknowledge something happened and you deserve to get help in dealing with it. Regardless of how you describe it, the important thing is this: If you went through something that you deem to be traumatic, you are likely to experience some variation of the symptoms above.
Coping with Judgments and Negative Self-Talk
These are common posttraumatic symptoms. They’re a normal response to an abnormal event. It’s not your fault if you’re experiencing them and we know how difficult it is to live with them, but recovery is absolutely possible. You can recover from experiencing trauma and dealing with PTSD symptoms. All you need is help and a good plan. Many people struggle with fear that they’re “bad” or “crazy” for having these symptoms, which heaps another layer of difficulty on the symptoms with which you may already be dealing. Please know that you are neither of those things. Society and our ever-so-helpful brains love to paste labels and judgments on our experience and behavior without putting it in full context.
“You can recover from experiencing trauma and dealing with PTSD symptoms. All you need is help and a good plan.”
You are not alone and recovery from trauma is possible
You’re a human having an expectable reaction to a difficult thing. You may have heard unfair or incorrect judgments from others, such as friends or family members. They may even have been well-meaning but lack accurate information. No one chooses to be affected by PTSD. You aren’t “lazy,” “unfixable,” or “broken”. PTSD is imminently treatable; we have the research to prove it. You can get better. Whether you work with us or someone else, we want you to know that there are truly effective treatments that work for PTSD, which can decrease these symptoms and help you get back on track. You deserve to feel safe again. You deserve to feel hope and a renewed sense of connection to what matters to you. You deserve to heal and we can help you do it.
PTSD Prevalence
Did you know you're not alone? Nearly 90% of American adults will experience a traumatic event in their lives. About 1 in 10 men and 2 in 10 women will develop PTSD in their lifetime. Approximately 7 million people in the United States will be affected by PTSD. The odds of having experienced a traumatic event and being troubled by it but not necessarily meeting criteria for PTSD are even higher; we're talking about half of the American population. Most individuals who experience a traumatic event will experience PTSD symptoms because the body’s nervous system is on high alert when in proximity to something it deems a threat. The symptoms are like an alarm system going off telling our bodies and minds to pay attention and keep safe. For the majority of people, this fades within 30-60 days. However, if those symptoms don’t disappear, then it might be time to consider therapy to help you process the event, because the “fight or flight” response in your nervous system is stuck in the “on” position and needs help recalibrating. You can learn more about the symptoms and prevalence of PTSD by visiting the National Center for PTSD site here.
There Is Hope: PTSD Help
The symptoms mentioned above are just a few examples of the way our minds and bodies respond to trauma. We understand these symptoms can feel terrifying, frustrating, and can significantly impact your ability to live your life. It’s important to know that these are normal responses to an abnormal event. While that doesn’t mean it’s easy to experience them by any means, take some comfort in knowing that this is your body’s way of trying to respond protectively. The good news is you don't have to live this way forever. Healing is possible. We don't have a time machine, so we can't undo what has happened, but we can help you change the way you relate to the experience. While trauma may have set your nervous system to stress response mode, trauma therapy can help rewire it to a calmer state. Evidence-based treatment for trauma and PTSD results in significant symptom reduction for the majority of clients.
“It’s not the events that cause trauma that destroy us. It’s our relationship to the trauma that does. ”
Evidence-Based Treatment for Trauma and PTSD
The American Psychological Association clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of PTSD strongly recommend Cognitive Therapy (CT), general Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), as well as two evidence-based forms of cognitive behavioral treatment specifically designed to treat PTSD: Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). You can read the APA guidelines here. Breyta offers both general Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as well as PE and CPT. The US Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, and the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies have endorsed CPT and PE as best practices for the treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Moreover, we offer cutting-edge approaches to treating trauma that are at the frontier of the cognitive behavioral therapy world, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based approaches.
Our treatment approach entails key components necessary for trauma recovery:
psychoeducation
anxiety management
assistance in facing your fears and processing your memories (exposure)
and the ability to change the way you think
The path to healing starts with Effective therapy
We also offer a specialized form of evidence-based therapy for PTSD that is designed to help couples when one partner is struggling with a PTSD diagnosis. This therapy is called Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy (CBCT) for PTSD. Couples learn how to address their emotional and cognitive problems with clear skills-based techniques and are able to use the fact that they learn this as a dyad to support each other. Goals of CBCT include: creating a sense of approaching problems as a team, effective communication, reduction of avoidance, and challenging unhelpful beliefs.
We realize it may be overwhelming to sift through all the treatment options out there when it comes to deciding what you want to pursue. You don’t have to figure it all out before you reach out to us. That’s what we’re here for and it’s our pleasure to help with this process. All Breyta clinicians are trauma specialists and are here to provide you with information and guidance so that you can feel empowered to make the right choice for you. Even if you aren’t sure if you have PTSD, we can help you decide if an evaluation for PTSD may be a good place to start. Once you decide to move forward with therapy for PTSD, we will talk with you about what evidence-based approach best fits your experience and create a unique plan based on your history, needs, and goals.
Trauma-Focused Treatment
Trauma treatment and PTSD therapy can help you build resilience and recover from stressful circumstances. We help you process the traumatic event by partnering with you to supply skills, support, and education. You will learn about the neuroscience behind your experience and how you can apply that same understanding to soothing your mind and body. When you're ready, we walk with you through your memory to put it in order and in context. We look at ways your thinking might have changed and how that is affecting your emotions. Using concrete skills and techniques, we teach you to change your relationship to thoughts that have been holding you back, allowing you to move forward on your timeline. As treatment progresses, you’ll reconnect with your sense of belonging, purpose, and meaning. We help you re-engage with life and start behaving in a way that feels meaningful.
Trauma-Focused Treatment Helps You
Heal from painful past events and find a sense of inner peace
Develop a healthy sense of control, confidence, and agency
Rediscover a sense of meaning and purpose
Reconnect with your propensity for joy
Common Fears About Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy
Will I have to relive my trauma? No! We help you process your memories and thoughts in a safe and controlled environment. Part of the work of our therapy is helping you become skilled in discerning between memories and the present. We work as a team to foster compassion and courage. Through our work together you will be able to challenge some of the fears that every client has about beginning trauma-focused work. It's common to fear that you won't be able to handle it or that "going there" will "undo" you. Everybody thinks this but with skill building, education, and willingness, you will see that they are just that: fears, nothing more. Furthermore, you are not on anyone’s timeline but your own. Our primary goal is to build a strong foundation to our therapeutic relationship with you in which we nurture trust and a felt sense of safety. You do not have to discuss anything you do not wish to and certainly do not have to talk about traumatic memories when you first meet with your clinician. For example, if someone wanted to work on a trauma involving a car accident but did not feel ready to discuss it in the intake appointment, they can rest assured knowing that their therapist will tell them: “Today is not about recounting any specifics of events that may bother you, we can just agree that you want to address an event that has been difficult for you to move past; you don’t have to say anything about it if you don’t feel ready.”
If Talking About Trauma Is Difficult, Why Would I Work On It?
Think of trauma like a book. Every day, it opens to the worst page and because you understandably don't want to see that page, you slam it shut. This avoidance arrests healing and is the "glue" that keeps PTSD going. Trauma therapy helps you put memories in place in such a way that we can open the book and start at page one, read from start to finish, and then set it down without it popping open any more. Take a moment and imagine what your life can be like if you aren’t living in fear of a flashback, intrusive memory, or paralyzing fear. That kind of peace is possible.
Proven Experience, Effective Care
When you choose to work with a psychologist at Breyta, you are selecting the highest caliber of care available to address your mental health. We've worked with hundreds of clients who have experienced all types of trauma: combat, childhood abuse/neglect, interpersonal violence, emotional abuse, sexual assault, medical trauma, accidents, traumatic loss, birth trauma, religious trauma, and more.
We are experts in the assessment and treatment of all forms of trauma:
Acute Trauma (it happened once)
Chronic Trauma (a type of trauma happened several times or the trauma is of an extended and ongoing nature)
Complex Trauma (also referred to as Complex PTSD or C-PTSD; the experience of multiple types of traumas over a long period of time)
You may also hear the terms “Big T” trauma and “little t” trauma. These phrases refer to the nature of the trauma, rather than the frequency or duration. For example, “Big T” trauma is used to refer to experiences that are life-threatening. These are events that we traditionally think of when we hear the word “trauma”, such as accidents, combat, chronic abuse or neglect, assault, witnessing another’s trauma, or experiencing a natural disaster. Alternatively, “little t” traumas are events that are considered traumatic on a personal level to the individual who experiences them, but may not be considered traumatic universally. Examples may be divorce, a difficult breakup, loss of a pet, a difficult move, professional stress or changes, financial stress, chronic pain, or a medical issue.
While only “Big T” trauma is part of the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis, it is still vitally important to acknowledge and understand the impact and role that “little t” trauma plays in your life. In fact, “little t” trauma is part of why it’s so important that you’ve chosen a trauma-informed care provider. The fact that there are so many things that are deeply stressful, if not traumatic, to us as individuals throughout our lives often goes unnoticed by those who don’t know how to look. When this internal stress isn’t acknowledged, it gets compounded by other issues you may be facing and can make your problems worse. Our thorough assessment and seasoned trauma-informed psychologists will ensure that you receive the compassionate and effective care that you deserve.
We see you. Your trauma is valid and your feelings are valid. Every part of you and pattern you engage in makes sense and comes from an adaptive place. Whatever you’re going through, we can work on it together; as a team and with a plan.
We take the time to carefully assess the unique needs of each individual and formulate treatment plans that are evidence-based. This allows us to provide clients with clear expectations and proven tools. We let you know at the outset what to expect from treatment and give you an estimation of treatment trajectory. Our clinicians are not only trauma-informed, but are specialists in the field with backgrounds in the research, treatment, assessment, and education of PTSD in hospital, government, inpatient, outpatient, and university settings. Breyta exclusively employs doctoral-level psychologists who have undergone rigorous training in this area. Moreover, we dedicate significant time and effort to continuing education in our specialty area, ensuring that we offer our clients the most cutting edge treatment and information available.
Compassionate, Patient-Centered Care for Trauma, PTSD, and C-PTSD
Our emphasis on evidence-based practice ensures that you are matched with a clinician who will utilize the best available evidence-based treatment, will have the clinical expertise to apply it skillfully, and will do so based on your preference as is clinically appropriate. Our work with you will be individualized and effective. Many clinicians mistakenly deem these as mutually exclusive and rigidly adhere to a manual in order to make sure they "follow" the protocol for an evidence-based treatment. While we maintain fidelity to our evidence-based models, we know that just because we have a hammer not everything is a nail.
The Breyta Difference
Compassion is the foundation of our approach. Our relationship with you is important AND our skill as doctorally-trained scientist practitioners is important as we formulate the best care possible. We approach psychotherapy with heart AND science and never lose our compassion in the delivery of evidence-based care. When you're recovering from trauma or PTSD, everything seems overwhelming. Just searching for providers on the internet seems daunting, let alone making an appointment. We get it and we say hats off to you for getting this far. For that reason alone, we want you to know that we respect the effort it takes to reach out and we feel honored every time a client walks through our doors. When you sit down with a Breyta psychologist you are sitting down with a compassionate clinician who sees another person first, not a diagnosis.
We work together with you to start trauma counseling with a clear set of treatment goals and a plan. We have a rationale for everything we do. Our style of trauma treatment is not one where you’ll leave feeling overwhelmed and unsupported. We make sure you have solid tools in your tool belt to give you the support you need to do this work. Trauma-focused therapy can be challenging, but when there is a clear rationale, direction, tools, and framework to the therapy it is not only doable but more likely to be successful. Our providers bring to the table deep wisdom regarding the healing process and what constitutes recovery. With this structure in place, we help you identify a path forward based on personal meaning.
“The irony is this: if you don’t go sailing, you may be safe from storms, but you will also miss the sun and smooth water.”
Life is an ocean. Sometimes the water is choppy; sometimes there are storms and tsunamis out of our control. The irony is this: if you don’t go sailing, you may be safe from storms, but you will also miss the sun and smooth water. We help you grab the life raft of compassion, build a shelter of understanding on it, and sail it towards what matters. The ocean of life is vast and home to a variety of experiences. Avoiding the water is impossible, and it just leaves you exhausted and stuck. The most powerful aspect of starting trauma therapy is that you are taking the first step on the raft, towards things being different.
Do You Offer Online Counseling and Telehealth for PTSD?
Yes! We offer both in-person and virtual care options.* You can enjoy the safety and comfort of your own space while taking courageous steps toward healing with your psychologist of choice. We offer HIPAA-compliant telehealth platforms to meet your needs. Online therapy (telehealth) is very effective in treating trauma and PTSD. We conduct the same type of treatments in the same way we would in person so you can take comfort in the fact that you aren’t missing any important aspect of care. Telehealth appointments are available in Raleigh, throughout the state of North Carolina, and in select other states.
If you are searching for therapy for PTSD and therapists that are highly skilled in treating trauma, you’ve found the right place. Our doctoral-level psychologists have been trained by experts in the field and know how to help you heal while ensuring a sense of safety and hope. Breyta’s trauma therapists are here to help the process of facing the past feel manageable and less daunting. You can do anything with help and a good plan. We’re here to be your team and our team is successful.
Join the growing list of clients who have reclaimed their life by making the call to Breyta today! We are trauma experts. We are available for free phone or email consultation. Complete our contact form and we’ll reach out to you to get the process started. Whether you need to address Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Acute PTSD, an Adjustment Disorder, or the impact of emotional trauma, we’re here when you’re ready to take back your power and reclaim your life from trauma.
We Can Help!
If you have any questions about our clinic or the therapy process, give us a call and we would be happy to answer them for you. Our clinicians offer complimentary fifteen minute phone consultations prior to scheduling your first appointment. If you have general inquiries or would like to schedule, contact our front desk at (919) 245-7791 or admin@breytapsych.com. Call or email today!
TREATMENT FOR PTSD IN RALEIGH, NC
“Our job is not to deny the story, but to defy the ending–to rise strong, recognize our story, and rumble with the truth until we get to a place where we think, Yes. This is what happened. This is my truth. And I will choose how the story ends.”
Trauma Survivors
Experiencing a traumatic event is life-altering. Whether the event happened many years ago or recently, traumas have a way of upending our lives. Working with a therapist can help you process the ways in which you have been affected by your experience and help you move forward in your life.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
When you have difficulty recovering from a trauma, symptoms can emerge and stick around to the point where they become extremely problematic. If you are suffering from re-experiencing, avoidance, negative changes in cognition and mood, or hypervigilance, know that recovery is possible. Therapy for PTSD is the way forward.
Adjustment Disorder
Sometimes it’s difficult to move past traumatic events or even significant changes in your life. If you are struggling to come to terms with stressors in your life and need help to make sense of big shifts and changes, we are here for you. Take the first step towards making meaningful change today.
Why Don’t You Offer EMDR?
EMDR is a treatment that was invented in the late 1980s that combines moving one’s eyes from side to side with processing trauma memories, and making positive associations. Many people have successful experiences with EMDR, while many have unsuccessful or even harmful ones. It is important to note that the central critique of this therapy is that the mechanisms of change (i.e., the reasons why it is effective in decreasing PTSD symptomatology) are actually due to components of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy inherent in the treatment, rather than the other more dramatic aspects of EMDR. These include exposure to the feared stimulus (trauma memories and emotions), reframing negative cognitions and establishing balanced or positive thoughts associated with the one’s ability to access the memory or the capability of handling the memory, behavioral relaxation skills, coping skills, and the therapeutic relationship. For these reasons, in studies it is shown to be better than no treatment at all and better than merely talking to a friend, as are most therapies. However, it is not superior to actual Cognitive Behavioral Therapies. Essentially, there is nothing mystical about it despite the way it is often marketed as a cure-all. As stated by Harvard psychologist, Richard McNally, “What is effective in EMDR is not new, and what is new is not effective.” For a now seminal article critiquing the scientific integrity of EMDR, we recommend reading this one in Scientific American. Studies supporting the efficacy of EMDR are growing, but the efficacy is likely due to components that originated in the strongly recommended therapies of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Nevertheless, proponents of EMDR continue to fight for it’s inclusion. The APA PTSD Treatment guidelines have only granted EMDR “conditional” status. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), this status encompasses interventions that: “All have evidence that indicates that they can lead to good treatment outcomes; however, the evidence may not be as strong, or the balance of treatment benefits and possible harms may be less favorable, or the intervention may be less applicable across treatment settings or subgroups of individuals with PTSD.” If you feel strongly that this treatment is the right fit for you, we are happy to provide you with referrals to other providers in the area who can offer it to you.
