Trauma and PTSD therapists in Canfield, Ohio OH

When the past does not want to stay in the past and it feels like the same crap that happened to you in your childhood are still going on today. You may want the pain to end and try to pretend like it did not happen. You could be throwing yourself into family, work or relationships, trying to keep yourself busy so you do not have to think about it. This can cause anxiety and pressure that exhausts you till you crash or sink into depression. Between your life and mind, you may not even know how to calm down or think you don’t deserve it. Over time you may feel like you’re running on a hamster wheel and although around people and family, feel all alone. Your body is a stranger and your mind is the enemy. Most therapies try to change how you think so that you won’t feel so anxious or depressed anymore. When I was learning these techniques, it didn’t seem to fit for me because I believe it, so how are they going to change it. It really seems like “fake it till you make it.” As a client in treatment, it made me feel like I was invalidated. For example, I don’t feel safe because of what happened to me and you’re telling me that I should feel safe and I should tell myself that I feel safe even though I’m not. That was not going to work for me and probably not you either. EMDR is a different kind of therapy where the experiences that you have had take the spotlight. The things that we’ve been through create how we see everything else. I feel unsafe because I’ve been through things that hurt me. So we look at those times that you have been hurt and use the whole body to digest these memories so that they feel like they’re no longer happening right now  

Are you feeling depressed or anxious? Are your life and relationships unfulfilling? Can't let go of past hurts? Using sex or the internet to avoid others or painful emotions? Nothing gets better no matter what you try? Maybe it's time for a change!  

The UCEBT Trauma, Stress, and Resilience (TSR) Program provides expert care in the treatment of stress and trauma-related issues. Most people at some point in their lives will experience a trauma or other difficult event, such as a loss of a loved one, medical illness, financial stressors, work burnout, divorce, etc. Depending upon our unique past and current circumstances, these events impact each of us differently. In the aftermath, some may develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, grief, or experience other life challenges. In spite of our best efforts, sometimes the problems persist and common coping strategies (like isolation, working long hours, alcohol, etc.) can create new problems. Fortunately, there are now several proven therapies to get people unstuck and tap into our natural human ability to heal after a painful life event. Our center is committed to offering the most effective treatment options for both supporting you during a difficult period as well as long-term skills to foster resiliency for the future. There are several gold standard evidence-based treatments right now for trauma. Our clinicians in this program have formal training and expertise in: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Cognitive Processing Therapy -- CPT is a therapy that focuses on helping individuals identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and beliefs related to their traumatic experiences. It aims to promote cognitive restructuring and reduce distressing symptoms. CPT has been recommended as treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA/DoD). This episode of This American Life does a great job capturing what to expect in CPT and illustrating its effectiveness: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/682/ten-sessions Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Interventions -- TF-CBT is a structured therapy that focuses on helping individuals process and cope with traumatic experiences. It combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with trauma-specific interventions. TF-CBT has also been widely recommended as a treatment PTSD by the APA and the VA/DoD. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) -- This modality uses eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation to help individuals process traumatic memories and reduce distressing symptoms. In contrast to the "top-down approaches" listed above, this is a "bottom-up approach," meaning that it starts with addressing the physiological and sensory aspects of an individual's experience before moving on to cognitive or higher-order processes. This approach recognizes that trauma can have a profound impact on the nervous system and bodily sensations. The goal is to help individuals process and release traumatic experiences by accessing the body's wisdom and resources. By directly targeting the limbic system (the feeling center of the brain) and sensory receptors throughout the body, a bottom-up approach aims to undo trauma's imprint on the body and promote healing. It acknowledges that trauma responses are not solely cognitive but also involve physiological and sensory aspects. Prolonged Exposure -- PE is a type of therapy that involves gradually and systematically exposing individuals to trauma-related memories, situations, or objects that they have been avoiding. The goal is to help individuals confront and process their traumatic experiences, reducing avoidance and fear. PE has also been recommended as a treatment for PTSD by the APA and the VA/DoD. The Gottman Method for Couples Therapy Written Exposure Therapy (WET) -- Sometimes, flashbacks can be so debilitating and spike our SUDS so suddenly, that all of the above-mentioned modalities end up doing more harm than good. This modality is a brief, trauma-focused talk therapy that involves a series of [typically] five 30- to 45- minute sessions. The therapy involves writing about the thoughts and feelings experienced during the traumatic event, which allows individuals to engage with the memory and potentially overcome shame or embarrassment associated with the experience. The goal is to help individuals find new ways to think about their traumatic experiences and gain relief from PTSD symptoms. There is little 'down time' between sessions, meaning an individual could schedule all five sessions back-to-back and effectively stop flashbacks or other reexperiencing symptoms within a week, which no other modality can match in terms of efficiency.  

As you move through life, you might go through an experience that is overwhelming to you. Trauma is the result of an experience so distressing that it leaves you feeling disconnected from yourself and others. You might feel jumpy, numb, distrusting, and unsure of your future. Sharing and processing with someone who can help you to understand and make sense of the senseless can help you to begin to heal from your trauma.  

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can develop from being exposed to a wide variety of traumatic events such as motor vehicle crashes, home accidents, sexual assault, domestic violence, or being involved in a natural disaster. As the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) describes it, PTSD happens after “being witness to or being exposed to situations involving threatened or actual serious physical harm or death.” But it’s important to keep in mind that experiencing a trauma doesn’t mean a person will absolutely develop PTSD.