Trauma and PTSD therapists in Florence, South Carolina SC

South Psychology is your partner in overcoming trauma and reclaiming your well-being. Our team of dedicated therapists provides evidence-based therapy and assessments for individuals of all ages, including children, teens, adults, and families. Why Choose South Psychology for Trauma and PTSD? Expertise: Our therapists specialize in trauma-informed care. We understand the impact of trauma on mental health and work collaboratively to guide you toward healing. Holistic Approach: Beyond addressing symptoms, we consider the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Our goal is to restore balance and resilience. Customized Care: Whether you’re a child struggling with nightmares, a teen coping with flashbacks, or an adult navigating triggers, we tailor our services to your unique needs. Family Support: Trauma affects not only the individual but also their loved ones. We offer family therapy to strengthen bonds and foster understanding. Our Trauma and PTSD Services Include: Individual Therapy: Explore trauma narratives, develop coping skills, and find hope. Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT): We utilize evidence-based techniques from TF-CBT to help you process traumatic experiences, manage distressing emotions, and regain control over your life. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): A proven technique for trauma resolution. Group Therapy: Connect with others who share similar experiences. Assessment and Diagnosis: Understand your trauma-related symptoms and create a personalized treatment plan.  

Trauma can leave you feeling powerless. Our priority is creating a safe environment for you to reclaim control and begin the healing process. We'll work together to understand your triggers, develop coping mechanisms, and gradually process your trauma, empowering you to rebuild a life free from its grip.  

Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime whether it’s a car accident, abuse or neglect, the sudden death of a loved one, a violent criminal act, exposure to the violence of war, or a natural disaster. While many people can recover from trauma over time with the love and support of family and friends and bounce back with resiliency, others may discover the effects of lasting trauma, which can cause a person to live with deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or posttraumatic stress far after the event has passed. In these circumstances, the support, guidance, and assistance of a therapist are fundamental to healing from trauma.  

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.  

I have worked with clients who have been traumatized as a child, teenager, adult or older adult. Trauma can occur due to emotional, physical, sexual or psychological assault. Everyone experiences and manages their trauma exposure in their own unique way. Sometimes we are not even aware of events that have happened to us or have spent a lifetime trying not to remember. Regardless, that experience can impact how we think about and treat ourselves and others. Depending on the severity and duration of that trauma, it is not uncommon for it to affect our ability to work, parent, maintain relationships, function and even tolerate being around others. I work with clients who have experienced physical and psychological abuse, sexual abuse or exploitation, combat or military trauma, racism, discrimination and marginalization, sexism and violence. Everyone's story is unique and I work to help that individual process those experiences at a pace that they can manage to reclaim the life they deserve.