Trauma and PTSD therapists in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania PA
Trauma and PTSD
Karen Baumstark, Ph.D.
Psychologist, Ph.D., CMHIMP, CTACC
None of us can escape some level of trauma; inevitably, it will be a part of life. How much it affects us, however, depends on many factors including the nervous system we were born with, our outer resources, and how much relational support we receive to help us recover from the trauma. Many people do not have access to adequate resources to help them recover from trauma (and this is very subjective and personal, varying from person to person), and the trauma continues to affect them in (sometimes subtle, but still) impactful ways. If certain factors come together, PTSD may develop out of trauma. Often clients feel like they have failed because they can't completely "get over" their PTSD reactions. I have often reminded clients that PTSD is "the gift that keeps on giving". It can be very hard, perhaps impossible, to completely eradicate PTSD reactions, because the reaction is not just of the mind, it is of the whole body. My approach to helping clients with trauma and PTSD involves looking at it holistically and working to understand how the trauma changed you, your reaction across many facets of your life (thoughts, feelings, habits, behaviors, self-care or lack thereof, expectations, how you view the world), and then working on replacing what is harmful with what is helpful. The goal isn't to completely get rid of the PTSD symptoms (which is likely impossible) but rather to dramatically reduce its effect on you, so you can live your best life, and so an occasional symptom breaking through will not derail you.
34 Years Experience
Trauma and PTSD
Theresa Gaffney
Counselor/Therapist, Counselor
Trauma and PTSD can have a profound impact on every aspect of our lives, but please know that you are not alone in this journey. Together, we'll work to understand the effects of trauma on your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and develop coping strategies to help you manage symptoms and regain a sense of safety and control.
5 Years Experience
Trauma and PTSD
Michelle Peacock
Psychologist, PhD
Trauma and PTSD involve emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms that interfere with functioning. CBT and biofeedback are effective interventions to trauma and PTSD.
19 Years Experience
Trauma and PTSD
Abby Cobey
Psychologist, PsyD
Treatment for trauma and PTSD is really hard. It doesn't feel good to remember the things we most want to forget and unfortunately there is no easy way to heal. You've likely already discovered that avoidance won't work. What we will work on together is feeling the feelings in session so that they are less likely to creep up on you when you don't expect or want them. We'll look at your thinking surrounding the event and how your thinking has changed over time. It will get better.
13 Years Experience
Trauma and PTSD
Christine Henry
Psychologist, Ph.D
Trauma doesn't necessarily have to be a single event. Instead, smaller, prolonged, or recurring stressful experiences can also be classified as traumatic. I work with clients who want to find ways to calm their nervous system so they aren't in a constant state of fight, flight, or freeze. They want to learn what their wants and needs are instead of being solely focused on making others around them happy. Learning to set boundaries is challenging but can significantly improve your relationships. Learning how to trust again may feel difficult, and therapy can be the first step in this process.
17 Years Experience