Psychotherapy for Overcoming Traumatic Experiences

“Trauma” is the Greek word for “wound” (Merriam-Webster, 2019). It is often synonymous with shock, suffering, emotional upheaval and distress, worry, pain, anguish, misery, deep sorrow, torture and grief – words that can help us to understand its deep and long-lasting impact.

There is no “right” or “wrong” way to think, feel or respond to a traumatic experience. Your responses are normal reactions to abnormal events. It can take a while to get through the physical, mental, and emotional pain and feel safe again. Nevertheless, there are some common reactions to a traumatic experience that you might be able to identify with:

• Recurrent and intrusive recollections of the trauma

• Paralyzing fear, anxiety, and/or depression

• Consuming feelings of self-blame

• Attempts to avoid thoughts and feelings associated with the trauma

• A markedly diminished interest in major activities

• Frequent irritability or outbursts of anger

• Disturbing nightmares and/or flashbacks

• Feeling emotionally numb, disconnected or estranged from others

• Efforts to suppress thoughts about your trauma with alcohol, drugs, or sexually acting out

• Hyper-vigilance and feeling easily startled

If you’ve been through a traumatic experience, it can take a while to get through the physical, mental and emotional pain and feel safe again. There is no one “right” timeline to recover from trauma, and everyone heals at his or her own pace. If you have been experiencing one or more of the above symptoms, it’s understandable that you wish you could finally find relief and “move on.” But, like mending a broken leg or filling a cavity, there are some things in life that you simply cannot do without help. If your difficulties persist, getting treatment for your trauma is crucial to your mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Although time is essential to healing, you may also need someone by your side to help with your healing process.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Trauma
Palm Cove Psychology Group incorporates Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy, a specific type of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), into our practice of psychotherapy to treat individuals who have experienced severe trauma and who are not able to recover without direct psychological intervention. We believe that getting support and learning to trust others is a crucial step in the healing process. Doing so challenges one of the harmful, lingering thinking errors arising from trauma and abuse: namely, that people are untrustworthy and even dangerous.

Whether you are only thinking about addressing your trauma and its painful impact, or you feel ready to start the healing process, Palm Cove Psychology Group is here to provide a safe, private place where you can deal with your trauma at your own pace.

Schedule Your First Appointment
Palm Cove Psychology Group is conveniently located near I-95 in Boynton Beach, Florida. We provide individualized therapy to individuals residing in Palm Beach County, including the Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Hypoluxo, Lantana, Lake Worth, and Wellington areas. If you’d like to learn ways to move past your traumatic experiences and neither have them rule your present life nor limit your future, please call (561) 903-0078 or visit our Contact page.