
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophy
-Friedrich Nietzsche
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
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PTSD is a psychological and physical response to a traumatic event. Not all individuals that experience a traumatic event will necessarily develop PTSD, and there are a variety of factors of why this may be. The symptoms of PTSD include: persistent reoccurring flashbacks and/or nightmares of the traumatic event, an increase in physical and psychological distress in response to stimuli in the environment that may remind one of the trauma, avoidance of situations that may remind one of the event, and alterations in beliefs about ones self, the world, and others. For individuals who have experienced one isolated traumatic event, therapy can often produce surprisingly quick results. Of course, this is highly dependent on each individual, and Dan works to understand you and what you will need over the course of therapy for it to be successful.
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Developmental Trauma
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Developmental trauma, although not in the DSM (the handbook of psychological disorders), is a prevalent problem that many individuals experience. It is the experience of chronically being exposed to negative messages early in life (being told you're not good enough, being made to be responsible for things a child is not) and these experiences over time can lead you to an internalization of these negative beliefs. Internal Family Systems therapy is a highly effect approach for this kind of trauma. It involves working with the parts of you that are stuck in time to help offer them compassion, and help them release these negative beliefs they took on as a child. Because these beliefs have been so hard-wired, it can take some time to release these beliefs. Dan invites you to be patient with yourself as you work through this healing journey, as the impacts can be life changing.
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Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
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Complex PTSD can be thought have as having similarities between PTSD and Developmental Trauma Disorder. It involves being exposed to multiple traumatic events, and being in a prolonged state where your control has been robbed of you. Symptoms of Complex PTSD involve flashbacks and nightmares, as well as negative beliefs about ones self. IFS is the main model by which Dan works with Complex PTSD. Through this process, Dan helps you to work with the parts of you that carry the intense pain of the trauma, helping you to release the pain these parts hold, and continuing to help you with re-engaging in life.