What Trauma Treatments are:
Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) are empirically-supported treatments for traumatic experiences and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
In PTSD, individuals develop maladaptive thought patterns as well as repeated misfirings of the fear mechanisms in the brain. As a result, traumatized individuals overestimate the likelihood that something bad will happen to them and underestimate their ability to cope with it if something bad does happen. They may also have intense physiological or emotional experiences related to trauma reminders. Both PE and CPT directly target aspects of the traumatic response.
PTSD also affects intimate relationships. Maintaining healthy relationships requires a great deal of vulnerability, conflict resolution, and trust, all of which can be difficult after trauma. People who experience PTSD report more distress in their relationships due to difficulties communicating and resolving conflict, building trust, and establishing emotional and physical intimacy. In addition to our individual trauma therapies, we offer couples therapy for treating PTSD when one or more partners have experienced trauma. See here for more information (Cognitive Behavioral Couples Therapy for PTSD).
Treatment may also have a positive impact on mood disturbance, anxiety and stress, insomnia, anger, and shame that may be secondary to trauma.
Individual Therapy Components:
- Structure: Both PE and CPT are structured and skills-based type of talk therapy. Rather than talking broadly about trauma, CPT and PE identify certain elements of the trauma(s) to target directly.
- Theory: Both CPT and PE stem from cognitive-behavioral approaches. CPT theory focuses more on the effects of beliefs on trauma symptoms, whereas PE theory focuses more on the effects of avoidance on trauma symptoms.
- Intervention: CPT involves identifying and challenging unhelpful trauma-related thoughts and beliefs. PE involves decreasing avoidance of thoughts, emotions, or behaviors that remind you of the trauma. Both therapies help you better understand and experience your emotions, as well as change your behaviors to be more consistent with your goals.
- Modalities: The TAP Clinic currently offers CPT or PE with an individual therapist.
Couples Therapy:
In addition to our individual trauma therapies, we offer couples therapy for treating PTSD when one or more partners have experienced trauma. See here for more information ( Cognitive Behavioral Couples Therapy for PTSD).
What Trauma Therapies Treat: