Objectives of PTSD Therapy

The Mayo Clinic says that in the wake of an accident or otherwise traumatic event, most individuals will see improvement with time and self care, although it is likely they will initially have a difficult time adjusting. However, other people may experience a worsening of symptoms related to that trauma, sometimes to the point that your symptoms interfere with your day to day life. If this happened to you, it is likely you are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. In many individuals, the intensity of their PTSD symptoms may ebb and flow. And according to experts, you may experience a worsening of your PTSD related symptoms if you have been feeling more stressed than usual or if you encounter any reminders of your traumatic experience.

The goal of treating PTSD is to not only ease your symptoms, but to also improve the quality of your life, making it more livable. The American Psychological Association firmly recommends four major types of interventions for individuals living with PTSD. These therapies are:

1. Cognitive behavioral therapy: rooted in the relationship among your behaviors, thoughts, and feelings, cognitive behavioral therapy zeros in on current symptoms and issues. Furthermore, cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on helping you change your behavioral patterns, as well as other feelings and thoughts that could make it difficult for you to function.
2. Cognitive therapy: born from cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy seeks to help you change the memories surrounding your trauma and the pessimistic evaluations you may associate with it. The underlying goal of cognitive therapy is to interrupt thought patterns and/or behaviors that disturb your ability to live your day to day life.
3. Prolonged exposure: another type of cognitive behavioral therapy, prolonged exposure seeks to help you gradually approach your feelings, memories, and specific situations related to your trauma. The goal of prolonged exposure is to help you face things you have been avoiding in the hopes that you will learn that your associations with those situations, feelings, and memories are not dangerous; there is no need to avoid them.
4. Cognitive processing therapy: also derived from cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive processing therapy’s goal is to help you learn how to challenge and change maladaptive beliefs you may hold related to your trauma.
   

The Mayo Clinic suggests that you seek professional help for PTSD if you:

• Experience severe, disturbing feelings and thoughts surrounding the traumatic event
• Are having a hard time regaining control in your life in the aftermath of a traumatic event
• Experience disturbing feelings and thoughts for more than a month after the event occurred
  

One such way to seek help if you are living with PTSD is by enrolling in group therapy. Indeed, group therapy has been proven to be effective in treating PTSD, as well as a wide range of other mental illnesses. At Grouport, we are thrilled to offer online group therapy for PTSD and much more. Our therapy groups, which are all online, offer a way to seek therapy from the comfort and safety of your own home. This is ideal not only because we are continuing to navigate the complex and often unpredictable COVID-19 pandemic, but also because individuals may be more keen to open up if they are receiving therapy from a familiar place. You can find the answers to various FAQs here.

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