The traumatic events that lead to post-traumatic stress disorder are usually so overwhelming and frightening that they would upset anyone. Following a traumatic event, almost everyone experiences at least some of the symptoms of PTSD. When your sense of safety and trust are shattered, it’s normal to feel crazy, disconnected, or numb. It’s very common to have bad dreams, feel fearful, and find it difficult to stop thinking about what happened. These are normal reactions to abnormal events.

For most people, however, these symptoms are short-lived. They may last for several days or even weeks, but they gradually lift. But if you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the symptoms don’t decrease. You don’t feel a little better each day. In fact, you may start to feel worse.

If you’re reluctant to seek help, keep in mind that PTSD is not a sign of weakness, and the only way to overcome it is to confront what happened to you and learn to accept it as a part of your past. This process is much easier with guidance and support.

I provide PTSD and trauma counseling services that are less formal in nature, offering the highest level of confidentiality possible. I strive to help you without the use of pharmaceuticals, using a combination of cognitive behavior counseling (CBC) and exposure therapy. My first goal is to help you to gain control of your unwanted recollections by allowing these memories to occur at a designated time of day, or investing protective associations in an everyday object. My second goal is to help you deal with the avoidance that continues to fuel the symptoms associated with PTSD. By bringing these memories into the forefront and addressing them, the hope is to rid you of negative associations.