Seattle Trauma & PTSD Therapy

Seattle Trauma Therapists

What is trauma?

Trauma encompasses adverse life events, including physical trauma like abuse or accidents, and emotional trauma such as neglect, manipulation, loss, or grief. If you find yourself unable to move past an experience and feel trapped in the past, it may qualify as trauma. These events can create psychological wounds that challenge the brain’s processing, potentially leading to conditions like PTSD, making it crucial to seek support for healing and recovery.

A traumatic experience refers to an event or series of events that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope, often resulting in intense feelings of fear, helplessness, or horror. These experiences can have profound and long-lasting effects on a person’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Traumatic experiences can vary widely and may include events such as accidents, natural disasters, violence, abuse, or sudden loss, leaving individuals struggling with symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and difficulty concentrating.

What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a trauma-related disorder that occurs when a person is unable to recover after experiencing a traumatic event. This condition brings about intense reactions months even years after the traumatic experiences. The symptoms of PTSD can be both physical and emotional. PTSD can create significant and even debilitating symptoms, that can seriously impact your well-being. Despite the debilitating potential of PTSD, it is treatable through a variety of therapies that we offer.

Trauma-focused therapy

Therapeutic interventions such as EMDR, Hypnotherapy, Individual Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and working with a trauma-informed therapist can help you heal from the symptoms of traumatic stress and move forward in your life. Our trauma-informed therapists offer several types of therapeutic interventions as part of a trauma-focused treatment plan to support clients suffering from trauma-related disorders and PTSD. Trauma-focused therapy/PTSD treatment may include:

• Individual Therapy
• Couples therapy
• EMDR
• CPT
• Mindfulness
• Hypnotherapy

Together, you and your therapist will create an individualized treatment plan to meet your goals and needs.

Seattle Trauma-informed therapies

Here’s a little insight on some of our treatment plans:

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is a powerful therapeutic approach that helps individuals reprocess complex trauma, distressing memories, and alleviate associated symptoms. By facilitating bilateral stimulation through eye movements or other methods, EMDR enables clients to access and process traumatic memories more effectively, leading to resolution, relief, and a higher degree of mental health. Our team is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for EMDR therapy, guiding clients through their healing journey with empathy and expertise. This treatment also extends to applications such as EMDR for children and adolescents. We believe in the transformative potential of EMDR to empower individuals to move forward and reclaim their lives after trauma.

Individual therapy

Through individual therapy sessions, we provide a safe and confidential space for clients to explore and process their unique trauma narratives. With empathy and expertise, we guide clients through the healing journey, empowering them to develop coping strategies, build resilience, and reclaim their sense of agency and well-being. We are committed to fostering a therapeutic alliance grounded in trust, respect, and collaboration, as we work together towards healing and growth.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

CPT is a structured and evidence-based therapy designed to help clients challenge and reframe unhelpful beliefs and thoughts related to their traumatic experiences. Our therapists are trained in delivering CPT with sensitivity and expertise, providing a supportive environment for clients to process their trauma and develop effective coping strategies. Together, we collaborate with clients to cultivate insight, resilience, and empowerment, facilitating meaningful and lasting healing outcomes.

Causes of trauma and PTSD

Often when people think of trauma, they think of events such as war, natural disasters, or any other life-threatening event. However, there are several more common life experiences that are not life-threatening that qualify as traumatic events:

• Emotional abuse such as gaslighting, deceit, or manipulation
• Psychological trauma such as stress at work, overwhelming expectations, or being in an abusive relationship
• Loss of a loved one such as a friend, close relative, or romantic partner
• The unexpected end of a relationship, whether is is a breakup or another unforeseen circumstance
• Being fired from a job that you expected to have and feel you deserve
• Childhood trauma that may have been repressed or rationalized
• Traumatic birth that you don’t even remember in your conscious mind

Signs of PTSD and trauma-related disorders

PTSD symptoms are generally grouped into four types: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. The American Psychiatric Association outlines diagnostic criteria for PTSD in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5. This diagnosis is specific to individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event.

Symptoms of PTSD and stress and trauma-related disorders

• Low self-esteem

• Difficulties in relationships

• Jumpiness

• Trouble making decisions or problem-solving

• Poor concentration or loss of memory

• Flashbacks

• Hyper-vigilance

• Nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting

• Tremors, sweating, chills, dizziness

• Chronic physical pain

• Increased heart rate or chest pain

• Insomnia

• Anxiety and/or excessive worry

• Fear

• Guilt

• Grief

• Depression

• Isolation

• Loneliness

• Anger

• Irritability

• Disassociation

• Feeling numb

• Engaging in numbing behaviors such as substance use

People living with PTSD continue to experience the emotional and physical experience of trauma long after the event has passed. If you have experienced a traumatic event and are experiencing the following symptoms, you may be suffering from stress or trauma-related disorder. These symptoms can be resolved with trauma and PTSD therapy. Therapy for trauma survivors can greatly improve their quality of life.

Can you treat social anxiety?

Yes. Social Anxiety treatments depend upon the individual and the severity of the symptoms. Physical issues or diseases may contribute to the development or worsening of symptoms.

Counseling, such as Group Therapy or Talk Therapy, is usually the first step in the treatment of social anxiety. Behavioral therapies are the most common way to treat Social Anxiety Disorder because they teach one how to think, behave, and react differently to stress-inducing situations.

How long does it take to treat anxiety disorders?

On average, most clients see an anxiety/stress therapist for 10-15 sessions. However, we all have varied life experiences. Some can be addressed with a short-term intervention, while some require longer-term therapy.

Therapy is an investment in your well-being. Much like exercise, seeing the best results takes a bit of effort. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. The goal is to help you achieve results and see progress. 

What’s the difference between anxiety support groups vs. individual counseling?

The difference between a group setting and individual counseling/therapy for anxiety or stress is that individual sessions are personalized and move at your pace vs the group’s pace. Treatment is personalized.Support groups for anxiety in Seattle can be beneficial as they go over valuable tools and skills to help people deal with stress and anxiety.

Trauma & PTSD Therapy Articles

Trauma & PTSD therapy pricing

Therapy creates a space for you to experience healing and progress in a way that can change your life. But of course, it’s also an investment of both time and finances. When you’re ready to commit to healing and transformation, here is what you can expect.

Standard individual session
(50 minutes) $190

Insurance

We do not participate with any insurance panels. Anchor Light Therapy Collective is considered an out-of-network provider.

As a courtesy to any individual clients who wish to utilize their insurance benefits, We are happy to verify your out-of-network plan benefits to tell you what portion, if any, may be covered by your health insurance provider.

Out of Network Insurance Options