Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder does not just affect Veterans anymore.

Thirty years ago, PTSD or Post-traumatic stress disorder was a diagnosis used for soldiers returning from war who were experiencing a host of symptoms stemming from their involvement in the war. In more recent years, PTSD is a diagnosis given to someone who has experienced a traumatic event such as a severe injury, the threat of a severe injury, a threat of death, or witnessed an event where these things happened to someone else and who is experiencing a cluster of symptoms that have persisted for longer than thirty days. The traumatic event can be psychological and/or physical. A person doesn’t have to have all of these symptoms for a diagnosis of PTSD. This is a short list of some of the more common symptoms of PTSD:

  • Flashbacks, nightmares, or memories of the event.
  • Trouble falling or staying asleep, easily startled or hyper-vigilant.
  • Feeling detached, numb, having difficulty remembering aspects of the event.
  • Feeling hopeless, avoiding things that remind you of the event.

These are symptoms most commonly seen in clients with PTSD although there are other symptoms I haven’t listed here.

If you have experienced a traumatic event and have three or more symptoms like the ones listed above and the symptoms have persisted for longer than thirty days, you can work through your experience with a trained therapist.

I’ve worked at Village High School, a high school for ambulatory mentally ill adolescents where many of the children had been severely abused, Parents United, a treatment center for victims of molest, their families and the molesters, and The Concord Vet Center, a treatment center for veterans and their families.

In addition to several other insurance panels, I am a provider for Tri-West, which is the insurance many veterans carry. Please be aware that most insurance will not pay for online counseling which includes telephone counseling. It is best to contact your provider before making an appointment if you would like to use your insurance.

Contact me to discuss your options today!