PTSD Treatment

Post-traumatic stress disorder otherwise known as PTSD can result from exposure to trauma involving death or threat of death, serious injury or sexual violence. PTSD can develop if you have experienced the event yourself, or if you have witnessed such an event happen to others.

Often resulting in distress that can last months and sometimes years after the original event, it can be successfully resolved thanks to three evidence-based treatments specifically researched for their ability to resolve PTSD symptoms: Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD (CPT).  

Maddalena has advanced training in EMDR, and she is a certified PE and CPT for PTSD therapist. If you would like to learn more about each treatment option please click on the links below or make sure to ask about it on your first appointment. Maddalena will be happy to assist you in deciding which treatment option is best for you.

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy otherwise known as EMDR is a therapeutic approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma and many other mental health problems. EMDR treatment can help you process upsetting memories, thoughts and feelings related to the trauma in an effort to address your PTSD symptoms. In EMDR treatment you will be asked to imagine the trauma while paying attention to rapid eye movements or sound until your understanding of the memory begins to shift and the memory becomes less distressing. EMDR treatment can vary depending on the nature and quantity of memories being targeted but it usually involves 9 to 12 sessions. For more information on EMDR treatment watch this helpful video on what EMDR treatment can do for you.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy

Prolonged Exposure Therapy otherwise known as PE is a therapeutic approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of PTSD. In PE you will be asked to  revisit the trauma memory and gradually approach trauma related situations that you have been avoiding since the traumatic event in an effort to decrease your PTSD symptoms and regain control of your life. PE treatment usually involves 8 to 15 weekly sessions spanning between 50 to 80 minutes each. You may start to feel better after a few sessions, and the benefits of treatment have been shown to last long after your final session. Watch this helpful video to learn more about what this treatment approach can do for you.

Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD

Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD otherwise known as CPT for PTSD is a therapeutic approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of PTSD. CPT aims to teach how to evaluate and change the distressing thoughts that the individual has been experiencing since the trauma and that maintain PTSD symptoms. Uniquely, and in contrast to other forms of therapy this treatment option will not require you to talk about the specific details of the trauma and for this reason, it is often a preferred choice for those who have shied away from exposure based treatments. CPT treatment usually involves 12 to 15 weekly sessions spanning between 50 to 80 minutes each. You may start to feel better after a few sessions, and the benefits of treatment have been shown to last long after your final session. Watch this helpful video to learn more about what this treatment approach can do for you.