What is PTSD?

It is a mental health condition that can develop in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, such as combat, sexual assault, a natural disaster, a serious accident, or other life-threatening events.

Symptoms of PTSD can include intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, avoidance of triggering situations or people, hypervigilance, and negative changes in mood or cognition. These symptoms can be severe and long-lasting, and can interfere with a person's daily life, work, and relationships.

PTSD can affect anyone who has experienced a traumatic event, and it's important to seek professional help if you're experiencing symptoms. Treatment options for PTSD include therapy, medication, and support groups. With proper treatment, many people with PTSD are able to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

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How Can You Help Me?

We'll work together with a combination of Counselling and EMDR tailored to your individual need.

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Counselling can be an effective treatment for PTSD as it provides individuals with a safe and supportive environment to process their traumatic experiences, learn coping strategies, and develop skills to manage their symptoms. 

1. Providing a safe space: Counselling provides individuals with a safe and non-judgmental environment to talk about their traumatic experiences. This can help them feel heard, understood, and validated, which can be an important step in the healing process.

2. Teaching coping strategies: A trained therapist can teach individuals with PTSD coping strategies to help manage their symptoms. These strategies may include relaxation techniques, grounding exercises, and mindfulness practices.

3. Addressing negative beliefs and thoughts: PTSD can cause individuals to develop negative beliefs and thoughts about themselves, others, and the world. Counselling can help individuals identify and challenge these negative beliefs and thoughts, which can lead to more positive and adaptive thinking patterns.

4. Exposure therapy: Exposure therapy is a type of counselling that involves gradually exposing individuals to the situations, objects, or memories that trigger their PTSD symptoms. Over time, exposure therapy can help individuals become less sensitive to these triggers and reduce their symptoms.

5. Developing social support: PTSD can be isolating and lead individuals to withdraw from their social support networks. Counselling can help individuals develop and strengthen their social support networks, which can provide them with emotional support and a sense of connection.

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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a popular technique used in psychotherapy to relieve psychological stress. It is most often used to alleviate symptoms related to trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. (PTSD)

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I am a highly trained, experienced EMDR specialist counsellor practicing in Battle, Hastings, Rye and surrounding areas of East Sussex.

Get in touch so we can start working together.