Therapy for cPTSD and PTSD

Trauma is more than just a bad experience. It's an overwhelming event or set of events that shatters our sense of safety and control, leaving lasting imprints on our nervous system and how we relate to the world. It can range from a single, horrific event like an accident or assault to prolonged exposure to abuse or neglect. Childhood experiences of parental emotional unavailability also constitute trauma.

For childhood trauma, including emotional neglect, it can be helpful to think from the perspective of a child when asking what “counts” as trauma. For example, a healthy adult would not be traumatized by having someone invalidate their feelings (though it might be hurtful!). A child, however, who has that experience every day might experience that as trauma because they are less resourced and need their parents to learn what it means to be safe, and that includes emotional safety. Kids in that situation may grow up into adults who really struggle with self-esteem.

At Juniper Therapy Center, we understand the complexity of trauma and its far-reaching effects. We specialize in helping adults heal from PTSD, complex posttraumatic stress disorder (cPTSD), and attachment trauma, empowering them to reclaim their lives and build a brighter future. Schedule a consultation here.

Here’s a general overview of the different types we usually see:

• PTSD: Usually associated with a single event, such as a car accident, a sexual assault, natural disaster, or other overwhelming event. Flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, and emotional dysregulation are common symptoms.

• Complex Trauma: This refers to repeated or prolonged exposure to traumatic experiences, often in early childhood. Neglect, abuse, and dysfunctional environments can leave lasting scars, impacting self-esteem, emotional regulation, and capacity for intimacy.

• Attachment Trauma: Early experiences of neglect, abuse, or inconsistent care can lead to attachment trauma. This can cause difficulties in forming and maintaining trustful relationships, fear of intimacy, or emotional dependency.

We primarily use evidence-based depth therapies to treat cPTSD, woven together with respect for your experiences and inner wisdom, including:

Parts Work Therapy and IFS (Internal Family Systems): Imagine your mind as a community of internal parts, some carrying the impact of trauma, while others help you cope. IFS helps you understand and heal these parts, fostering inner harmony and reclaiming your sense of wholeness.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): When past experiences still hold an emotional charge, EMDR can help reprocess them in a safe and controlled way, easing their grip on your present.

Psychodynamic Therapy: We explore unconscious patterns and beliefs that may be driving your behaviors, empowering you to rewrite their impact on your present and future.

DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy): While we delve into your inner landscape, DBT provides practical, everyday tools to manage difficult emotions, improve communication, and build resilience in the face of challenges.

Somatic and Mindfulness-based Therapies: Effective trauma work needs to somehow incorporate the body and present-moment awareness; this is how we retrain your brain and nervous system to feel safe again.

Dissociation is a normal response to an overwhelming circumstance, in which our brains take steps to protect us by emotionally removing us from the situation. This can show up as feeling being disconnected from yourself and the world around you, feeling like your body isn’t yours, missing memories, or feeling a sense of fragmentation in your sense of self.

Here’s how we break down the types of dissociation:

• Amnesia is the most common type of dissociation, in which there are gaps in memory, including piece or the entirety of an event (or years). This is a protective mechanism against unbearable experiences.

• Depersonalization is the unsettling feeling of being detached from your own body and mind, like you're observing yourself from afar. It's a way your mind may have learned to detach from overwhelming emotions.

• Derealization is when the world appears hazy or dreamlike. Objects might appear flat or muted, and time can feel warped, stretching or shrinking in strange ways. This can be a way to distance yourself from painful memories or situations.

• Identity Alteration is feeling like there are different "versions" of yourself, with distinct thoughts, feelings, and even memories. This can be a way to compartmentalize overwhelming trauma – parts of you hold the trauma, and other parts keep it at bay.

• DID, formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder, is a more complex dissociative experience where distinct identities or "parts" emerge within your mind. These parts can have different ages, genders, or even personalities, and may take control at different times.

Yes. At Juniper Therapy Center, we understand the complexities of dissociation and treat it as part of the larger picture of complex trauma and PTSD. We respect and value all parts of you, including those that may have learned to disconnect as a way to survive.

This is a really common feeling. We often hear people say they’re afraid of the emotions being too overwhelming, or even of getting stuck in the past. It makes sense to feel this way, and we’d never force anyone to face something they’re not ready to face. Moreover, we believe that if parts of you feel that way, then there’s a good reason for that. Our job is to build enough safety and trust to make space for healing when you’re ready. These are all things we can explore in therapy as we go at the pace that works for you.

Remember, you are stronger than you think. The shadows of the past don't have to define your present or limit your future, and we’re here to help. If you’re scared or unsure if trauma-focused therapy is right for you, we still encourage you to reach out to explore your options. Schedule here.