For anyone affected, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) can profoundly affect life and impede healthy functioning. It can affect daily behavior, or symptoms may come on unexpectedly.
If you’re living in Oahu, our PTSD counseling in Honolulu is available and will help. You can meet with us in person at our office or by telehealth appointment from anywhere you connect to the internet.
As you begin working with us, we’ll help you learn to overcome obstacles and improve in both immediate and longer-term ways. You’ll receive a personalized treatment plan that will holistically address your needs and offer support and hope.
What are the Types of PTSD?
- Intrusive memories can include recurring, unwanted, and upsetting memories of a traumatic event; you may relive the event or have dreams or nightmares about it.
- Avoidance is when you try not to think about the event; it’s also common to avoid people, places, and things that remind you of it.
- Negative changes in thinking and mood can be consuming, including feeling hopeless, thinking negatively about yourself, being emotionally numb, and feeling detached from your family and friends.
- Changes in physical and emotional reactions often significantly affect your life if you’re startled easily, feel on edge, can’t sleep, are often irritable, or have angry outbursts.
PTSD Therapy:
What Can I Expect?
You can expect an affirming, supportive trauma therapy experience when you work with our trained, professional Honolulu PTSD therapists. We’ll begin by getting to know you and learning more about your experiences and what has brought on PTSD symptoms.
It can be an immediate relief to voice your feelings confidentially to a trained counselor. We’ll also work with you to develop a path to long-term healing and move past the traumatic event.
- Discussing your feelings
- Processing them productively
- Moving beyond memories of the traumatic event
- Reclaiming your life and transitioning to a healthier future
Not everyone recovers the same way from PTSD or on the same timeline. Your sessions and treatment will be personalized and geared to your needs. The most important thing is to begin the journey and help you regain your life – PTSD can be recurring, and counseling helps.
Do I Need to Be in Therapy?
When complicated feelings persist after a traumatic event, seeking help is wise. Trying to “forget and move on” in a DIY manner or with the well-intentioned help of friends and family may not be enough. If you’re still struggling, consider working with a trained counselor who can help.
One of the most essential things in any psychotherapeutic process is to give yourself time and not be impatient. Sometimes, you may have a string of good days and then a challenging one.
PTSD therapy provides a safe, supportive, confidential place to work through your feelings.
Some people live with PTSD for months or even years after a sudden traumatic event. If you cannot put something in the past in a healthy way, entering trauma counseling can be a relief.
Will PTSD
Go Away on It’s Own?
Sudden traumatic events affect everyone who goes through one, but the aftermath varies. While some people process their feelings and move on with support from friends and family, others may not.
If you’re dealing with difficult feelings, mood, or behavioral changes that recur and won’t go away, you may likely need help finding a resolution. Working with a professional is more effective than trying to handle it alone.
Symptoms and effects of PTSD include but are not limited to:
- Psychological – anxiety, flashbacks, fear, difficulty trusting
- Behavioral – feeling upset, irritable, hostile; isolating socially; feeling self-destructive
- Mood – lack of interest; difficulty in finding pleasure in life; feelings of guilt and loneliness
- Sleep – nightmares; difficulty sleeping
A personalized treatment plan is one of the most important things when entering counseling sessions. It must address the areas you need based on your experience, feelings, and situation. Your therapist will also be aware of any complicating factors and how they may affect you.
Moving past PTSD and resuming a healthy life is a process that will benefit you in many ways. Having support from a mental health professional along the way is beneficial.
Treatment Methods
For PTSD
Our caring Wellness Counseling therapists carefully select the optimal treatment approach for each client experiencing PTSD. Before recommending and developing a treatment plan, we’ll take time to learn more about you and your personality.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is based on behavioral and cognitive psychology principles. Talk therapy is a well-understood, effective treatment approach for many people.
Cognitive Processing Therapy is a specific form of therapy to treat PTSD. It trains you to recognize and change upsetting thoughts you’ve had since an unsettling, traumatic experience.
Cognitive Therapy helps you become more self-aware and improve emotional intelligence; it enables you to understand how distorted perceptions can cause painful feelings.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy involves side-to-side eye movements combined with talk therapy; it can help you recover from traumatic past experiences.
Medications are prescribed to help minimize symptoms as you attend therapy sessions; they can help improve your mood, appetite, and sleep.
Some clients being treated for PTSD may be helped by one approach, while others may benefit most from a combination. Your therapist will continuously evaluate your progress and make adjustments if necessary.
Why is PTSD
Counseling Important?
Recovering from a traumatic event in a healthy, long-term manner can restore your life and happiness. Counselors are there to help and guide you through the process.
Psychotherapy can help you deal with past events and current feelings. The goal is to emerge from counseling better able to enjoy life and feel more productive.
Emotional responses to traumatic events can be varied – you may be surprised how much you have been affected by one. Entering therapy is the first step toward healing.
How Do I know if I’m Affected and Need Therapy?
PTSD can occur after you experience actual or perceived grave threats, directly or indirectly. They often involve a threat of violence, serious injury, or the possibility of death. Often, people develop symptoms after a single event, but sometimes it can occur after multiple events, such as with first responders.
It varies by person, but generally, if you’re experiencing symptoms for more than a month after the event, you may have PTSD. You may notice them affecting you in many ways at home and work.
Your first counseling appointment will focus on your experience, feelings, and symptoms. From there, a treatment plan is developed and will guide your future appointments.
Conclusion: Finding PTSD
Therapy in Honolulu
It’s essential to recognize and treat PTSD and its symptoms. If it’s been over a month and you continue to be affected by a traumatic event, entering therapy is a wise decision. You’ll begin feeling better as soon as the first session.
- You’ll feel better and get your life back; there is a path to resolve PTSD and its symptoms.
- Our caring therapists will provide a safe, affirming environment for you to heal emotionally.
At Wellness Counseling, we strive to provide the best PTSD therapy Honolulu offers. Our offices are conveniently located, and you can attend remotely by telehealth appointment if you choose.
Contact Info
We’re open Monday through Saturday and ready to help you.
General Office Hours: Monday – Fridays 7 a.m. to 6 p.m and Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
