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Trauma Counselling Sydney
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Trauma Counselling in Sydney Available In-person & Online
Trauma Therapy Sydney - PTSD Treatment & Therapy For Childhood Trauma, Neglect & All Other Issues. Speak To An Experienced Psychologist:
What Is Trauma?
Trauma or more specifically Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental condition that can arise after an individual has experienced a disturbing traumatic event. This could be an experience where their safety or life has been threatened. Or it could be after witnessing a disturbing event for example violence, an accident or death, serious injury or witnessing a something like war or natural disaster.
The condition of Complex PTSD is a result of prolonged exposure to trauma. It is commonly seen in victims of domestic violence and child abuse – either physical, emotional or sexual.
Types of Trauma
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a common disorder that affects approximately 3 million Australians over their lifetimes. It can occur following exposure to a traumatic event when feelings of fear, anxiety and helplessness persist for long periods. In addition it can interfere with people’s ability to cope with daily life.
Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C PTSD)
The condition of Complex PTSD is a result of prolonged exposure to trauma. It relates to those who have experienced child abuse, neglect or domestic violence.
For people who have been traumatised, memory problems and disruptions in identity development can make it harder to control emotions and build and maintain healthy relationships.
Trauma Symptoms
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Symptoms:
- Replaying the trauma in the mind
- Intrusive and recurring flashbacks and memories
- Odours, sounds, words or other triggers can call up memories or disturbing thoughts
- Avoidance of certain places, people, or objects that remind them of the traumatic event.
- Feelings of numbness
- Nightmares
- Avoid talking or thinking about the event
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Excessive blame of themselves or others
- Feelings of intense worry, anxiety, depression, anger, shame or guilt
- Negative self-belief or self-image
- Blocked out or an inability to remember the traumatic event
- Emotional detachment from others
- Thoughts of suicide
- Lack of enjoyment of favourite activities or things
- Difficulty or inability to have positive emotions
Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C PTSD) Symptoms & Symptoms of Childhood Trauma In Adulthood:
People with complex PTSD often experience a variety of symptoms alongside their core PTSD symptoms, including:
- Experiencing difficulty controlling and expressing emotions. For example, they may have outbursts of rage or persistent sadness, or not be able to articulate what they’re feeling.
- Affliction with negative self-belief or self-image resulting in feelings of helplessness, guilt, shame, embarrassment or self-loathing.
- Issues building and maintaining relationships due to a lack of trust. For example, they may be distant or avoidant of relationships. Or they may form unhealthy or dysfunctional relationships
- Feel a sense of emptiness inside themselves
- Development of psychological issues like anxiety, depression and addictions
Causes of Trauma
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Causes:
PTSD can affect people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event that was potentially life-threatening or involved serious injury or sexual violence. Examples of such experiences include:
- Natural disasters – floods, house or bushfires, severe storms, hurricanes and earthquakes
- Severe accidents from a motor vehicle, in the workplace or anywhere indoors or outdoors
- Being or living in a war zone as a civilian or solider
- Rape or sexual assault or the threat of them
- Physical assault from violence like a fight, robbery or mugging
- Witnessing others be harmed or killed, or the suicide of a family member or friend
Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C PTSD)
Complex PTSD can be caused by any kind of long-term trauma and typically includes some type of abuse. Traumatic events that can lead to this disorder include:
- Prolonged psychological, physical, sexual abuse or emotional neglect in childhood
- Prolonged domestic violence
- Being held in potentially vulnerable environments like refugee camps
- Enforced sex trafficking or exploitation
Trauma Treatment
Treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder can take many forms, including talk therapy and medicines. Everyone’s PTSD is different, so individuals might need to try a few different types of treatment to find what works best.
For complex PTSD sufferers, the most effective treatment is long-term psychological therapy as well. This can help them gradually regain their trust in others and allows them to better function in their work and social lives.
Trauma-focused cognitive behaviour therapy (TF-CBT), helps patients cope with trauma by working through memories of the trauma, challenging unhelpful beliefs and thoughts, and gradually facing triggers that are being avoided. All whilst done in a safe and secure space with the supervision of a professional psychologist.
We offer trauma therapy in Sydney as well as online - see below.
