PTSD Treatment

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Washington DC

Psychological Wellness Group Is Here to Help You Recover From Traumatic Events – From Prevention to Intervention

It is normal to experience temporary psychological distress following a serious accident or traumatic event. Everyone responds to trauma differently and while some individuals adjust to tragedies without any lasting psychological symptoms, others may need help to overcome traumatic events. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one possible psychological health outcome following a traumatic event. While symptoms of PTSD may sometimes show up right away, PTSD symptoms can also first appear months or even years following a traumatic event.

At the Psychological Wellness Group, we believe that recognizing and seeking treatment for early symptoms of PTSD is the best way to prevent more severe consequences from arising. If you recognize any of the below symptoms of PTSD, we encourage you to reach out for help.

• Cognitive: intrusive memories, unreasonable fears, negative thoughts, heightened alertness to danger, difficulties around trust and/or control, forgetfulness, memory gaps, concentration difficulties
• Behavioral: avoiding trauma reminders, isolating, substance over-use or abuse, reckless behavior
• Mood: emotional numbness, prolonged grief, irritability, anxiety, anger outbursts, hyper-vigilance, negative mood,
• Body: sleep difficulties, appetite changes, difficulty relaxing, exaggerated startle response, frequent headaches or migraines, jaw clenching, nausea.

The Psychological Wellness Group is Washington DC’s top center for trauma treatment. All of our clinicians have acquired specialized training in PTSD prevention and treatment and have many years of experience treating trauma. We are proud to offer a comprehensive suite of trauma and PTSD treatment services to include:

• Preparation training or post-disaster relief briefings
• Workplace compensation evaluations and treatment plans
• Short-term incident-based treatment immediately following a traumatic event
• Longer term treatment of complex trauma

Each of our clinicians has specialized expertise working with populations exposed to different types of trauma. Some of the populations we serve include:

• Combat veterans
• Rape or sexual assault survivors
• Members of the Peace Corps, US Department of State or other international agencies
• Individuals with ongoing symptoms related to childhood abuse or bullying
• Individuals disabled from an accident or health condition
• Family members of trauma survivors

We draw upon evidence-based practices to ensure efficient and effective treatment for complex and single-incident PTSD. A few of the interventions we use to treat PTSD include:

• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
• Integrative mind-body stress reduction techniques
• Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy (EMDR)
• Prolonged Exposure
• Attachment Re-processing

Below are a few apps and web resources our team endorses for helping to manage PTSD.

MooreMomentum: Allows users to sign up for free weekly life coaching exercises to improve core health areas to include: career and finances, physical health, mindset, relationships and emotional health.

Calm: Includes guided meditations which many find helpful for lowering stress, feelings of anxiety, and achieving a more restful sleep. The app includes: sleep stories, breathing programs, masterclasses, and relaxing music.

Headspace: Research indicates that mindfulness is effective in helping lower stress. The headspace app is perfect for individuals new to mediation and includes short guided meditations that progress to longer meditations as your ability to meditate increases.

PTSD Coach: Developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, this app provides education about PTSD, a self-assessment for PTSD, opportunities to find support, and tools for managing the stresses of daily life with PTSD. Tools range from relaxation skills and positive self-talk to anger management and other common self-help strategies.

CPT Coach: A companion app designed to be used for clients undergoing Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). CPT is a cognitive-behavioral treatment designed to help address symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.