Our therapists offer PTSD & trauma therapy in Pittsburgh, PA

My go-to approach for helping people in PTSD/trauma therapy is to start where they are, meaning what prompted them to come to therapy, and discuss how it's affecting their daily functioning. My style is eclectic, so I prefer to adapt my methods to meet their needs, and this changes as therapy progresses. This allows for continued progress as the client's needs change. If they are in need of a specialized treatment that I do not provide, such as EMDR, I will help connect them to another provider for that treatment method.

These are some of the tools or coping skills that I teach in trauma therapy:

• Mindfulness: Techniques that increase your awareness and help you focus on being present in the moment and connecting you with your thoughts and feelings.
• Grounding exercises: A part of mindfulness often used to cope with feeling anxious or overwhelmed.
• Communication skills: Learning to express your thoughts and emotions appropriately to yourself and others; this includes listening skills.
• Relaxation techniques: Used to reduce stress, anxiety, and other symptoms; can include self-care.
• Problem-solving: Looking at your situation to identify what you can do for yourself instead of only seeing the problem.
• Stress management techniques, including self-care.

I know a client is making meaningful progress when they report successfully using skills that they learned in therapy. Anytime someone reports that therapy is helping them feel better, that is progress. When someone is able to incorporate new coping skills into daily life and see their own progress, that is meaningful. Even small positive changes to their perspective and behaviors will have a significant and meaningful impact on their life.

Clients can supplement their time in trauma therapy by reading articles or books to increase their knowledge and understanding. I often make suggestions or send links to articles that are specific to their needs or concerns. If you find information on your own, it is always a good idea to ask your therapist to confirm that the information is accurate, especially for information found on social media or online videos.

To prepare for your first therapy session, you can make a list of questions and/or concerns, bring a list of any medications that you are taking (prescription, OTC, and supplements), have a list of prior mental health treatments with dates and names if possible, and most of all be kind to yourself and allow yourself to be open to the idea exploring your thoughts and emotions.