Trauma Counselling and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Trauma occurs when someone experiences a shock that creates lasting distress, and often PTSD can develop. PTSD and trauma counselling can help us understand and address the trauma. After an extremely traumatic event, it is normal to feel anxious and depressed, and such an event can also lead to a prolonged condition known as PTSD. But when the agitation, the depression, or the anxiety sticks around past its welcome, it becomes a problem. If this describes what you are currently experiencing, consider calling us or using the tool to the right to book an appointment with one of our trained counsellors.

A period of agitation is to be expected after any one of these events:

Witnessing or being the victim of violent crime
Being involved in a car accident
Experiencing emotional, verbal, physical or sexual abuse

Counsellors Specializing in PTSD & Trauma Counselling

Capital Choice Trauma Counselling Can Help

Many suffers of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) may experience flashbacks or terrible nightmares. They may be plagued with fear and anxiety when presented with objects or surroundings that remind them of the event. They may experience wild mood swings, combined with self-destructive behaviour. If you’re currently experiencing trauma or PTSD, you may feel as though your symptoms will never end. You likely feel constantly on edge, waiting for something similar to your traumatic event to reoccur. You are likely experiencing horrible, recurring memories of the event. Luckily, there is help. At Capital Choice Counselling, our trauma counselling specific counsellors can help you address the mental scarring that has left you shaken.

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Find The Help That Is Right For You

When you want to benefit from trauma counselling in Ottawa, contact us. You can find confidence through trauma counselling Ottawa. Or if someone you love has been traumatized, our Ottawa trauma counsellors are available. Our Ottawa trauma therapists are trained and experienced in trauma counselling. Our trauma counsellors are licensed psychotherapists, psychologists, social workers, and counsellors that specialize in trauma. CCCG trauma therapists provide trauma counselling, trauma treatment, and trauma help. CCCG has trauma counsellors, trauma psychologists, trauma psychotherapists and trauma therapists in Ottawa and the surrounding area. A CCCG trauma therapist can help with feeling anxious or traumatized, PTSD, or if your teenager/child has experienced trauma.

PTSD & Trauma Counselling

Trauma therapy can help reduce the hold of the traumatic memories, allowing you to live your life as you did before the event. In talking to a counsellor, you will be encouraged to process your feelings and meaning about the event, allowing you to build a new story.

Is trauma therapy right for me?

I have experienced a traumatic event
I feel like the memories of the event may never fade
I feel trapped
I feel alone in my suffering

If you see yourself in the above statements, trauma counselling can help. Contact one of our Ottawa-based counsellors using the tool to the right.

Individual counselling services are often covered by your health insurance plan.

Related Therapies

– Anxiety Counselling

– Grief Counselling

– Counselling for Sexual Health

Trauma and PTSD FAQs

You might be seeking help for yourself or someone you care about wondering how psychotherapy can help in healing from traumatic events.

As psychotherapists who specialise in treating the effects of traumatic events and post-traumatic stress, we are frequently asked a variety of questions concerning trauma, PTSD, and psychotherapy.

We’ve compiled the most frequently asked questions here to help you better understand the effects of trauma on all of us. Questions such as how we may respond to experiencing or witnessing traumatic events, what it takes to heal from their impact, and what to expect in therapy will be addressed in the FAQs below.

Trauma Counselling and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder FAQs

What is trauma?

A traumatic event can be referred to an incident or situation that involves death or the danger of death, major injury, or sexual assault. Extensively, A traumatic reaction can occur after more indirect exposure to traumatic events, such as witnessing someone go through such an event, or learning about a situation in which a loved one died violently or accidentally, or chronic exposure to or witnessing of distressing events.

Trauma can be a very subjective and personal experience. Even if certain life events may not pose a serious threat to our lives, they can still be extremely distressing.

What is PTSD?

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a disorder that some people develop after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. It's natural to be terrified when you're in danger. This fear causes several split-second changes in the body as it prepares to defend against or avoid the danger. This healthy "fight-or-flight" response is designed to protect a person from harm. This reaction is altered or impaired in PTSD. Even when they are no longer in danger, people with PTSD may remain tense or afraid.

Who can get PTSD?

Anyone who has experienced or witnessed traumatizing event can suffer from PTSD regardless of the age. This includes veterans of war as well as survivors of physical and sexual assault, abuse, accidents, disasters, and a variety of other traumatic occurrences. Not everyone who has PTSD has experienced a traumatic event. When a friend or family member is in danger or is harmed, some people get PTSD. The untimely death of a loved one can also trigger PTSD.

Again, anyone can develop PTSD. It isn't a sign of weakness. Several factors, many of which are beyond the individual's control, might raise the likelihood of PTSD.

What does PTSD look like?

PTSD Symptoms can be summarised into several clusters such as Intrusion, avoidance, arousal and reactivity and changes in thoughts and moods.

By now, you are aware that not everybody who experiences trauma develops PTSD. And PTSD can look different for each person suffering from it.

Intrusion symptoms are unwelcome and involuntary symptoms that can result in physical manifestations such as a racing heart or sweating. Flashbacks, nightmares, or disturbing memories of the occurrences are examples of intrusive symptoms.

Avoidance symptoms might cause you to avoid places, people, and situations that make you feel anxious or remind you of the traumatic experience. You may also avoid anything that reminds you of the trauma, such as specific sorts of movies.

Arousal symptoms are there all of the time rather of being triggered. This can include a continuous stress or anger. Reactivity has to do with changes in how you react to specific events. It's possible that you might become easily startled or edgy. Sleep problems and unhealthy coping practises can both be caused by arousal and reactivity.

When you have PTSD, your thoughts and feelings can shift. This could emerge as a lack of trust, new and unfavourable self-perceptions, or a constant need to be cautious and alert.

PTSD Symptoms are extensive and complex, and you may not experience them all. Reach out to our Ottawa based counsellors at Capital Choice if you think you might be experiencing reactions to trauma.

How is PTSD Detected?

PTSD can be diagnosed by a doctor with experience with people with mental illness, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist. After speaking with the person who is experiencing PTSD symptoms, the doctor will make the diagnosis.

Often times, the person diagnosed with PTSD will have exhibited multiple symptoms from different symptom clusters for an extended period. Also, the symptoms exhibited make it difficult to attend to work or go to school, spend time with friends, or complete crucial duties.

How do children react to PTSD?

Although children and teenagers might have severe reactions to trauma, their symptoms may differ from those of adults. Reactions in Children could manifest in form of bedwetting after being toilet trained, speech issues, acting out the scary event during play time and clinginess to parents and adults.

If you have concern regarding the mental health of your child, You can reach out to one of our Ottawa based counsellors for help.

Will people with PTSD get better?

Yes, people with PTSD get better. For different people, getting better could mean different things. There are numerous PTSD therapy methods available at Capital Choice. For many people, these treatments can completely eliminate symptoms. For others, your symptoms don't have to get in the way of your daily life, employment, or relationships.

What happens if I do nothing? Will it just go away?

No, it won’t go away. Avoidance is one of the primary symptoms of PTSD. Where we simply do not wish to discuss or relive the horrible experience. Most of the time, we've already expended so much effort and mental energy attempting to control our internal conflict that discussing what's causing us to feel this way in the first place feels painful.

Environmental triggers are unpredictable and unexpected. We are continuously at the mercy of our surroundings and the triggers in it if we don't learn how to effectively manage our symptoms, memories, and emotional reactions.

That said, there are a variety of approaches to treating symptoms that arise as a result of stressful or traumatic events. Some treatment approaches demand extensive discussion of what occurred, while others do not. Our qualified therapists at Capital Choice Ottawa who has been educated to work through a trauma-informed lens will work with you at your own speed, recommending treatment options that are right for you.

It's critical that you share your needs and concerns, and that you feel at ease with your therapist. This will help you go on your recovery path knowing that you’re supported!

Do I have to relive my trauma to heal?

Do I have to relive my trauma to heal? No. The notion that you must relive every aspect of your trauma in order to recover is inaccurate and potentially detrimental. Although it is true that reconsolidation of trauma memories and/or nervous system states is useful in reducing symptoms, this does not imply that clients must relive every detail of their experiences.

There are a number of therapies and strategies used by our Ottawa based counsellors at Capital Choice that can effectively address the effects of stress and trauma on clients in a kind and empowering manner.