If you or someone you know is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, it’s important to seek PTSD counseling as soon as possible. Whether symptoms are immediately apparent or take years to surface, they typically increase and intensify over time without proper therapy. 

To help you understand what PTSD counseling involves, here are the three types services you can expect:

Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive therapy aims to treat PTSD by helping the patient realize they’re not at fault for the traumatic event. The therapist does this by discussing the event and the aftermath, so the patient can understand which of their thoughts are worsening the symptoms. They can then work on replacing these thoughts with less distressing ones.

Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy aims to relieve the patient of the acute fear associated with certain traumatic memories. Regularly discussing the affecting incident with a therapist causes the memory to lose some of its potency and ability to inflict terror. While reliving these memories is difficult for a patient to do, their courage is eventually rewarded as the source of trauma becomes easier to talk about.

Group Therapy

This type of therapy helps patients by providing a safe and supportive environment where they can talk about their trauma without fear of judgment. A group therapy session helps patients feel less alone in their experiences and gives them a chance to connect with others who’ve endured similar struggles.

Whether you’re seeking PTSD counseling or therapy for another type of mental health condition, the compassionate professionals at White Spruce Counseling provide a wide range of top-quality services to residents throughout Rochester, NY, including anger management, domestic violence, and substance abuse. They believe in open and honest communication to get you the quality mental health care you deserve. Call (585) 424-2436 today to schedule an appointment today or visit their website for a comprehensive list of services.