Counseling Considerations When Dealing With PTSD
Traumatic events can be difficult to ever forget. You may continue to think about them, have vivid dreams about them, or be afraid of the things that remind you of the traumatic event. Although some amount of negative feelings are common, if you find that the effects are consuming your life, you may be dealing with post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. PTSD can affect many areas of your life, including employment, social, and even your family relationships. Counseling for PTSD can help in a variety of ways.
Gives you a safe place to talk about the event Some victims of traumatic and stressful events may struggle to talk about the details. They may not want to share that information with a friend or family member. They may be afraid of what will happen to their feelings when they finally talk about it. There may be feelings of regret or shame associated with the traumatic even, making it even more difficult to talk about.
When you receive counseling for PTSD, you are provided with a confidential and safe environment for communication. You are free to talk about the event, whenever you are ready to. You are never forced to talk about anything that you are not ready to. However, when you are ready to talk about it, the counselor is nonjudgmental and is able to help you explore through your feelings about it. Many counselors are well versed in counseling for PTSD and you will soon feel comfortable talking with them.
Provide you with coping tools Although not all counselors will have personal experience with PTSD, they do have experience working with clients with PTSD. They also have a strong educational background on statistically proven coping methods. Your counselor may be able to provide you with tips and tools to effectively manage your PTSD symptoms. They may also be able to challenge poorly viewed thought patterns, especially ones surrounding regret and shame. These coping tools can help you manage on a daily basis.
Bridge communication gaps in families and marriages PTSD can put large gaps in families and marriages. The individual is going through something that no one else is able to understand. The individual may not feel comfortable talking about it, thus further increasing the gaps. A family counselor who focuses on counseling for PTSD can provide a safe communication room for you and your family. They can address problems in families and marriages that may be related to the PTSD.
In the United States, researchers estimate that 40 to 50% of all first marriages, and 60% of second marriages, will end in divorce. Also in America, there is one divorce approximately every 36 seconds. That is nearly 2,400 divorces per day, 16,800 divorces per week, and 876,000 divorces a year. A lot of these divorces are the result of poor communication and lack of trying to understand. Many couples counseling topics revolve around the problem of communication.
Child development PTSD counseling Although most counseling for PTSD clients are military veterans, PTSD can affect anyone. When PTSD affects a child, it can affect their development. They may struggle in school and may find it difficult to trust parents, teachers, and other professionals. It is important to get a child into child development counseling as soon as possible, when they are dealing with symptoms of PTSD.
Children too, need to be equipped with effective tools for coping and dealing with traumatic events. After working with a marriage or family therapist, 93% of patients said they had more effective tools for dealing with their problems. Family sessions with parents and siblings can also help the family understand these tools and help the young child implement them. Individual counseling for parents can also be helpful for the child’s progress.
Post traumatic stress disorder occurs when an individual experiences something extremely traumatic. They struggle with getting over the feelings associated with the event. Counseling for PTSD has shown to be beneficial and successful in the treatment of these symptoms. Counseling efforts might include family and spouse session. When children are involved, the entire family needs to be involved in the treatment process.
