Trauma Therapy and PTSD Counseling in State College, PA

Tommy was excited for his first plane ride—but this excitement was quickly replaced with fear. Twenty minutes into flight, the plane began to rattle violently. Tommy’s grandparents yelled for him to put his seatbelt back on and stay still. He obeyed without any objections, but couldn’t hold back his tears. These flowed until the plane relaxed 10 minutes later. Fortunately, the remainder of the flight was smooth. But the damage was done—Tommy was traumatized. And so were many of the other passengers on board.

It’s likely that Tommy harbored a fear of flying after this traumatic experience. In fact, if this is the only result of this event, he’s lucky. Trauma often causes other negative effects, including flashbacks, anxiety, and hypervigilance. And if one refuses or fails to properly process their traumatic experience, then they are likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can have many harmful effects for years to come.

There is no timestamp on trauma. There isn’t a formula that you can insert yourself into to get from horror to healed. Be patient. Take up space. Let your journey be the balm.”

–Dawn Serra

Don’t worry—there is help for people like Tommy. Trauma therapy and PTSD counseling are designed to help people properly process their traumatic experiences. Confronting distressing experiences and recalling disturbing memories is painful, but doing so ultimately helps one heal. If you decide to partner with one of our trauma therapists at Thriveworks State College Counseling, you can trust that our counselors will walk you through this recovery journey. To schedule your session and get started, just call our office. We’re here to help.

What Is PTSD Like? What Are the 4 Phases of PTSD?

PTSD is a common mental illness in the US, as an estimated 1 in 11 individuals will get diagnosed with this condition. As we mentioned above, traumatic experiences trigger PTSD when they go unaddressed. Here’s how PTSD unfolds:

1. The impact phase

The first phase of PTSD is the impact phase. Here, the individual experiences shock, guilt, anxiety, hypervigilance, and other difficult emotions following their trauma.

2. The rescue phase

In the second phase of PTSD, the rescue phase, the individual may start to acknowledge and/or accept the traumatic event they have experienced. They might fall victim to a range of mental and physical side effects from numbness to flashbacks and nightmares.

3. The intermediate recovery phase

The third phase of PTSD is the intermediate recovery phase, in which the individual begins to adjust. However, they still encounter new challenges related to their trauma, such as trouble trusting other people or environments that remind them of their trauma.

4. Long-term reconstruction phase

The final phase of PTSD is called long-term reconstruction. This involves moving through difficult emotions like fear and depression, as they look forward to their future. This stage also involves opening up and talking about their trauma if the individual hopes to move on fully and come to terms with what has happened to them.

If you’ve been exposed to a traumatic experience—such as a near-death or otherwise frightening/disturbing event that sticks with you—it’s important that you push yourself to confront it. This is easier said than done, but this does not reduce its importance. If you need some help in confronting your trauma and moving forward, consider talking to a trauma therapist or a PTSD counselor.

The trauma specialists at Thriveworks State College Counseling would love to help you. They come equipped with the skills and tools that will help you come to terms with your trauma and look forward to your future.

Work with a Trauma Therapist at Thriveworks State College Counseling

Thriveworks State College Counseling is here to make a difference in your life. In fact, our ultimate mission is to help people live happy, successful lives. If you’ve experienced a traumatic event, this will involve addressing your trauma, managing any symptoms of PTSD, and learning to shift your focus to the future. Our trauma therapists and PTSD counselors will be happy to help you do this.

In addition to working with skilled, caring mental health professionals, you can look forward to the following benefits at Thriveworks:

• Quick scheduling
• Fast turnaround time
• Online counseling options
• Flexible appointments

If you’d like to set up an appointment (an in-person or online counseling session), just contact our office. We have scheduling specialists here every day who can help you get all set up. We look forward to your call and starting this important relationship.