Indy Women’s Counseling uses only evidence-based therapies in our treatment of trauma. This means these therapies have been studied, peer-reviewed, and are recognized by the American Psychological Association as effective in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. There are currently three therapies recognized by the APA and the Veteran’s Administration (VA). They are EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE). Indy Women’s Counseling provides two of these and is in the process of being trained in the third. We are committed to providing the most effective therapies to you, so you feel the freedom to enjoy your life and relationships to the fullest extent.
EMDR
Have distressing or adverse life events caused anxiety, depression, or disconnection?
Is professional help needed coming to terms with the loss of a loved one?
Is suffering from trauma-related scars, nightmares, or flashbacks occurring?
Are migraine, chronic, or phantom pain disrupting everyday life?
Is post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) impairing the ability to function in everyday life?
Many women are expereincing these symptoms and feel isolated in them. But they are not alone.
According to a study published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress, the prevalence of PTSD is 8.3%, 4.7%, and 3.8% of the population, over a lifetime, the past year, and the past six month period. Add to this those who don’t fit the PTSD criteria yet face health challenges after enduring adverse life events and the numbers are huge.
This means that millions of women are suffering from serious, life altering signs and symptoms, and they need help to heal and recover.
And as overwhelming and complex as trauma can feel, recovery is possible. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) have been shown to be effective for issues like those mentioned above, and more.
So if these describe you…
- Struggles with anxiety or depression
- Reliving traumatic events with accompanying unwanted memories, vivid images, palpitations, panic attacks
- Being easily startled, feel on edge, or are often irritable
- Having trouble experiencing joy, love, or other positive emotions
- Chronic pain is negatively impacting daily life
- Looking for professional help to better cope with previous trauma
- Wishing to create an easier, happier, more connected life
…Then eye movement desensitization and reprocessing could be the right therapeutic approach.
EMDR is a powerful psychotherapeutic approach that helps lessen, even eliminate, the painful mental and physical responses raised by the memory of traumatic events and seeks to create new healthier patterns in your brain.
In EMDR we work with women through eight critical phases to safely identify the distressing memory or memories and those situations that bring emotional and physical suffering, desensitize their bodies and brains to harmful responses, and aim for rapid and positive therapeutic change. We teach the techniques to manage stress independently and enable optimal therapy.
Success with EMDR results in relief from emotional and mental distress adjusts and redefines beliefs, and contributes to a relaxed and calmer mind and body. If interested in learning how EMDR can create a new pathway to peace, please contact Indy Women's Counseling today for an appointment.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
CPT is a cognitive behavioral approach to treating trauma. It is a structured trauma-focused form of CBT. Treatment is structured around 12 weeks of therapy and addresses “stuck points” that keep women in avoidance and, consequently, prevent them from processing through traumatic event(s) they have experienced that are resulting in a less-satisfying and painful way of living. It is one of the three, along with EMDR and PE, evidenced-based treatments for PTSD recognized by the American Psychological Association. For women who like structure and doing recovery “homework”, this may be a good option for healing from traumatic experiences.
We have successfully treated many women with birth trauma, sexual assault, or other forms of trauma with CPT. Hearing “I feel like I got my life back” is our often our great privilege when completing CPT protocol with the women we serve at Indy Women’s Counseling. Healing from trauma is possible and all women deserve that kind of fulfilling life. Contact us to start the healing today!