Trauma & PTSD Therapy in Dallas

Trauma is the lasting emotional impact that can result from experiencing an upsetting or distressing event or series of events such as violence, serious accidents, major illness, or other instances of actual or perceived risk of death or serious injury. Different people experience trauma differently based on the events, their own psychological resilience, and more. Trauma can deeply impact our ability to function “normally,” but a trauma informed therapist can help you address and work through trauma for a more fulfilling life.

PTSD is a more persistent and acute form of trauma often characterized by more severe symptoms and lasting for months or even years. Trauma can become PTSD for many reasons since each person reacts to trauma differently. Common PTSD symptoms include intrusive thoughts or memories, hypervigilance or an inability to relax, avoidance or rejection of previously routine behaviors, chronic negative thoughts or moods, and more.

Complex Trauma, also referred to as Complex PTSD (CPTSD), is one of the most severe forms of trauma. Complex Trauma arises when people experience prolonged or repeated traumas over a long period of time or even throughout their life from childhood through adulthood in some cases. Complex Trauma may have even more severe and pervasive symptoms than PTSD with additional challenges like chronic emotional dysregulation, distortd self-concept, and severe interpersonal challenges.

Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is a less severe form of trauma than PTSD, and it often occurs immediately after an upsetting or traumatic event but resolves within a few weeks or a month. Trauma experts recommend working with a trauma informed clinician as quickly as possible after a traumatic event. It is possible for ASD to turn into PTSD or Complex Trauma without proper intervention and treatment immediately after trauma occurs.

Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) occurs most frequently in children, but it can persist into adolescence and even adulthood if it is unresolved in early life. RAD is a particular form of early childhood trauma that impacts a child’s difficulty or inability to form healthy attachments or relationships, often due to trauma from relationships such as neglect or abuse. Trauma therapists help children learn how to form healthy bonds and attachments using a variety of techniques.

Adjustment Disorders are typically characterized by emotional or behavioral responses to an identifiable stressor which in some cases can be a traumatic event. Often considered one of the least severe forms of trauma, Adjustment Disorders can nevertheless cause significant difficulty with typical functioning in social, work, or family events. While typically not as severe or long lasting as more impactful forms of trauma, Adjustment Disorders are still worth reaching out to a trauma informed therapist for treatment.