Types of Therapy for PTSD
When you have PTSD, your past may make it hard to move forward. Telling others about your trauma may be difficult and cause you to keep your feelings to yourself. However, talking with a therapist will allow you to heal and feel better. At Stanford Couples Counseling, we offer several types of PTSD trauma therapy for patients.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a short-term treatment that improves the emotional and mental wellbeing of patients by modifying their thought patterns. CBT therapy examines how a patient’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors affect one another.
The main goal of CBT is to help patients develop coping skills to manage their PTSD. Our PTSD therapists will teach you exercises to change your thinking patterns during the one-on-one sessions and give you homework to further emphasize the lessons.
Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy for PTSD is a form of cognitive behavior therapy. During the exposure therapy process, you will experience gradual exposure to fears in a safe space to help reduce your negative feelings and heal from past traumas.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) uses bilateral stimulation — such as following an object with your eyes as it moves from left to right — to reduce the severity of traumatic memories. EMDR therapy helps clients transform the meaning of painful events through their own intellectual and emotional processes. Because clients overcome their trauma on their terms, they often feel empowered after completing EMDR therapy.