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Trauma & PTSD

PTSD affects 7.7 million adults or 3.6% of the U.S. population ( NIMH)

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder  (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is often triggered following a significant, terrifying event-— either experiencing or witnessing it. Symptoms often include flashbacks, avoidance of reminders, increased startle reflex, nightmares and intense fear or anxiety, as well as persistent upsetting thoughts about the event. Most people who experience traumatic events have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with time and good self-care, they usually get better. However, if symptoms worsen, last for months or even years, and interfere with your day-to-day functioning, you may have PTSD.

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Did You Know??

  •  Women are 5x more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD than men

  • Rape is the most likely trigger of PTSD among adults

  • Childhood sexual abuse is a strong predictor of the lifetime likelihood of developing PTSD.

  • About 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the United States experience child sexual abuse.

  • At least 1 in 7 children have experienced child abuse or neglect in the past year in the United States.

Evidenced-Based Treatments

Dr. Harrington is  well versed in and applies evidence-based, trauma informed practice that is tailored to meet individual patient preferences and needs. Evidence-based treatments are standardized therapeutic protocols that have been rigorously tested ( i.e., randomized, controlled trials or a series of case studies) and have been proven effective in reducing PTSD and other associated symptoms.

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Cognitive Processing Therapy

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that is effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD that have developed after experiencing different types of traumatic events including child abuse, combat, rape and natural disasters.

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Child Therapist

Trauma- Focused CBT

Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ( TF-CBT) is an evidenced-based treatment protocol that has been proven effective in treating children and adolescents with PTSD. Learn more about the components of TF-CBT and who is a good candidate.

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Written Exposure Therapy

Written Exposure Therapy is a manualized exposure-based  therapy for PTSD. The treatment is short term and consists of only 5, 30-minute writing sessions shown to reduce unwanted fear and PTSD symptoms. 

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Girl Gazing

National Center for PTSD

The National Center for PTSD and The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) are excellent resources to learn more about trauma and PTSD. NCTSN serves to improve access to treatment services for children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events. Learn more about NCTSN and Child PTSD.

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The Trauma Center

Justice Resource Institute (JRI)

The Trauma Center at JRI was founded by Bessel van der Kolk, an internationally renowned expert in the field of trauma.The Trauma Center offers specialized clinical services to at risk children and families or those who have experienced trauma. The program also provides education, training and consultation to students and mental health providers.

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