PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. It can manifest in various ways, including flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event. Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a specific type of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) that has proven highly effective in treating PTSD.  

Here’s a breakdown of PTSD and CPT:

Understanding PTSD:

• Symptoms:
  • Intrusive memories (flashbacks, nightmares)  
  • Avoidance of reminders of the trauma  
  • Negative changes in thoughts and feelings  
  • Increased arousal (hypervigilance, irritability)  
• Impact: PTSD can significantly disrupt daily life, affecting relationships, work, and overall well-being.  

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT):

• CPT focuses on helping individuals challenge and modify unhelpful beliefs related to the traumatic event.  
• It recognizes that trauma can disrupt how people process information, leading to “stuck points” in their thinking.  
• Key aspects of CPT include:
  • Identifying negative thought patterns: CPT helps individuals recognize how their trauma has affected their beliefs about themselves, others, and the world.  
  • Challenging distorted thoughts: Through structured exercises and discussions, individuals learn to evaluate the accuracy of their thoughts and develop more balanced perspectives.  
  • Written accounts: Often, CPT involves writing about the traumatic experience, which helps individuals process the event and confront avoidance behaviors.  
  • Focus on “stuck points”: CPT assists in working through “stuck points” which are maladaptive beleifs that prevent recovery. Examples of these stuck points are beleifs about safety, trust, power/control, esteem, and intimacy.  
• Benefits: CPT can significantly reduce PTSD symptoms, improve emotional regulation, and enhance overall quality of life.  
• CPT is usually conducted over 12 sessions.  

In essence, CPT empowers individuals to regain control over their thoughts and feelings, fostering healing and recovery from the debilitating effects of PTSD

Domestic Abuse Counselling

Domestic abuse counselling focuses on rebuilding a client’s self-esteem and fostering their autonomy. Through a supportive and empathetic approach, the therapist helps the client recognise their inherent worth and challenge the negative beliefs instilled by the abuser. The core of this work lies in empowering the individual, guiding them to rediscover their inner strength and make informed choices. This involves helping them understand the dynamics of abuse, develop healthy boundaries, and reclaim control over their lives. By nurturing their sense of self and providing tools for self-advocacy, counselling for domestic abuse aims to facilitate lasting independence and emotional well-being.