PTSD

Over my years as a therapist, I have come to understand that there is a popular concept of PTSD that often looks very different from the actual disorder. When my friends talk about a trauma response, they often reference what I like to call “Hollywood PTSD”, which is the image of the disorder that has […]

As Memorial Day draws near, we pause a moment to salute the brave servicemen and women who gave their ultimate sacrifice in service of our country. It’s a day filled with reflection and heartfelt thanks. For many veterans and their families this day becomes a bittersweet reminder of those ongoing challenges which remain long after […]

When working with clients who have experienced trauma, one of the first questions I ask is whether they have been screened for PTSD. Most of the time, the answer will be a firm “no”, usually followed by a variation on, “I don’t have flashbacks”, or “I sleep just fine”. If clients decline assessment for PTSD, we move on and focus on the symptoms that brought them to therapy, which they often self-diagnose as anxiety or depression. Those symptoms include feelings of emotional d