Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder developing after trauma events, involving intense stress, and leading to persistent intrusive memories, avoidance of reminders, negative changes in thinking/mood, and heightened arousal. Cognitive processing therapy is a structured trauma focused therapy that helps PTSD clients modify unhelpful beliefs about trauma. Prolonged exposure emphasizes in-vivo, imaginal, and narrative exposure to the traumatic event, with a focus on related memories, feelings, and narratives of the situation. Counselors can collaborate with other professionals and community services to reduce the stigma that may keep clients from seeking help and to expand availability of services.