Trauma

Past trauma (which often causes PTSD or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) can interfere with your daily activities and quality of life. Individuals who have experienced trauma may struggle with emotional regulation, relationship issues, anxiety, depression, nightmares, flashbacks and hypervigilance (feeling on edge most of the time). Trauma impacts the brain including cognitive abilities, sleep cycles and even digestion.

We offer TF-CBT (trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy) for children and client-centered, CBT (cognitive-behavioral treatment) for adults dealing with trauma.

Complex PTSD

Complex PTSD is a chronic condition which can interfere with your daily activities and quality of life. There are a variety of reasons why an individual can develop Complex PTSD. When an individual experiences a series of traumatic events it can significantly impact their ability to develop effective coping skills, emotional regulation, and feeling “stuck” in a traumatized state. We work with clients to create an individualized treatment plan with therapeutic modalities that are both scientifically based, and client centered. We meet client where they are and help them work through traumatic events by being future focused with coping skills that work best for that individual client.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Physical, mental and emotional, sexual and medical are just some kinds of trauma. While trauma comes in many forms, its effects are often the same. Trauma causes anger, anxiety, panic, depression, cognitive distortions, relationship problems and many other mental health issues. Trauma survivors often say that they “feel like they are losing their minds” due to experiencing flashbacks that cause them to relive their trauma all over again. Survivors may feel alone, guilty, confused and like they will never get better. However, there is hope.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents affected by trauma. The TF-CBT model is manualizied, highly structured and invites caregivers into the therapeutic process. Children are the focus of treatment while parents are simultaneously supported to address their feelings related to their child’s trauma and how best to help and parent their child through this difficult process.

Variants of TF-CBT and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) are also helpful in addressing trauma in adults. Learning coping strategies, receiving psychoeducation about trauma, sharing your trauma narrative/story and finding strength and healing going forward are all possible. CBT helps survivors learn about the connection between their thoughts, feelings and behaviors so that they can challenge their negative and unhelpful thoughts and move forward on the healing path.

The sooner you treat your trauma the quicker you will progress on your healing journey. Instead of seeing yourself as a “victim” or even a “survivor”, over time you will find yourself fully engaging in all of the beauty life offers. And not just surviving, but thriving.

Grief

Loss and grief are universal to the human experience. In 1969, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross identified 5 stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. People experience these stages of grief in various ways and often do not move through the stages in a linear fashion. For example, they may bounce between denial and anger and then start to move to acceptance only to go back to anger for a while. We are experienced with supporting individuals experiencing loss and grief and provide the expertise and space necessary to foster acceptance and healing.

Blue Sky Family Counseling and Coaching
316 Alexander Street SE, Suite 2
Marietta, Georgia 30060
Phone: 404-500-8230