PTSD occurs after a severe trauma has occurred in a person’s life. The trauma may be a recent event, such as a car accident, an injury, the sudden traumatic death of a loved one, or combat, or it may be historical, such as an adult who was abused as a child or a person who was raped years before, who begins having memories of flashbacks of their experience. When people experience a trauma, it can place them at risk for PTSD. Some people experience trauma and never develop post traumatic stress disorder, while other individuals experience a trauma and begin having symptoms of PTSD immediately. PTSD can also have a delayed onset, so that a person begins to experience the symptoms several weeks, months or years after the traumatic event occurred. Post traumatic stress disorder symptoms include: flashbacks or intrusive memories of the traumatic event, avoiding anything that reminds a person of the event or severe anxiety at being exposed to reminders of the traumatic event (for example, a person was in a terrible auto accident in a blue mini-van might find themselves having sudden heart palpitations or shortness of breath and fearfulness any time they see a blue mini-van). Therapy can be tremendously helpful in allowing a person to work through a traumatic experience and to address the symptoms of PTSD. The following CPC counselors work with PTSD and trauma:
Lena Aburdene (Arlington, Washington DC)
Devika Campbell (Arlington, Washington DC)
Suzanne Doherty (Annandale, Fairfax)
Heather Guthrie-Hoey (Dale City)
Kathie Kurtz (Fairfax, Manassas)
Gary McMichael (McLean, Sterling)
Kevin Ogle (Arlington, Falls Church)
Francine Ronis (Falls Church, McLean)