When a person experiences some form of trauma (auto accident, sudden death of a loved one, abuse, combat) the whole physical, emotional and spiritual system pulls together to try to help the person resolve the feelings brought about by the traumatic event. Often times when a person has experienced a traumatic event, it is helpful to talk through the feelings that have come about as a result. It is possible to experience a trauma and work through the associated feelings fully. It is also possible, sometimes, to be unable to work through the overwhelming feelings that may come after a traumatic event, and when this happens, it can put a person at risk for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD may occur when the feelings from a severe trauma overwhelm a person’s capacity to work through them. 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 preventing, or helping a person deal with symptoms of PTSD. The following CPC counselors work with trauma and PTSD:
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)