What Forms Of Treatment Are Available For PTSD?

Eight out of every 100 individuals may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in their lifetime. The symptoms of PTSD are serious and can lead to depression, anxiety, and severe stress. If you're living with PTSD or suspect you may have the condition, finding support can be essential. Understanding the support options available to you can help you find the most effective treatment.

What is PTSD?

PTSD stands for post-traumatic stress disorder, a stress and trauma-related mental illness within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Although PTSD is commonly experienced in war veterans and soldiers, it is a mental health condition that can impact anyone. It is most common in women and those who have experienced sexual assault or abuse. 

If you have been through a traumatic experience or have witnessed a traumatic experience of someone else, you may be at risk of developing PTSD.

For a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder to be made, your psychologist will look at whether you have experienced these symptoms for at least a month. Note that symptoms of PTSD do not have to happen immediately after the event. Many individuals experience them months or years after an event has occurred, often in cases where the event is ongoing or repeated. 

What treatments are available for PTSD? 

PTSD is a treatable mental health condition. Multiple forms of treatment may be beneficial in helping individuals feel in control of their symptoms, including the following. 

Prolonged exposure (PE) therapy

Prolonged exposure therapy is effective in treating PTSD. This form of therapy works by helping the individual confront their fears gradually. As you become more accustomed to confronting fears instead of avoiding them, you may feel desensitized to the symptoms accompanying the trauma. Often, this is done slowly not to overwhelm the nervous system. It may be spread over several months, depending on the severity of the trauma. 

Exposure therapy may be ineffective for those experiencing severe flashbacks or panic attacks in response to traumatic memories. Other forms of treatment take a more hands-off approach. 

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)

Cognitive processing therapy helps clients explore the thoughts and feelings that come up when remembering past traumatic events. You may have established certain beliefs about the trauma that you experienced.

To address your symptoms of PTSD, CPT helps you identify those beliefs and then learn how to recognize them in a new light. A licensed mental health professional can work with you to help you replace those beliefs and thoughts with healthier ones. After changing thought patterns, behavioral changes can be addressed. 

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR)

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy is one of the gold therapy standards for treating PTSD. Studies have found that people can experience relief in as little as three sessions. In addition, a meta-analysis of EMDR found that it was more effective than cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in seven out of ten studies. 

During sessions, you will be asked to recall specific memories and imagery regarding the traumatic event. At the same time, the therapist incites bilateral brain stimulation by moving their finger in front of your eyes, giving you non-harmful hand buzzers, or asking you to throw a ball back and forth between your hands. You might also track light with your eyes in some cases. EMDR targets the center of your brain responsible for REM sleep, and it is theorized that emotions are processed differently in this center of the brain, allowing individuals to remember and talk about traumatic events without feeling their emotional impact. 

EMDR may be challenging at first, but therapists are also trained in providing calming scenarios and coping mechanisms to help clients emotionally control if a memory causes a distressing emotion or symptom during sessions and outside of them. 

What to look for in a therapist when treating PTSD

When you're looking for a therapist to treat your PTSD symptoms, there are specific characteristics you may benefit from. When choosing a provider, ask questions before scheduling a session to ensure they fit your needs. PTSD therapy may be ineffective if you feel judged or unsafe during sessions, as a safety professional connection with your therapist may be crucial. 

Experience

Look for a therapist experienced in treating PTSD, as some therapists may not have as much training in trauma-informed care or the types of therapy effective for PTSD. You can also check past reviews to see how other clients have responded to the therapist's treatment. 

Note that new therapists may also be able to offer support, and experience level may not correlate with effectiveness. Many modern students learn about trauma-informed care in college and are exposed to newer PTSD research. However, many therapists are required by their state board to keep up to date on current psychological research. 

Credentials

There are many types of therapists and many licensing titles for providers. The letters after a therapist's name can clue you into the type of care they might provide. For example, a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) often provides family and couples therapy, whereas a licensed professional counselor (LPC) may provide individual psychotherapy. 

In addition, ensure any provider you meet with is licensed to provide counseling in your state. You can check with the state board for verification or ask further questions about their credentials when you first meet. 

Cost 

Meeting with a therapist can be costly, and Forbes has found that individual sessions can range from $100 to $200 an hour in person. If you struggle to afford traditional therapy, you may still have a few options for care. 

If you are a veteran, you may be able to find support for PTSD through the US Department of Veteran Affairs. Meeting with a therapist that understands the experiences that you have been through can be helpful in you getting the help that you need. The VA often has peer support options and support groups available for veterans as well. 

Veterans can also call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (and press 1) or text 838255. For support for the deaf and hard of hearing community, please use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 1-800-273-8255.

Regardless of your veteran status, any individual can sign up with a health insurance company for coverage for mental health services. Before finding a therapist, call or email your insurance company to verify what type of coverage they offer. If you do not have insurance, you may find online therapy a more cost-effective option.

Online counseling options 

There are many potential benefits to online therapy other than the cost. For example, many clients may appreciate being able to choose the location they attend therapy, reducing travel time, and being able to choose between phone, video, or live chat sessions. Having a convenient and affordable option for therapy can cut out some of the disadvantages of traditional treatment. 

Studies have also found online therapy effective for PTSD. One study found that those who attended an online PTSD treatment program had significant improvement in symptoms of depression and anxiety, and other co-morbidities. The dropout rate was also lower than in traditional therapy. 

If you're looking for PTSD support for yourself or your relationship, consider signing up with an online platform like BetterHelp for individuals or Regain for couples. Both options offer a database of over 30,000 licensed mental health providers with experience in various specialties, including trauma care.