How is it that some people experience a traumatic event and are able to move on from it while others can’t? If you have experienced Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), you might feel that it has happened to you, that you are unable to control it, and unable to recover from it. It can seem unfair that another person who experienced the same or similar event didn’t develop PTSD, and that can make it feel worse. A strategic approach to psychotherapy tells us that it isn’t a matter of fairness or luck, but it is more likely a matter of past experiences and learnings impacting how you experience and process a traumatic event.
As we grow from young children into teens and then into adults, we are constantly learning from the people around us, the experiences we have, and the media we are exposed to. We don’t all learn the same habits or develop the same responses as we grow, and these can result in what we call ‘experiential gaps’. When these gaps in knowledge and development are addressed, and new ways of processing our thoughts, feelings, and emotions are developed, our ability to handle trauma and let go of the harm that has been done to us becomes easier.
In my practice, I use a solution-focused approach to help you overcome trauma and build new ways of responding and reacting. This means identifying and filling in those gaps so that you can develop a solution that gives you back control over your responses and reactions. This allows you to create a future without flashbacks, strong emotional responses to triggers, and embrace a new sense of calm.
One of the techniques I employ is hypnotherapy, which can be particularly effective for PTSD. Hypnotherapy allows us to access the subconscious mind, where deep-seated memories and responses reside. By working through these in a safe and controlled environment, we can reframe negative experiences and create new, positive pathways. This helps in reducing the power that traumatic memories hold over you, making it possible to move forward with greater ease and resilience.
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