Treating PTSD with Hypnotherapy
I Help People Who Have Experienced:
-
childhood trauma due to family distress, or mistreatment as a child
-
sexual assault or other types of violent crime
-
life-threatening accidents
-
physical and/or psychological abuse over a prolonged period of time
-
workplace bullying
-
domestic or family violence
-
the traumatic events witnessed by emergency services / defence / medical personnel
-
extreme distress related to grief and loss
-
trauma related to childbirth
-
or other distressing events
Hypnotherapy can be effective in resolving symptoms of PTSD because it can resolve the emotional triggering.
PTSD is not a conscious choice it is an unconscious response, so the unconscious drivers must be addressed and hypnotherapy can safely do this.
My clients usually experience some relief from the first session and PTSD symptoms are generally resolved within six sessions, although each client is an individual with their own needs so I adapt the process to ensure change is created safely.
If you would like to discuss your individual situation, you can book a complimentary 30-minute zoom chat using the button below.
How Can Hypnosis Help With PTSD?
A supportive, judgement free, approach.
Hypnosis is used to induce a deep state of calm within the mind and body. This alters the way the brain processes information and allows deeper parts of the mind known as the unconscious mind to be accessed. It is in this healing state that the symptoms can be resolved.
PTSD sufferers experience a powerful emotional and physiological response when something in their environment triggers the traumatic memory. This is known as the fight / flight / freeze response. Physiologically, the emotional response is triggered via the amygdala, which activates the adrenals and the sympathetic nervous system, a sub-system of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). This sympathetic arousal prepares the body to deal with the perceived threat.
The analytical, logical, conscious part of the brain knows that the trauma is in the past and is over. It knows that the rape, the bullying, the violent attack or whatever the traumatic event was, is in the past. But, the unconscious does not. As highly emotive events may disrupt effective processing, the memory was not properly processed at the time of the event, the unconscious holds on to the memory of the trauma at a deep emotional level as though it were happening now. Therefore, the ANS remains on alert, always ready to trigger the sympathetic response, to protect you against the perceived threat, as though it were still there, still happening.
Using very specific and targeted therapy, the unconscious mind can be reprogrammed so that it can accept that the trauma is over, that it is all in the past, and that the psychological and physiological fear/anxiety responses are no longer needed. The entire system can return to calm.
Rather than feeling that your PTSD controls you, this therapy helps you gain a strong sense of being in control again. *
The therapy I use is informed by The Richards Trauma Process (TRTP), and other clinical hypnotherapeutic processes.
How Many Sessions Will It Take?
Note: I usually use the Richards Trauma Process (TRTP) which is a 3 step process.
I do not do this in 3 sessions – it is provided over 5 or 6 sessions usually.
If you would prefer to get help without coming into my office personally I can help you using Zoom. This is only appropriate though if your symptoms are not severe.
Call 0409 803 696 for more information or book a free 30-minute consultation below so that we can discuss your individual needs and see if this therapy is right for you.
What is PTSD?
PTSD is an often debilitating condition that can develop in people after they have experienced a traumatic event, or multiple distressing events over time, which threatened their safety. The body and mind hold onto the memory of the trauma and the sufferer continuously feels the distress as though the trauma is still happening.
PTSD can occur from a range of distressing events:
-
sexual/ physical assault
-
life-threatening accidents or illness
-
physical and/or psychological abuse
-
workplace bullying
-
domestic violence
-
the traumatic events witnessed by emergency services/defence/medical personnel
These all have the potential to generate PTSD symptoms within susceptible people. It is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign that the emotional and physiological systems of the body have been damaged, and need to be healed and restored.
The trauma can take years to be fully felt – particularly with childhood trauma.
Extreme stress over long periods of time is exhausting and it depletes our physical and psychological resources. Stress hormones are pumped through the body and can ultimately cause serious illness.
Often sufferers just keep on pushing through the stress and the emotional pain until they just can’t do it anymore.
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
The PTSD sufferer experiences ongoing distress as a result of the trauma which may be experienced as:
-
Distressing / upsetting memories that seem to be constantly there
-
Intense fear and anxiety that limits your capacity to live freely and feel safe in the community
-
Sleeplessness or nightmares
-
Hyper-vigilance or being always on alert and readily triggered by anything that reminds you of the traumatic event – a smell, a sound, a person, a location – anything that can be connected to the event can potentially generate the full-blown fight-flight response
-
Unreasonable anger that is often directed inappropriately
PTSD also triggers flashbacks to the event, leaving the sufferer feeling like they can never get away from the trauma, like they are stuck inside the traumatic event permanently.
It is also really common for victims of trauma to feel guilt and shame, particularly if the cause has been sexual assault or domestic violence. Victims often blame themselves for what happened, and feel that they can’t get over it.
Thinking can become disordered, confused; concentration is harder, and it becomes a real struggle to maintain usual activities and relationships.
Often these symptoms prevent the sufferer from living a full and productive life. But, The Richards Trauma Process (TRTP) can help.
What Is TRTP™?
The Richards Trauma Process is a different approach that is especially designed to resolve symptoms of PTSD without revisiting the trauma. The awful feelings of anxiety, panic, hyper-vigilance, flash backs, depression, feelings of hopelessness, anger and disturbed sleep can be safely relieved or even completely resolved using TRTP.
TRTP™ is a simple yet comprehensive, step-by-step process that effectively reduces the autonomic arousal. It doesn’t just address the symptoms of trauma, it deals with the underlying cause of the problem, so the common symptoms of PTSD are resolved and the person moves to a state of empowerment. The autonomic nervous system returns to calm and the trauma loses its power.
TRTP™ is like no other therapy. I have successfully used this process to assist many trauma sufferers to feel strong again.
How will TRTP™ reduce my symptoms of PTSD?
-
TRTP™ is a structured hypnotherapy process to resolve the psychological and physiological symptoms of PTSD
-
TRTP™ safely resolves symptoms without revisiting the trauma
-
Most importantly, TRTP™ is adaptable to suit each individual client’s needs and situation
-
TRTP™ reminds you that you have great strength within and empowers you to use your inner resources again to create the rich and wonderful life that you deserve.
-
TRTP™ makes use of hypnosis because this is the gateway to the unconscious mind.
For trauma to be resolved –
1. the person must be moved to an empowered position in regard to the trauma
2. the body must know that the event/events are over
3. the mind must accept that the event / events are over.
*Results may vary from client to client, but with a deep commitment to change, and a willingness to engage fully in the process, you will feel empowered and extraordinary shifts in your emotional state occur.