Trauma & PTSD Counseling

Julie Abdullah, MS, LPC-ITKathleen Mack, MSW, LCSWMilwaukee Counseling Services

Trauma Treatment

BIG "T" and little "t": Trauma

Many people think of trauma as something just veterans experience. While it's true that many veterans do experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it's more common in the general population than you might expect. According to PTSD: National Center for PTSD, going through trauma is not rare. About 6 of every 10 men (or 60%) and 5 of every 10 women (or 50%) experience at least one trauma in their lives.

There are two types of trauma most people experience: the BIG T and the little t.

BIG "T" Trauma

Simply put, a BIG "T" trauma is exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. This trauma can occur by first-hand exposure but can also happen if you witness the event. Sometimes, learning about a tragedy that happened to someone close to you can be highly traumatic

Small "t" trauma

A small "t" trauma is any event that occurs at a critical time in our development. The trauma leaves a debilitating mark on our self-esteem or self-worth, sense of safety, or attachment with others. Most people have long forgotten the event, but the emotional imprint it leaves can cause problems relating to others personally or professionally.

Some common symptoms of PTSD:

Re-experiencing the event in nightmares
Flashbacks
Avoiding things or places associated with the event
Panic attacks
Sleep disturbance
Poor concentration
Depression
Emotional numbing,
Drug or alcohol misuse
Anger
Relationship Issues

What happens in your body when you experience a traumatic event?

When you experience a traumatic event, your body shifts from a calm or relaxed state into a fight or flight state. This activates your defense system causing physical symptoms:

Increased heart rate
Increased sweating
Reduced stomach activity or increase
Raised Blood pressure
Dizziness
Nausea

After the event, your body goes into a different state; it can be shock or denial. You can experience a wide range of feelings. You may feel sad, shame, helplessness or angry.

Will I Ever Heal From the Trauma?

With our help, you can recover from trauma's effects on your life and find relief for both past and present traumas. We offer various services, including EMDR therapy, DBT psychotherapy, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and more. So whether you want to work with one therapist or multiple professionals at once, we can make it happen! It may always be in your past, but our therapists will help you, so it does not affect your present life in the same way. You can move forward.

Friends and Family will Benefit from your Healing too

It's not just the people directly affected by trauma who suffer, but their loved ones as well. Trauma has a way of spreading out and affecting everyone around you in ways you might not even realize. Therapy can help make these relationships healthier and more rewarding.

If you have PTSD or Trauma-related issues, it can be challenging to find the right treatment. Unfortunately, treatment for trauma and PTSD is not a one-shoe-fits-all. Don't give up even if you have had a negative experience in therapy before. Not every therapy relationship is a match, and not every treatment approach will fit your needs. You deserve to find the right fit. Our therapists are educated, compassionate, and experienced to help with many trauma-related conditions, including PTSD, anxiety disorders, depression, and more.

Shoreside Therapies offers comprehensive services for teens and adults who have experienced trauma and need support coping with symptoms and addressing life changes caused by those experiences. We provide individual therapy sessions; we also have group therapies available that allow clients to connect with others who share similar experiences. Work on healing together through shared experience, in a safe environment where they know they will not be judged or criticized by anyone else present. All our therapists are highly qualified professionals who work hard every day to help people heal from the effects of trauma. Don't wait, connect with one of our Trauma Therapists today. Located in Milwaukee, Whitefish Bay, or virtually throughout Wisconsin.

Other services

Working with anxiety and panic attacks in not all we do at our Whitefish Bay, WI location. We also work with depression, PTSD, trauma, OCD, eating disorders, coaching, postpartum, child, teens, adults, and couples. If you are ready schedule your free 15 minute consultation today! We’ll answer any questions you have about what therapy will look like and if we are a good fit for you.