PTSD Treatment

Clients who are seeking or participating in DBT may have experienced a traumatic event that causes ongoing suffering in their lives. Distressing symptoms may include flashbacks/nightmares, avoidance of reminders of the traumatic event, substantial negative changes in emotions and thinking since the event, or frequently feeling “on edge” as though danger is close at hand. Such symptoms are associated with a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

We offer treatment to help reduce the severity of PTSD symptoms, and ultimately to help people improve their lives in the wake of a traumatic experience. Clients do not require a formal diagnosis of PTSD in order to receive and benefit from this treatment. However, we can conduct a psychological assessment to determine whether a diagnosis of PTSD fits the current presenting difficulties (please visit our Psychological Assessment section for more information).

At The DBT Clinic, we provide Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD. CPT is an effective, evidence-based treatment. It involves a focus on the five areas of functioning that are most impacted by a traumatic experience, which include safety, trust, power/control, esteem, and intimacy. Within these five areas, clients identify and change problematic patterns of thinking that keep them stuck in suffering. New beliefs are generated that help clients to acknowledge the impact of trauma while moving forward into the lives they want to have. 

CPT is a protocol-based treatment, meaning that there is specific structure and content for each session as well as a prescribed total length of therapy. The protocol is 12 sessions, but can be extended based on the individual needs and pace of each client.

Clients may be highly motivated to address their trauma. However, research shows that when a client is actively suicidal or self-harming, providing trauma treatment too soon can make these behaviours worse (e.g., Foa et al., 2009). Therefore, for clients who are actively suicidal or self-harming, a period of standard DBT is needed as an initial step in order to stabilize the client and ensure their safety before proceeding with trauma treatment.

Please contact us if you are interested in treatment for PTSD.