A Leader for PTSD Treatment Centers in Arizona

Get Trauma and PTSD Treatment Options at Changes Healing

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) refers to several mental health disorders that come from experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Finding professional treatment options is critical for recovery when PTSD occurs.

If you’re looking for an effective trauma treatment center, Changes can help. We provide clients with JCAHO-accredited treatment for PTSD and related mental health conditions, including substance abuse.

Keep reading to learn more about PTSD and receiving intensive treatment that will support the recovery process.

Uncomplicated PTSD

Uncomplicated PTSD comes from exposure to a single traumatic event. Most professionals consider this type the easiest to treat. Mental health professional treatment includes psychotherapy, including professional help to change the client’s thoughts about the event.

Symptoms include:

• Avoiding reminders of the traumatic event
• Nightmares
• Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts
• Irritability/moodiness
• Hypervigilance
• Lack of focus
• Becoming startled easily
• Sleep disruptions
• Inappropriate emotional responses

Partial hospitalization programs or intensive outpatient programs are the likeliest setting for this PTSD but may require inpatient PTSD treatment with complicating factors.

Complex PTSD (or Complex Trauma)

Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) is the result of repeated, long-term trauma exposure. It sometimes goes all the way back to childhood, such as sexual trauma or witnessing domestic violence. CPTSD treatment usually requires long-term therapy to help support lasting recovery. Treatment may also require medication management to ease the symptoms.

It includes the typical symptoms but often also includes the following:

• Easily losing emotional control
• Negative thoughts about self
• Difficult relationships

CPTSD treatment often means seeking help from experts at residential treatment centers.

Dissociative PTSD (D-PTSD)

Dissociative post-traumatic stress disorder happens when the person struggling after a trauma feels detached from themselves or their surroundings. Some describe the feelings as being in an alternate reality, amnesia, or feeling outside their own body.

Therapists will help clients reconnect with reality and process the trauma. Symptoms are similar to other PTSD with the addition of dissociation. Inpatient treatment is not uncommon with D-PTSD, especially if they engage in highly risky or self-destructive behaviors.

Comorbid PTSD

Comorbid PTSD, or co-occurring PTSD, means that the person with psychological trauma also has another mental illness. Frequent co-occurrences are substance use, depression, or anxiety.

The overlap of additional mental health disorders makes co-morbid PTSD require professional help in either an inpatient treatment center or through outpatient services, depending on the severity of the PTSD symptoms.

What Traumatic Events Cause Mental Health Disorders?

Trauma can make daily life extremely difficult. The intrusive memories of the event can have a devastating effect on many facets of life. Here are some of the many forms of trauma that may create a high level of inner turmoil:

• Natural disasters like wildfires, tornados, floods, hurricanes
• Receiving a life-altering physical health diagnosis
• Growing up in a home with substance abuse, violence, or dysfunctional dynamics
• Witnessing or experiencing terrorist attacks, famine, or war
• Physical assault or sexual assault
• Vehicle crashes (car, plane, train)
• Long-term verbal abuse or bullying
• Losing family members, spouse, best friend, or partner

These are just a few of the possible situations that can lead to trauma.

Pat Was a First Responder Who Got PTSD Treatment at Changes

‘Pat’ grew up with parents who were first responders, so nobody was surprised when he followed in their footsteps. Pat worked hard every day on the job and found it gratifying to serve his city. He had five successful years on duty as a professional firefighter when he was assigned to help with search and rescue after a wildfire.

Pat was prepared to see the fires’ devastating effect on homes and cars. But he found himself completely shocked to see firsthand how many people had unfortunately perished in the blaze. The worst was finding a mother who had held her baby tightly until the end. The image haunted Pat day and night, and he had struggled with depression, anger, and nightmares every day after that.

The Fire Chief suggested attending grief peer support groups, but Pat just couldn’t shake off and get back to his normal state. He learned that his city’s health insurance plan covered care at Changes, which offered a PTSD treatment center program.

After coming to Changes, Pat had individual therapy, where he worked with a licensed therapist to process the trauma of the natural disaster as well as address his growing issues with alcohol. Through one-on-one and group therapy, Pat gained new coping skills and learned how to reset his daily routine.

Pat left his PTSD treatment program at Changes with a strong foundation for a better future. He ultimately stayed at his job as a firefighter but had the chance to become an educational liaison and teach fire safety to local school children in his city. He knew that this new role would provide a safe environment that wouldn’t trigger the trauma again.

The Emotional Response of Trauma Links to Physical Health

Trauma can lead to dysregulation of the central nervous system and trigger the stress response. Without help from a trauma treatment center, it can result in increased inflammation or a weaker immune system. Stress is also a well-documented risk factor for developing heart disease or digestion issues.

Our holistic trauma treatment center will help you heal mentally and emotionally and can coordinate with your family physician to ensure healing at every level.

Evidence-Based Therapies at a Trauma Treatment Center

Our outpatient and residential treatment centers provide people with evidence-based therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder. You’ll work individually with a compassionate therapist using some of these methods:

• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, in particular eye movements, to process memories of the trauma or traumas.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused CBT: This type of therapy helps in changing negative thoughts about the trauma to change the person’s behaviors when confronting the symptoms.
• Exposure therapy: This trauma treatment is a type of CBT where the therapist exposes the person to memories of the traumatic event in a safe environment. This exposure usually helps reduce the impact of the symptoms.
• Acceptance and commitment therapy: ACT treatment helps people accept and live with the trauma and live a meaningful life despite it.
• Dialectical behavior therapy: DBT combines CBT with mindfulness practices. It’s particularly helpful in the treatment of C-PTSD.

Besides these science-backed individual trauma therapies, most clients will also likely participate in group therapy and family therapy sessions during their treatment for PTSD.

Working with peers in a group setting can encourage them to discuss the trauma more openly. It can also increase an individual’s ability to build new relationships. Including family members in trauma treatment is important so they can become the best possible support network after the program.

Outpatient Versus Residential Treatment

Residential care provides around-the-clock access to mental health specialists. Those with the most severe PTSD symptoms, including those at risk of self-harm or with extreme difficulties in daily life are the likeliest candidates. The structured environment of inpatient treatment is the most supportive setting to people with highly disruptive trauma.

Outpatient options like IOP are more flexible, allowing participants to live at home while attending therapy a certain number of hours daily, several days per week. It’s the top choice for people who have trauma symptoms but can manage to get through their lives with only a few disruptions.

Choosing the right level of trauma treatment is not always clear-cut. As we discussed earlier, many factors can help decide which programs are best for a given individual’s trauma.

If you are unsure if our trauma treatment center can help resolve your memories of a traumatic event, please call us. We can offer you guidance based on a brief assessment,

Insurance Covers Trauma Treatment

Did you know that mental health services are covered by health insurance? The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has required that mental illnesses be covered on par with physical conditions since 2010. Unfortunately, too many people don’t get the help they need because they don’t realize this change has been implemented.

Changes Healing Center has in-network relationships with many of Arizona’s top health insurance providers. We’re also happy to help with treatment if you have AHCCCS (Medicaid in AZ) or AIHP (American Indian Health Program) coverage.

We encourage you to call to discuss your insurance plan with us. Our team can save you the inconvenience of calling your insurance provider and help you get all the pre-authorizations you need for outpatient or residential treatment.

Supportive, Lasting Trauma Recovery at Changes

Living with a trauma disorder like posttraumatic stress disorder can be mentally, emotionally, and physically painful. But when you entrust your care to the professionals at Changes Healing Center, you will begin to make changes that help reduce the grip trauma has over your life.

Our professional counselors have helped numerous trauma survivors work through the chronic stress of psychological trauma. We are confident that we can help you or your loved one, whether you choose our intensive outpatient programs or residential treatment centers.

When you call us, you’re protected by HIPPA and confidential. Call our knowledgeable admissions staff today to say “yes” to trauma treatment.