Many people experience trauma in their lives, and strong reactions to trauma can result in post-traumatic reactions (such as PTSD). This can happen not only to those who witness atrocities such as war but also to those were exposed to sexual abuse, brutality, or physical or emotional abuse in relationships. This is not just because of what happened to us, but how we make sense of what happened to us and the negative emotions that result. These negative emotions seep into our lives in a variety of ways. We may find ourselves withdrawing from or not engaging in relationships, eating in ways that are harmful, struggling with addictions, or suffering from depression, insomnia, anxiety, irritability, and low self-worth.
One of the most difficult aspects of experiencing trauma is that the impact can affect a person’s life months and years afterward, and the difficulties that arise manifest and interfere with everyday life. Many people do not realize that negative emotions, problems in relationships, and low self-esteem are often directly related to previous traumatic experiences. Additionally, when people experience these negative symptoms, they push away the memories or fight against their feelings; paradoxically, it is the avoidance of these symptoms and memories that causes problems by creeping into daily activities, daydreams, thoughts, and nightmares — the longer and harder people ignore the lingering effects of traumatic events, the longer these memories will control and impact their lives in more negative ways.
Dr. Samantha Gaies, Dr. Sara Glazer, Dr. Rebecca Hoffenberg, and Dr. Kimberly Fishbach use a combination of hypnosis, mindfulness, and exposure therapy techniques to help clients suffering from psychological trauma caused by any kind of traumatic or distressing event. Our approach focuses on helping clients reduce the impact and symptoms associated with trauma. We incorporate techniques that help clients gently confront and work through difficult memories and experiences, while also learning to live more fully in the present moment in order to regain control over their lives. This approach uses hypnosis to help clients explore their unconscious to finally understand the relationship between their past trauma and current psychological distress, which ultimately allows them to free themselves from these painful memories. Unlike portrayals in popular media, hypnosis is not used to re-experience memories; instead, the calming properties of hypnosis helps clients diminish the anxiety associated with trauma while using therapy to move forward with their lives.
Our clinicians have relied on their advanced, researched-based training in trauma to create their own method of treating trauma. This method combines the latest hypnotic techniques, aspects of exposure therapy, and mindfulness tools to address clients’ past experiences and help them reclaim their lives. Clients are able to better understand the negative feedback loop between biological changes that began after the trauma and their current emotional state and responses. Through integrative techniques and hypnosis, our therapists help clients alleviate anxiety, stay more present, reduce flashbacks and nightmares, and find ways to once again feel like the person they were before the trauma.
Research shows that facing the memories of a traumatic event in a safe and controlled therapeutic environment can drastically reduce negative symptoms and allow clients to begin living their lives and feel like themselves again. Our therapists have years of experience in both private and hospital settings, where they have worked with clients who have experienced trauma-based symptoms as a result of sexual harassment and assault, physical and sexual abuse in relationships, sexual and emotional trauma in childhood, and other life-threatening accidents and events. Our therapists use the most advanced techniques for treating trauma, such as Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy, to help relieve clients’ trauma-related symptoms.
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