Trauma

Psychotherapists based in Offered in Brooklyn and Manhattan, New York.
Also serving clients virtually in Oregon and Massachusetts

Trauma naturally causes fear and anxiety that often improve over a few weeks. But if your symptoms persist and you can’t get over the emotional impact, you can overcome the trauma with therapy at Brooklyn Integrative Psychological Services in the Greenpoint neighborhood in Brooklyn and the Union Square neighborhood in Manhattan. As experts in trauma-informed care, the team is highly skilled in several effective therapies. Complete the online booking form to schedule an in-person appointment in their New York City offices or request a virtual visit.

What is trauma?

Trauma is an upsetting, terrifying, or life-threatening event or any experience causing emotional distress and damage. Psychological trauma develops when the traumatic event causes extremely severe or long-lasting mental, emotional, and behavioral problems.

Your trauma may be one major event, such as:

Military duty
Physical or sexual assault
Robberies or home invasions
Accidents (car, plane, boat, and others)
Natural disasters (tornados, hurricanes, floods, and others)

You can also develop psychological trauma through exposure to repeated and ongoing stressors like:

Growing up with emotional or physical abuse
Experiencing ongoing bullying
Struggling with an illness
Living with domestic violence
Living in a high-crime neighborhood
Being subjected to discrimination and harassment

Though many people are directly involved in the traumatic event, you can also develop psychological trauma after witnessing the trauma or watching TV news covering violence.

What symptoms does trauma cause?

Whether you have short- or long-lasting symptoms, you experience:

Anxiety, fear and worry
Depression
Flashbacks and nightmares
Irritability and anger
Isolation from family and friends
Uncharacteristic aggression
Difficulty sleeping
Memory loss

You may also change your daily routine to avoid anything that triggers memories of the traumatic event.

What are trauma and stressor-related disorders?

Several mental health disorders can develop as a result of trauma and stress, including:

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

PTSD causes symptoms lasting more than one month after the traumatic event.

Acute stress disorder

Acute stress disorder causes extreme symptoms in the first month after the trauma.

Reactive attachment disorder (RAD)

Children raised with abuse or neglect develop RAD. As a result, they don’t interact with others, fear socializing, and seldom show emotions.

Disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED)

DSED, a disorder diagnosed in children, causes symptoms such as being overly friendly and walking up to strangers.

Adjustment disorder

Adjustment disorders cause a strong emotional reaction to life transitions, like separating from your partner or losing a job.

How is trauma treated?

Your Brooklyn Integrative Psychological Services may refer you to a medication management specialist if you have severe depression, panic attacks, or uncontrollable anger. Otherwise, therapy is the most effective treatment for psychological trauma.

The Brooklyn Integrative Psychological Services team specializes in several techniques proven to help people overcome trauma, like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

Don’t wait to seek help for trauma symptoms that persist or worsen. Complete the online booking form today to request an appointment.