Couples Counseling/Marriage Therapy for PTSD
Has something happened to you that was so traumatic you avoid thinking or even feeling your feelings about it? This could be a sexual assault, an attack, natural disaster, combat, child abuse, a traumatic loss, traumatic child birth, etc. The memories are too painful to think about, you want to numb the pain it brings and stay to yourself. Sleeping is rough, waking up to nightmares or in a panic. Through the day you keep yourself busy enough so the thoughts stay away. Now your world seems unsafe, you feel guilt and shame that is unbearable. People just don’t get what you went through and there is no way you think they would understand. You feeling jumpy all the time and the cabinet door slamming makes you want to scream. You can’t relax, checking doors and locks and there always seems like someone is behind you where you’re constantly looking over your shoulder. It’s tough to get close to people anymore and people or crowds in general feel unsafe and it’s easier to just avoid it altogether. The anger and irritability is constant and if someone says or does something you can easily snap. Then to make things worse, your partner and you are arguing more, which makes you want to avoid them and conflict altogether. This also means you may push them away in fear of hurting them if you lash out. This may be leading to numbness and disconnection, not trusting anyone. Your sex life may have also change or you no longer want to be sexually intimate.
You may be suffering from PTSD. In turn, your relationship may be suffering. Those with PTSD are three to six times more likely to divorce. There is a way to heal, reconnect, and help your relationship. There is a way your partner can understand and support you. There is no need to go about this alone. I ensure a safe place to help you and your loved one work through these issues and have a better, more connect relationship.
Affair Recovery
You may have been burdened by an affair at some point and the relationship has not been the same since. Maybe you can’t trust anymore. Did you know, the hurt partner who was betrayed can exhibit all the symptoms of PTSD? Your world is completely turned upside down. Vigilance if your partner is continuing the affair by checking phones, records, emails etc. You may not be able to sleep, having nightmares of it happening, remembering the details as it flashes through your mind through the day. Then you feel like its happening again, the fear, the hurt, the pain. How could that person do this? What did he/she get with them that they did not get with me? Questions keep coming and they don’t stop! You may not bet getting the answers from your partner either. Your relationship continues to feel unsafe and you feel insecure. Trust is no longer. I have a recipe to help you restore love, trust, and rebuild your relationship. I also specialize in trauma in the relationship context and can help you through the difficulties when one person may be more distance, agitated and suffering from PTSD.
Gottman Method couples therapy: Treating trauma and affairs
This method is researched based that is cutting-edge in the field. You will have a full relationship assessment using the Gottman Relationship Checkup. I can provide you full feedback in the relationship and help you create goals to a better relationship. In addition, this therapy can help decrease your PTSD symptoms and relationship issues related to PTSD as well as enhance your relationship.
Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy (CBCT) for PTSD
Many couples dealing with symptoms of PTSD walk on egg shells wanting to avoid the anger and tension due to the fear of the reaction. This therapy is designed to treat PTSD with a loved one in the room. This, however does not necessarily improve your relationship if it is highly conflicted but is a 15 session therapy that targets PTSD symptoms.