Counseling for C-PTSD
Are you experiencing?
You feel like something is fundamentally wrong with you, even though you can not explain why
Your emotions go from zero to overwhelming in an instant, leaving you exhausted and confused
You struggle to trust others, even the people who are closest to you
You find yourself cycling between feeling everything all at once and feeling completely numb
Your body feels like it is always bracing for something bad to happen
You have worked hard to move forward but the past keeps finding its way into your present
You feel disconnected from yourself, your body, or the life you are living
Deep down you wonder if you are too broken to heal, or if things will ever feel different
If so, you are likely experiencing Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD).
What is Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) is a trauma response that develops after prolonged, repeated, or ongoing traumatic experiences, particularly those that occur in relationships or situations where escape felt impossible. This might include childhood abuse or neglect, domestic violence, chronic emotional abuse, or growing up in an unpredictable or unsafe environment.
C-PTSD is different from PTSD. While PTSD often develops in response to a single traumatic event, C-PTSD develops from trauma that was repeated over time, often during formative years. This kind of trauma does not just affect your memories. It shapes how you see yourself, how you relate to others, and how safe you feel in the world. Many people living with C-PTSD have spent years wondering why they struggle in ways that feel confusing or hard to explain. You are not alone and effective, compassionate treatment is available.
How is C-PTSD different from PTSD?
PTSD typically develops following a single traumatic event such as an accident, assault, or natural disaster. The symptoms tend to center around that specific event, including flashbacks, nightmares, and avoidance of reminders.
C-PTSD, on the other hand, develops from prolonged or repeated trauma, often at the hands of someone who was supposed to be safe. Because this kind of trauma happens over time, it affects much more than memory. It can impact your sense of self, your ability to regulate emotions, your relationships, and even your physical health. People with C-PTSD often struggle with deep shame, difficulty trusting others, and a persistent feeling that they are broken or different from everyone else. These are not character flaws. They are responses to experiences that were genuinely too much to bear.
Why does C-PTSD feel so different from other struggles?
Because C-PTSD develops from prolonged trauma rather than a single event, it does not just live in your memories. It lives in your nervous system, your sense of self, and the way you move through the world. Over time, your brain and body adapted to survive ongoing stress, fear, or pain. Those adaptations made sense then. But they can make everyday life feel exhausting, confusing, and out of control now. The good news is that the brain has the ability to heal, and with the right support, those patterns can change
How can you heal from C-PTSD?
C-PTSD can be overcome with the proper support and counseling. Our counselors will help you:
Make sense of your symptoms and understand why you feel and respond the way you do
Build safety and stability in your body and your everyday life
Gently process the experiences that have been shaping you, at a pace that feels manageable, using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Understand and develop compassion for the parts of yourself that developed to keep you safe, using Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Rebuild your sense of self and your relationship with your own identity
Develop the ability to feel safe in relationships and begin to trust again
Feel more grounded, present, and hopeful about who you are becoming