PTSD and Trauma Therapy | Experienced Psychologists in Melbourne

Illustration of diverse clients at Cova Psychology's Melbourne clinic, where psychologists provide professional care for depression and mental health support.

If you have post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) it is important to find a therapist who can meet your needs. At Cova Psychology our therapists offer a range of evidence based trauma therapies and are experienced in working with both PTSD and complex trauma. This page explains PTSD symptoms and introduces you to experienced therapists and the evidence-based therapies for PTSD available at Cova Psychology.

Takeaways

Introduction

Recovery from PTSD is tough. The impact of trauma whether it be a car accident, natural disaster or the death of a loved one, requires acknowledging the issue and seeking professional help to heal.

This page will walk you through the different therapies for PTSD. We will explain PTSD symptoms, introduce you to our therapists and review the treatments available to help you get your life back on track.

What is PTSD and its symptoms

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can develop after exposure to traumatic events such as war, criminal acts or natural disasters. It can also be triggered by painful and toxic relationships and can include physical or sexual assault.

People with PTSD have intense and disturbing thoughts and feelings about the event that can last long after the traumatic event has ended. They may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares; feel sad, fearful or angry; and feel disconnected or estranged from other people. Symptoms of PTSD include:

  • Re-living the trauma: This involves reliving the traumatic event through intrusive memories, flashbacks and nightmares. These can be so vivid that you feel like you are re-living the trauma.

  • Avoidance: You may avoid places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event. This can disrupt daily life and personal relationships.

  • Negative changes in thinking and mood: Feeling hopeless, memory problems, trouble with relationships, and loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy are common.

  • Changes in physical and emotional reactions: Being easily startled or frightened, always on high alert for danger, self destructive behaviour, trouble sleeping and trouble concentrating.

PTSD symptoms can wax and wane over time and can be triggered by reminders of the traumatic event such as anniversary of the event or news reports.

These symptoms can severely impact daily functioning. PTSD means experiencing intrusive memories and avoidance behaviours with significant distress – a level of discomfort that interferes with daily life. Emotional reactions such as shame, guilt and deep sadness are common with PTSD. You may feel numb, confused by the trauma symptoms and overwhelmed by fear or embarrassment.

If these symptoms persist for an extended period beyond a few months after the traumatic event has occurred you may need to seek professional help to address PTSD. Therapists use a range of effective treatments for PTSD through therapeutic approaches that include Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure therapy.

Psychologist in a consulting room at Cova Psychology, offering PTSD and trauma therapy in Melbourne.
One of our psychologists providing PTSD and trauma therapy in a consulting room at Cova Psychology, Melbourne.

Our Trauma Therapists at Cova Psychology

We’d like to introduce you to our therapists who are committed to helping their clients heal from trauma. Our therapists have experience in trauma, are up to date with the latest trauma therapy research and all our trauma therapists are trained in evidence based trauma processing interventions such as EMDR.

This section will walk you through the different therapies for PTSD. These treatments available at Cova Psychology to help you get your life back.

PTSD Treatment Approaches

At Cova Psychology we do trauma therapy using evidence based methods such as Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). We tailor these to each client’s individual needs and goals.

We use various therapeutic techniques to help you regulate your emotions and manage anxiety (particularly the physical sensations) associated with trauma. Through these therapies you can increase self esteem and feel more in control of your life. Below we expand on some of the therapies:

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a treatment for PTSD. This process involves processing painful memories associated with trauma by moving your eyes, so you can reframe the traumatic event.

For those who experience emotional numbness or disconnection due to multiple traumas EMDR therapy can be very helpful. By methodically focusing on these recurring memories through the EMDR protocol the therapy can reduce trauma symptoms and bring out positive emotions.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

At Cova Psychology, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) can be used to treat PTSD by helping clients change unhelpful thinking that leads to painful emotions and unhealthy behaviours. We can also change our mood and behaviour by pinpointing and changing negative thought patterns.

CBT uses strategies to change our thoughts or cognitions related to PTSD. This therapy helps clients change their view of the traumatic event. By looking at the interplay between thoughts, emotions and actions CBT helps clients change negative or distorted thought patterns which achieves the treatment outcome.

Mindfulness-Based Interventions

At Cova Psychology, mindfulness-based approaches can be used in trauma therapy. These techniques help develop awareness of the present moment, reducing the frequency of recurring memories associated with trauma. By focusing on the present moment through mindfulness techniques clients can get relief from PTSD symptoms and improve emotional regulation.

By using mindfulness-based techniques clients can stay in the present moment and not mentally re-experience the traumatic event. This has been shown to reduce avoidance behaviour and increase engagement in daily activities.

Psychologist conducting trauma-focused PTSD therapy in a serene consulting room at Cova Psychology, Melbourne.
One of our clinical psychologists providing trauma therapy for PTSD in our Melbourne consulting rooms.

Other Therapies for PTSD

Cova Psychology also offers other therapies to support PTSD treatment including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and compassion based therapies.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment to help individuals manage intense emotions and develop healthier coping mechanisms. The main components are emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness and mindfulness to increase emotional resilience and live a more balanced life. Clients who need more emotional stability before trauma processing will often do DBT to help with this.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is about accepting difficult thoughts and emotions and committing to actions that align with your values. Through this therapy clients are guided to do behaviours that fit their values (or core beliefs) even if they have troubling thoughts or emotions. For those with PTSD ACT suggests accepting your experiences and committing to change your behaviour as needed.

Compassion-Based and Attachment-Based Therapies

Therapies based on compassion and attachment can be helpful for PTSD recovery especially if the traumatic experiences were relational (within relationships). These therapies focus on developing self-compassion and how past relationships impact present emotions and actions.

Developing self-compassion can be life changing for those with PTSD especially when it comes to managing emotional reactions and increasing resilience. Understanding the dynamics of past relationships is key as it can reveal patterns that are still playing out in current emotions and behaviour which is important for the healing of PTSD and complex trauma.

How Trauma Therapy Can Help You Recover

If symptoms of PTSD are impacting daily life for more than several months, you should seek professional help. Psychological therapy is key to responding to trauma by managing symptoms, helping you work through your traumatic experiences and move towards recovery.

The aim of trauma therapy is to help you process your traumatic events and manage the symptoms better. A trauma therapist provides a safe space to express complex emotions related to trauma. This therapeutic support also helps you repair relationships damaged by your trauma experiences.

What to Expect in Your First Session

Starting therapy can be daunting (especially if you’ve never done it before!), but knowing what to expect can help with the anxiety. The first part of the session is a thorough psychological assessment and is about building a strong connection between client and therapist. Clients usually start by talking about their issues and why they are seeking therapy.

The early stages involve a detailed assessment to understand the individual’s mental health history and current symptoms. Therapists try to establish trust and create a safe space for clients to talk about intimate details of their life. Goals are usually set during this time. Therapists work with clients to co-create goals for the direction of future therapy sessions.

Affordable Therapy with Medicare Rebates

To access PTSD therapy you can use your Medicare and health fund rebates. Medicare offers up to 10 rebates per calendar year for mental health services which can reduce the cost of therapy sessions. To access these rebates you will need to get a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) and referral from your General Practitioner (GP) or simply a referral from a psychiatrist. Our friendly reception team can answer any questions you have about fees, Medicare rebates and getting a referral and MHCP.

You may find this guide to accessing Medicare rebates for psychology sessions helpful.

Conclusion

Seeking therapy for PTSD is a big and important step towards recovery. Cova Psychology offers a range of treatment approaches including EMDR, CBT, mindfulness-based interventions, ACT, DBT and compassion-based therapies. Each approach is tailored to the individual.

By understanding PTSD and its symptoms, working with experienced trauma therapists and exploring the different therapies, you can start to take back your life from trauma and PTSD.

Frequently Asked Questions

PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, is a mental health condition that happens after direct exposure to or witnessing a traumatic event. People with PTSD have symptoms like flashbacks, distressing nightmares and intense emotional upset.

This can totally disrupt your daily life and your overall well-being.

PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, is a mental health condition that happens after direct exposure to or witnessing a traumatic event. People with PTSD have symptoms like flashbacks, distressing nightmares and intense emotional upset.

This can totally disrupt your daily life and your overall well-being.

Symptoms of PTSD include intrusive memories, flashbacks and nightmares that can interfere with daily life. People may also experience increased arousal, irritability and avoidance of trauma reminders. Emotional reactions like intense shame, guilt or sadness are common. These symptoms can get in the way of daily activities and overall well-being so professional help is needed for recovery.

Cova Psychology offers a range of evidence based treatments for PTSD including Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), DBT and therapies around attachment and self-compassion.

These treatments are designed to manage the symptoms of PTSD.

Trauma therapy helps by allowing you to process the traumatic event, manage your symptoms and rebuild relationships.

This structured approach can lead to long term relief and improved emotional well-being.

Yes, Cova Psychology has affordable options with rebates through Medicare and health funds to reduce session costs.