Therapy for
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Struggling to live in the present because of past trauma? When memories feel overwhelming or avoidance takes over, it can be hard to fully engage in your life.
PTSD treatment can help you regain control, process your experiences, and move forward with confidence.
Understanding Post-Traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.
PTSD symptoms fall into four key areas:
Intrusions: Unwanted thoughts, memories, or images that repeatedly surface, often leading to distressing flashbacks or nightmares.
Avoidance: Efforts to stay away from people, places, thoughts, or activities that serve as reminders of the trauma.
Alterations in Cognition and Mood: Changes in self-perception, emotions, and worldview. Individuals may struggle with guilt, shame, anger, or feelings of detachment from others.
Alterations in Arousal and Reactivity: Heightened alertness, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle responses, and difficulty relaxing or sleeping.
PTSD can significantly interfere with daily life, relationships, and overall well-being, making professional treatment essential for recovery.
Who We Help
We provide therapy for adults in california experiencing PTSD due to various traumatic experiences, including but not limited to:
Combat or military-related trauma
Sexual abuse or assault
Natural disasters
Accidents or injuries
Childhood trauma
Domestic violence
Medical trauma
Our approach is tailored to meet the unique needs of each client, helping them work through their trauma and gain a sense of safety and stability.
Challenges Addressed in trauma treatment:
Clients seeking treatment for PTSD may experience:
Distressing memories and flashbacks
Nightmares and disrupted sleep
Avoidance of reminders of the trauma
Negative self-beliefs (e.g., "I am broken," "I can’t trust anyone")
Emotional numbness or difficulty feeling joy
Intense fear, guilt, or shame
Hypervigilance and exaggerated startle responses
Feeling disconnected from loved ones
These symptoms can severely impact daily life, but with effective treatment, individuals can experience relief and reclaim control of their lives.
Our THerapeutic Approach
Compassionate Care. Real Impakt.
San Diego’s Impakt Institute is committed to utilizing evidence-based therapeutic modalities. As such, we use Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), a structured, evidence-based treatment for PTSD. CPT helps individuals identify and challenge maladaptive thought patterns that have developed due to trauma.
Why Is CpT A Gold Standard treatment for post traumatic stress disorder?
CPT is widely regarded as one of the most effective treatments for PTSD due to its extensive research and proven efficacy across diverse trauma populations, including survivors of sexual abuse, combat veterans, natural disaster victims, and more. This approach changes how individuals think about themselves, others, and the world, helping to reframe maladaptive thought patterns that have kept them stuck. By shifting these patterns, CPT enables clients to process their emotions in a healthier way, reducing PTSD symptoms and improving overall well-being. Rather than reliving the trauma, CPT focuses on restructuring thoughts and beliefs, allowing clients to move forward with confidence and resilience.
What Clients Can Expect
Clients can expect structured, consistent therapy sessions in a supportive environment. Unlike traditional talk therapy, CPT does not focus on recounting traumatic events, as this has been shown to increase distress. Instead, clients explore how the trauma has shaped their beliefs about themselves, others, and the world, and learn skills to process emotions effectively.
The Therapeutic Process
The focus of CPT treatment for PTSD is on:
Identifying and challenging unhelpful thoughts and beliefs stemming from trauma.
Developing coping strategies to manage PTSD symptoms effectively.
Gaining a sense of confidence and self-efficacy for handling future stressors.
Learning skills that are applicable not only to trauma recovery but also to everyday challenges.
Clients often report noticeable improvements within 2-3 sessions and continue to build resilience over the course of treatment.
Session Structure
CPT typically consists of 12 weekly sessions, with the possibility of extending to 16 sessions based on individual progress. Sessions follow a specific format:
Review PTSD symptom measures (PCL) weekly to track progress.
Discuss homework assignments and apply new skills to real-life situations.
Teach and practice new cognitive strategies to shift maladaptive thought patterns.
Assign homework to reinforce skills learned in therapy.
Success Stories: Finding freedom in the now from the trauma of the past
Clients have shared that CPT not only helped them process the impact of past traumatic events but also equipped them with the skills and confidence to navigate new trauma triggers and traumatic experiences that arose during or after treatment.
PTsD & co-occurring Eating Disorders
There is a high prevalence of individuals who experience both eating disorders and PTSD. Our therapy practice provides evidence-based treatment for both conditions, following a structured approach to ensure effective care. When PTSD is present alongside an eating disorder, treatment begins with addressing the eating disorder first. This is because malnutrition can impair cognitive functioning, making it difficult to engage in trauma-focused therapy. Ensuring adequate nourishment is a crucial first step in the healing process.
Additionally, if an individual is using their eating disorder to cope with trauma, diving into trauma work too soon can intensify disordered behaviors. By first establishing regular and sufficient eating patterns, we create a stable foundation that allows for meaningful and effective trauma processing.
Please visit our Eating Disorders webpage to learn more about our approach to treating eating disorders.
Goals and Long-Term Progress
Common goals set by clients seeking treatment for ptsd:
Reduce intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and nightmares.
Improve sleep and overall restfulness.
Rebuild a sense of connection with others and reduce emotional numbness.
Feel joy and positive emotions again.
Decrease fear and avoidance behaviors that limit daily activities.
Develop confidence in managing stressors and future challenges.
While this list is not exhaustive, it offers a glimpse into the types of clients we support and the needs they bring to The Impakt Institute.
Long-Term Benefits of ptsd treatment
Successful PTSD treatment aims to reduce all four main symptom areas of PTSD — Intrusions, Avoidance, Alterations in Mood and Cognitions, and Alterations in Arousal and Reactivity — including but not limited to the following:
Fewer intrusive memories and nightmares
Less avoidance of people, places, or situations associated with past trauma
Realistic and helpful beliefs about self, others, and the world
Increased ability to experience positive emotions
Stronger, more fulfilling connections with others
Adapting Therapy to client’s unique Needs
If symptoms do not significantly improve within 12 sessions, additional sessions will be added. If further progress is not achieved, we may refer clients to professionals specializing in alternative PTSD treatments to ensure the best possible care.
CPT is best suited for individuals with strong negative beliefs about the trauma that drive their symptoms, even if they aren't actively avoiding the trauma itself.
Special Considerations or Exclusions
If someone with PTSD is primarily displaying avoidance symptoms due to their trauma-related memories, CPT might not be indicated as the best treatment modality. In this instance, a referral would be made to someone who offers Prolonged Exposure.
PTSD can make the world feel unsafe, but we believe recovery is possible.
Our Compassionate, evidence-based approach helps clients regain control, build resilience, and reconnect with life.
If you’re ready to start your healing journey, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Ready to start therapy?
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Ready to start therapy? ◇
You don’t have to face this journey alone—help is here. At The Impakt Institute, we’re committed to helping you take the first steps toward a life of greater freedom and fulfillment.
In addition to specialized therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, we provide culturally competent, evidence-based care for Eating Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Contact us today to schedule your free 15-minute consultation and discover how we can support you on your path to recovery and healing.