Why Traditional Once-a-Week Therapy Might Not be Enough for PTSD
With traditional once-a-week counseling, healing from PTSD is a journey that can take years, and traditional once-a-week therapy might not be enough for some people.
Unfortunately, Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD is a debilitating mental health condition that affects thousands of people across the globe. And attending therapy once a week while living with those symptoms like flashbacks, anxiety, depression, irritability, horribly negative self-talk, and avoidance behaviors can leave people feeling like they’ll never get better. The truth is, people who suffer from PTSD often need more intensive treatment to help them get unstuck from their symptoms. As helpful as traditional counseling is, sometimes people with PTSD simply need extra support to heal faster.
At Aspire Counseling, we understand the complexities of PTSD and know that one-size-fits-all therapy might not work for everyone. We've been a counseling practice for over six years and have helped countless people in Columbia, MO, through our evidence-based treatment methods for PTSD. Recently, we opened a new location in Lee's Summit, MO, focusing on offering one-week trauma intensives for people who are seeking faster relief from their symptoms.
In this blog post, we'll share with you why traditional once-a-week therapy might not be enough for PTSD and how our trauma intensives can make a significant difference in people's lives.
Traditional Therapy is Often Not Enough for PTSD
The traditional psychotherapy model typically involves once-a-week counseling sessions with a therapist, which last an hour or less. While this approach works for some mental health conditions, it may not be sufficient for all PTSD. People with PTSD often experience excessive anxiety or other symptoms in between sessions. Sometimes, the symptoms can be so intense that they impair the individual's ability to function, making it challenging to complete daily tasks. As a result, traditional therapy might not offer the type of care and support needed for instant relief from PTSD symptoms.
So, why do most therapists still offer once-a-week counseling for PTSD? Simply put, that’s what insurance companies generally want you to do. That’s what’s always been done. So, it’s what most people think should happen. Not to mention, it’s much easier to carve out an hour a week from your busy life than a more extended period of time.
Why Continue Once-a-Week Trauma Therapy?
But if this doesn’t work, should we really continue this model? If you’ve worked with a therapist for a while and have only seen incremental improvements, it can feel incredibly discouraging. It might be time to consider something different.
At Aspire Counseling, we understand the need for more intensive treatment and offer trauma intensives as an alternative to traditional once-a-week therapy. Our trauma intensives are designed to jumpstart your healing process by providing you with twice
PTSD Treatment needs a different approach
PTSD is a severe mental health condition that affects different people in different ways. It's a result of trauma, and traditional once-a-week therapy might not be enough to address its complexities. PTSD often involves deep-rooted emotions, negative thoughts, and unrelenting flashbacks that can't be resolved in one session per week.
Trauma Intensives Can Help
Trauma intensives are an alternative to traditional therapy models. They are a concentrated and time-limited treatment option that encourages patients to engage in treatment to achieve quick symptom relief. At Aspire Counseling, we offer a one-week trauma intensive that focuses on using Cognitive Processing Therapy and incorporating other methods such as meditation when necessary. Clients are encouraged to attend twice a day for sixty minutes each session. Additionally, they're assigned homework assignments (worksheets and sometimes skills practice) between sessions and overnight. This approach ensures that the patient gets the necessary support and care throughout the day, significantly reducing the likelihood of experiencing troublesome symptoms.
The Importance of Evidence-Based Therapy for PTSD
PTSD can take a significant toll on a person's life, and therefore it is crucial to seek help from a mental health professional who truly specializes in treating PTSD. It is equally essential to make sure that the treatment you receive is evidence-based. Evidence-based therapy refers to a treatment method that has scientific support and has been tested for effectiveness. At Aspire Counseling, we ensure our therapists are trained in evidence-based treatment for PTSD, like Cognitive Processing Therapy. In fact, almost all of our therapists at our practice are trained in CPT and use it regularly. Some are additionally trained in EMDR, TF-CBT, and Prolonged Exposure, all of which are also evidence-based treatments for PTSD.
We chose Cognitive Processing Therapy to be the base for our trauma intensives because there is more and more research that shows this treatment when delivered in as little as 1-2 weeks can help people have significant reductions in PTSD symptoms. Furthermore, the research is showing that the improvements last. In other words, the clients don’t just feel better for a little while, but their symptoms remain lower after treatment. So, we've got our clinicians who are most specialized in trauma therapy offering these evidence-based trauma intensives to help people jumpstart their healing process and make significant progress in a short period of time.
Faster Relief from Trauma Symptoms
When people suffer from PTSD, they can feel stuck in a never-ending cycle of fear, anxiety, and depression. Traditional once-a-week therapy can often take months or even years before people start to feel better. But with our trauma intensives, we aim to provide faster relief from symptoms. We give people the tools to manage their symptoms, work through their fears, and experience emotional regulation, all in one week. This approach is more intensive, but the results are often life-changing.
What we hope to see is that after 1 week some people no longer meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Others see significant improvement but schedule a second week. Sometimes, the second week may focus on a few specific symptoms such as negative self-talk or nightmares. But after these short, intense episodes of care, people feel such relief that they can re-engage in their daily lives in a meaningful way. Most likely, they'll still attend individual therapy for a while. There tend to be other things to cope with like increasing self-esteem, some residual anxiety, defining life goals, or interpersonal skills. But the point is, they're better enough to make significant movements toward their goals.
Traveling for Trauma Intensives is an Option
Aspire Counseling is focused on offering these trauma intensives in Lee's Summit, MO, though we have several clinicians who can offer them in Columbia, MO as well.
We know it can be difficult to find great trauma therapy. So, we opened our Lee's Summit, MO office specifically to provide this specialized care. We chose a location that's easy to access whether you're coming from Blue Springs, Independence, or Liberty. Some people may choose to
We generally aren't offering trauma intensives online, because it's important to be in an environment that is safe and comfortable. And there just seems to be something healing about sitting in a room together while we do this difficult work. However, we do make exceptions for people who are physically located in Missouri but may not be able to make it to our office for every single session.
That said, people can travel from all over the country to attend our one-week trauma-intensive program, and it is ideal for those who require instant relief from their PTSD symptoms. We offer a follow-up session a month post-treatment which can be virtual in some cases to ensure any issues are addressed.
Communication with Your Primary Therapist &/or Physician
Most people who participate in our trauma intensives (though not all), already have some professional support managing their symptoms. Generally, this is a treating counselor and/or a psychiatrist. We're more than happy to speak to both your primary therapist and/or your physician. We can consult with them prior to your scheduled week if you'd prefer. For reporting results after the fact, we generally get a release of information from you to send a brief report and offer to have a phone call to discuss if they'd like.
Hope for PTSD Sufferers
PTSD can be debilitating, but we want to encourage everyone who is struggling with this condition that there is hope for them. At Aspire Counseling, we have seen countless patients respond positively to intensive trauma therapy. And, our one-week program provides an intense concentration of evidence-based treatment, focusing on helping people get "unstuck" from the debilitating effects of PTSD. We offer a safe and supportive environment, helping people move on and regain control over their lives.
Begin Intensive Trauma Therapy at Aspire Counseling in Columbia or Lee’s Summit, MO
The road to recovery from PTSD can be long and challenging, but we believe that our one-week trauma-intensive program provides significant relief to those struggling with PTSD. With evidence-based therapy, concentrated sessions, and a follow-up session a month post-treatment to ensure any issues are addressed, our approach to PTSD care delivers significant results. If you have tried traditional therapy and still find yourself struggling with PTSD symptoms, we welcome you to explore our one-week trauma-intensive program at Aspire Counseling.
1) Reach out to our team online or by calling 573-328-2288
2) Have a quick chat via phone or Zoom with one of our therapists about the program
3) Schedule your Trauma Intensive!
Other Mental Health Supports at Aspire Counseling
Aspire Counseling offers a variety of other mental health supports for people in Missouri. We offer in-person counseling both in Lee’s Summit and Columbia, MO. While we specialize in counseling for anxiety and PTSD treatment, we can help with a wide range of other concerns as well. We generally see children aged 10 through retirement age. And we have therapists with various specialties including disordered eating, depression, grief, gender-affirming care, and OCD treatment.
In addition to our Trauma Therapy Intensive, Aspire Counseling offers many other therapy services related directly to overcoming trauma. These services include the following: