PTSD TREATMENT IN SEATTLE
AND THROUGHOUT WASHINGTON AND OREGON
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Trauma doesn’t just live in the mind—it also lives in the body. PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing something overwhelming or frightening. Many PTSD symptoms are signs of a healthy nervous system that went into protective mode when you needed it, but then got “stuck” there. This can show up as:
Fight – bursts of anger, irritability, or feeling like you need to defend yourself
Flight – restlessness, anxiety, or feeling like you always need to escape
Freeze – shutting down, going numb, dissociating, or feeling unable to act
Fawn – people-pleasing or putting others first to avoid conflict or harm
Over time, this constant state of alert can affect sleep, energy, relationships, and overall health.
A person with PTSD might experience:
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Intrusive memories or flashbacks—your body and brain going back to the event against your will
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Nightmares or trouble sleeping
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Feeling tense, jumpy, or “on guard" or constantly looking over your shoulder
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Avoiding people, places, or situations that remind you of what happened
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Negative thoughts about yourself or the world
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Having a hard time concentrating or staying present
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Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected from others
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Physical symptoms like headaches, stomach issues, or chronic muscle tension
In treatment for PTSD, we will work to restore your body’s sense of safety and change the narrative, shifting the negative beliefs you’ve carried about yourself and the world into ones that reflect healing, strength, and hope.
Journey to healing
In treatment to heal from trauma, we will:
Create safety
Trauma can obliterate our sense of safety, but through somatic work and mindfulness techniques, we will discover ways to create safety and regain peace in your own body and mind.
Find rest
Protective parts—like people-pleasing to avoid conflict—often emerge from trauma. Together, we’ll get to know them, learn how to use them when needed, and let them rest when they’re not.
Examine beliefs
We’ll uncover the core beliefs (like "I’m bad” or “I’m unlovable") that may have taken root, then gently shift these patterns and build new beliefs that honor your value and build self-esteem.