Post Traumatic Stress disorder
Introduction to complex PTSD treatment
As a psychotherapist with 30 years experience I offer the treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and complex PTSD. These related conditions are of special interest to me, because of their similarities…..I also see BPD as better understood as a subset of Complex PTSD. If you can do successful therapy with these conditions, you can be effective with any other condition…..
If you have been diagnosed with complex PTSD you may have symptoms of anxiety and depression. You may also suffer from traumatic memories including flashbacks, dissociative experiences, suicidal ideation, impulsive self-harm and substance misuse. You may have survived long-term emotional abuse or neglect in childhood. You may have had one or more mental health admissions.
The distinct group of people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder have a presentation and childhood history very similar to that of complex PTSD. For this reason, these people are also often diagnosed with complex PTSD.
Two psychological therapies, The Conversational Model and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) are effective in the treatment of Borderline Personality. There are good prospective studies providing evidence of this.
You may belong to other groups of people who have suffered sustained trauma over months or years. These groups include combat veterans, police and ambulance personnel, refugees, sex workers and victims of domestic violence.
My training in contemporary psychoanalytic self-psychology including The Conversational Model is perfectly suited to the treatment and psychotherapy of complex PTSD. I am available for counselling sessions in Melbourne and you can schedule a phone call by emailing or text. Please also contact me for family counselling or relationship counselling if you are interested.
Complex PTSD Treatment Approach - traumatic memories & flashbacks
People with complex PTSD often present with suicidal ideation or multiple episodes of self-harm including hospitalisation. For this reason, if you have been diagnosed with complex PTSD or Borderline Personality Disorder, you may benefit from a shared care approach…. a team approach to your treatment may be effective. A number of medical professionals will take on specific roles including medical, psychiatric, medication management and psychotherapy.
Not all patients require this type of intensive and supportive approach… You may do well simply with your GP and psychotherapist coordinating your treatment with you.
I have described many aspects of the treatment approach on this website under the heading Psychotherapy. In the kind of psychotherapy I use, we will practice using empathy and meditative self-inquiry including body and breath awareness. This means we will be paying close attention to both mind and body including awareness and emotions (mindfulness).
In addition to shared care, we will spend time and pay careful attention to ‘setting the frame’ of psychotherapy in order to provide an atmosphere and framework of safety and reliability.
Speak to a Psychotherapist or Psychologist about PTSD therapy
On our first phone discussion and in the working out period of psychotherapy, we will discuss how psychotherapy for complex PTSD works. In addition I will provide education about and we will study a whole range of mental health topics and tools. This will include explanations of traumatic memories including flashbacks and dissociative experiences. A most important element of any psychotherapy based on empathy and introspection is that you are free to talk about whatever concerns you and whatever is on your mind.
The Extended Medicare Safety Net: an important piece in the puzzle…..
Understanding the viability of long term psychotherapy for life-long mental health conditions.
As a GP treating patients with long term distress, I am fortunate to provide effective long-term therapy under Medicare. Some of my patients’ issues are complicated as in BPD or complex PTSD, others less so.
Because of my specialist practice I understand how the extended Medicare safety net (EMSN) provisions for patients with chronic health conditions can also be applied to long term mental health conditions.
It is possible for medical professionals to provide frequent and long term psychotherapeutic care which is absolutely affordable for most patients, even those on health care cards.
In contrast, patients seeing psychologists have limited sessions under Medicare in its present form. Unfortunately, psychologists in the private health system cannot provide affordable long term psychotherapy for their patients.
Duration and frequency of treatment for complex PTSD
As complex PTSD is a severe long-term condition often beginning in childhood, you will most likely benefit from more intensive psychotherapy than is needed for milder conditions. You will benefit from attending psychotherapy more frequently and for a longer duration. You may come to appointments as often as twice a week and for a year or longer. You can reach me to book an appointment at my Melbourne rooms on 0499 440 422.
