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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Trauma changes you but healing is possible.
What is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder develops following exposure to a traumatic event — an experience involving actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violence, either directly or as a witness. PTSD is not a sign of weakness or an inability to cope. It is the understandable result of an extraordinary experience — a normal nervous system response to an abnormal event that has become stuck.
PTSD affects the way the brain and nervous system process and store traumatic memories. Unlike ordinary memories which fade and integrate over time, traumatic memories remain raw, vivid and easily triggered — intruding into daily life through flashbacks, nightmares and intrusive thoughts. The nervous system remains in a state of chronic threat response long after the danger has passed.
At Karasick Psychology we provide evidence-based assessment and treatment for PTSD in adolescents and adults — including those who have struggled for years, those with multiple traumas and those who have not responded to previous treatment.
Related Conditions
PTSD sits within a broader category of trauma and stress-related conditions — each with distinct features and treatment approaches.
Complex PTSD
Develops following prolonged, repeated trauma — particularly in childhood or in contexts of captivity or control. In addition to PTSD symptoms, C-PTSD involves significant disturbances in self-perception, emotional regulation and relational patterns. Treatment requires a phased, longer term approach.
Adjustment Disorder
An emotional or behavioural response to a significant life stressor that is more intense or prolonged than would typically be expected. Adjustment disorders develop when the normal process of adapting to change becomes overwhelmed — leaving you struggling to cope in ways that affect daily functioning and wellbeing.
PTSD Symptoms
Intrusion
▪ Flashbacks — reliving the traumatic event as if it is happening again
▪ Nightmares or disturbing dreams related to the trauma
▪ Intrusive memories or images that appear without warning
▪ Intense distress when reminded of the traumatic event
▪ Physical reactions to trauma reminders — racing heart, sweating, panic
Avoidance
▪ Avoiding thoughts, feelings or memories related to the trauma
▪ Avoiding people, places, situations or activities that trigger memories
▪ Emotional numbing or feeling detached from others
▪ Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed
▪ Feeling estranged or cut off from other people
Negative Cognitions & Mood
▪ Persistent negative beliefs about yourself, others or the world
▪ Distorted blame of yourself or others for the traumatic event
▪ Persistent negative emotions — fear, horror, guilt, shame, anger
▪ Inability to experience positive emotions
▪ Feeling permanently damaged or changed by the trauma
Hyperarousal
▪ Hypervigilance — constantly scanning for danger
▪ Exaggerated startle response
▪ Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep
▪ Irritability or anger outbursts
▪ Difficulty concentrating
What counts as trauma?
Trauma is not defined by the event itself but by its impact on the nervous system. What is traumatic for one person may not be for another — and this does not reflect strength or weakness. It reflects the complex interaction of the event, the context in which it occurred, the person’s history and the resources available to them at the time.
Common traumatic events include
▪ Motor vehicle accidents
▪ Physical, sexual or emotional abuse
▪ Childhood neglect or maltreatment
▪ Natural disasters or accidents
▪ Sudden loss of a loved one
▪ Medical trauma — serious illness, surgery or emergency
▪ Witnessing violence or death
▪ Combat or war exposure
▪ Sexual assault or domestic violence
▪ Workplace accidents or critical incidents
Treatment
Evidence-based care that addresses trauma at its root.
PTSD is highly treatable with the right approach. At Karasick Psychology we draw from evidence-based treatments with the strongest research base for PTSD — including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Prolonged Exposure Therapy. These approaches directly target the traumatic memory and the avoidance that maintains PTSD, helping the nervous system process and integrate the traumatic experience so it no longer intrudes into daily life.
Biofeedback can be integrated to support nervous system regulation — helping you develop the physiological capacity to tolerate the trauma processing work without becoming overwhelmed. Treatment is paced carefully and collaboratively — your safety and comfort guide every step of the process.
Treatment does not require you to relive the trauma in graphic detail. It requires you to engage with the memory in a controlled, supported way — gradually reducing its power until it becomes an ordinary memory rather than a constant intrusion.
What to expect
Treatment begins with a thorough assessment of your trauma history, symptoms and current functioning. Stabilisation and safety come before trauma processing — we never move faster than you are ready to go. Most clients experience significant symptom reduction within 8-16 sessions of focused trauma treatment.
A note on safety
If you are currently in an unsafe situation or experiencing a crisis please know that support is available. Trauma treatment works best when you are in a position of relative safety. If you are unsure whether therapy is right for you right now please reach out and we can discuss what support looks like at this stage.
Alberta 24/7 Community and Social Services Helpline: 211 (call or text)
Distress Centre – 24/7 crisis support, counselling and referrals
- Calgary — call 403-266-4357
- Edmonton — call 780-482-4357
Alberta Mental Health Help Line — call 1-877-303-2642 — confidential crisis intervention and information
Kids Help Phone — call or text 1-800-668-6868 — 24/7 support for youth under 22
First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line — call 1-855-242-3310 — culturally competent support 24/7
Seniors Abuse Helpline: 780-454-8888 (24/7)
CONTACT INFO
- 403 633-6545
- admin@karasick.ca
- Book Online
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Monday - Thursday: 8am - 7pm
Friday: 8am - 1pm - Special times available upon request
Reaching out for therapy is hard, but struggling alone is harder. Contact us to learn how we can support your path toward healing, development, and lasting improvement.
