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Treatment for Trauma & PTSD in Orange County, CA

When trauma & PTSD makes life unmanageable, Alter’s trauma-informed and healing-based therapies can help.

 

Trauma manifests as emotional distress, irritability, sleep disturbances, and can lead to self-harm or suicidal ideation in severe cases. By using evidence-based therapies for trauma, Alter gets to the root of what causes these symptoms, leading to lasting relief.

irvine facility for trauma and ptsd treatment

Treatment Services We Offer For Trauma & PTSD

Instead of simply treating the symptoms of PTSD, Alter gets to the root of trauma and helps clients heal from a deep place.

Modalities

Duration of Treatment

Clients who come in dealing with severe trauma and PTSD generally admit at a crisis stabilization or residential treatment center and then move on to partial hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) after successfully completing the higher levels of care.

Why Choose Alter for Trauma & PTSD

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Nothing Short of the Best Trauma & PTSD Treatment

While medication can help with the symptoms of PTSD, in order to truly heal, evidence-based healing modalities for treating the core of trauma are needed. Alter has three dedicated therapists who are able to provide EMDR and/or brainspotting for clients with extensive trauma.

 

All of our clinicians are trauma-informed and understand the role trauma plays in other mental health issues and addiction. Each treatment plan is catered to the individual client; some may benefit from trauma-focused CBT while others will heal through inner child work. Unlike other treatment centers, our team goes beyond symptom management to treat the root of issues.

Call Now for Program Availability

Contact our admissions team to learn about our programs and to check availability at our facilities, or submit your insurance to verify coverage.

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Another Client Success Story

“It is such a blessing to be in the hands of the best care our country has to offer!! I am grateful that they offer so many therapies to help you heal from PTSD, or any other disorders or addictions. There is no other facility that has the Spirit of God not only in the facility, but within every doctor, therapist, counselor, staff and team member. It’s a beautiful program that absolutely works!!”

 

– Amber T.!

How Trauma & PTSD Impacts the Family

Trauma and PTSD can significantly impact the entire family unit, causing disruptions in routines, heightened conflict due to increased stress and strain, and emotional distance among family members. The individual suffering from PTSD may experience challenges in parenting effectively, which can further strain family dynamics.

 

Family members witnessing their loved one struggle with PTSD may experience secondary trauma, exacerbating emotional distress within the household. As a result, social withdrawal and isolation can impact everyone in the family. To address these challenges, it’s crucial for families to foster open communication, seek professional support such as family therapy or counseling, and prioritize self-care to prevent caregiver burnout. If you’re at a crossroads and don’t know what to do about PTSD, don’t hesitate to call Alter for a free consultation.

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Family Involvement in the Treatment Process

The medical and clinical teams at Alter prioritize contact with the healthy family support networks listed by the client on their Release of Information (ROI). Depending on the client’s consent, we offer progress updates and share information about symptoms and medications with family members.

 

We also make sure families get proper psychoeducation and resources so they can fully understand their loved one’s diagnosis. When it’s most beneficial for the client, families are invited to participate in family therapy sessions, fostering a collaborative approach to support the client’s journey towards wellness.

Frequently Asked Questions about Trauma & PTSD

What is trauma and PTSD?

Trauma refers to a distressing or disturbing event or experience that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope and elicits feelings of fear, helplessness, or horror. Trauma can result from various situations, including but not limited to:

 

  • Experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event (e.g., natural disaster, accident, violence)
  • Experiencing physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
  • Surviving a serious injury or illness
  • Serving in combat or experiencing warfare
  • Experiencing a sudden or unexpected loss or bereavement

 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop in some individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. Traumatic events are situations that involve actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence, and can include experiences such as combat exposure, natural disasters, accidents, physical or sexual assault, and terrorist attacks.

 

PTSD is characterized by a range of symptoms that persist for an extended period of time after the traumatic event and can often go undiagnosed or underreported, as individuals may be hesitant to seek help or disclose their symptoms due to stigma, shame, or fear of judgment.

Trauma comes in many different forms. Post-traumatic stress disorder can be caused by any type of trauma. It’s also important to note that not everyone who experiences trauma will develop PTSD. Some examples of traumatic events include, but are not limited to:

 

  • Surviving a natural disaster
  • Being exposed to community violence
  • Being in a serious accident
  • Early childhood trauma
  • Witnessing a terrorist act
  • Intimate partner violence
  • Experiencing war or combat
  • Being hospitalized or other medical trauma
  • Being raped or sexually assaulted
  • Physical, sexual, emotional, and verbal abuse
  • Being threatened with death, sexual violence, or serious injury
  • Grief and loss trauma
  • Experiencing bullying
  • Witnessing any type of abuse
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD): Complex PTSD is a condition that may develop after prolonged exposure to trauma, particularly interpersonal trauma or repeated traumatic events. In addition to the core symptoms of PTSD, individuals with C-PTSD may experience difficulties with emotion regulation, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, and a sense of identity. C-PTSD is not formally recognized as a separate diagnosis in the DSM-5 but is often used to describe the long-term effects of chronic trauma.   Delayed-Onset PTSD: Delayed-onset PTSD refers to the delayed emergence of PTSD symptoms months or even years after exposure to a traumatic event. While symptoms of PTSD typically begin within the first few months after a traumatic event, some individuals may not develop symptoms until much later. Dissociative PTSD: Dissociative PTSD involves symptoms of dissociation, which is a disconnection between thoughts, emotions, sensations, and memories. Individuals with dissociative PTSD may experience depersonalization (feeling detached from oneself) or derealization (feeling detached from one’s surroundings) as part of their PTSD symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms of Trauma:

  • Emotional distress: Intense feelings of fear, helplessness, or horror in response to the traumatic event.
  • Re-experiencing: Intrusive thoughts, memories, or flashbacks of the traumatic event.
  • Physical reactions: Physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, or nausea when reminded of the trauma.
  • Avoidance: Avoiding people, places, activities, or situations that remind the individual of the traumatic event.
  • Hyperarousal: Feeling constantly on edge, jumpy, or easily startled.
  • Emotional numbing: Feeling emotionally numb, detached, or unable to experience positive emotions.
  • Irritability: Being easily agitated, irritable, or having outbursts of anger.
  • Sleep disturbances: Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restless sleep.
  • Difficulty concentrating: Experiencing difficulties focusing, concentrating, or remembering information.
  • Hypervigilance: Being overly alert or vigilant to potential threats or danger.

 

Signs and Symptoms of PTSD:

  • Intrusive thoughts: Distressing memories, nightmares, or flashbacks of the traumatic event.
  • Avoidance: Avoiding reminders of the traumatic event, including thoughts, feelings, people, places, or activities associated with it.
  • Negative changes in thinking and mood: Negative beliefs about oneself or the world, feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, feeling detached from others.
  • Hyperarousal: Being easily startled, feeling constantly on edge, having difficulty sleeping, experiencing irritability or anger outbursts.
  • Emotional reactivity: Experiencing intense emotional reactions to reminders of the trauma, such as fear, sadness, or anger.
  • Negative changes in cognition and mood: Memory problems, difficulty concentrating, feeling emotionally numb or detached, diminished interest in activities, persistent negative emotions.
  • Changes in reactivity: Irritability, reckless or self-destructive behavior, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, problems with concentration, sleep disturbances.

 

Duration: Symptoms persist for more than one month and cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

  • Alpha-Adrenergic Agonists
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Atypical Antipsychotics
  • Benzodiazepines (Short-term Use)
  • Beta-Blockers (for Specific Symptoms)
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
  • Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
  • Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

Call Now for Program Availability

Contact our admissions team to learn about our programs and to check availability at our facilities, or submit your insurance to verify coverage.

We Accept Most Insurance

We accept most major insurance providers including the ones displayed here.
Submit your insurance to confirm coverage.

We Accept Most Insurance

We accept most major insurance providers including the ones displayed here.
Submit your insurance to confirm coverage.

Licensed & Accredited

Our facilities have been awarded prestigious recognition and certifications by adhering to rigorous guidelines and exceeding quality standards with consistent, safe & effective healthcare services.

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