Discover Effective Trauma Therapy in Calgary: The Impacts of ShiftGrit’s Therapy Program

How Does Our PTSD Therapy Calgary Help You?

Our PTSD therapy Calgary is a comprehensive and personalized approach to help individuals heal from trauma and stress. Our experienced therapists work with clients to identify the root causes of their PTSD symptoms and create individualized treatment plans tailored to their needs. Our approach utilizes a variety of techniques, including mindfulness, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and exposure therapy to help clients process their trauma in a safe and supportive environment. Through this collaborative process, our clients are empowered to build resilience, develop coping skills, and regain control over their lives.

Overcoming PTSD: A Personalized Approach to Therapy in Calgary

ShiftGrit is a professional trauma-informed therapy in Calgary that specializes in helping individuals who suffer from PTSD Calgary (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) find relief and healing. Our team of experienced therapists is dedicated to using evidence-based techniques to help our clients overcome the symptoms of PTSD and improve their overall quality of life.

Our approach is designed to target the limiting beliefs that often result from trauma and use reconditioning the responses in the “walnut brain,” which is referred to as our primitive, pre-evolutionary brain, akin to our animal instincts. This process employs psychological techniques reminiscent of classical conditioning, as used by behaviourists like Pavlov with dogs, but in this case, it’s an inverted form of classical conditioning. By addressing the root causes of PTSD, our clients can experience significant improvements in their mental and emotional well-being.

Reconditioning can be an effective approach for individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by helping them confront and process the traumatic memories and associated emotions. The process incorporates elements of exposure therapy and integration techniques, which are tailored to address the specific needs of PTSD clients. Here’s how the Shift Program works for PTSD:

• Assessment and psychoeducation: The therapist assesses the client’s PTSD symptoms and provides education about the disorder, the therapy process, and the rationale for using Reconditioning. Establishing a strong therapeutic alliance and a sense of trust is crucial for the success of the therapy.
• Identifying traumatic memories: The therapist works with the client to identify specific traumatic memories that need to be addressed during therapy. These memories might be related to a single event or a series of events.
• Creating a hierarchy: The client and therapist create a hierarchy of traumatic memories, ranking them according to the intensity of emotional distress they cause. This helps structure the exposure process in a gradual and manageable way.
• Exposure: The therapist guides the client through repeated and controlled exposure to traumatic memories. This can be done through imaginal exposure (mentally revisiting the traumatic event) or in vivo exposure (visiting places or engaging in activities related to the trauma). The purpose of exposure is to help the client confront and tolerate their distress, and ultimately reduce the intensity of their emotional response to the memories.
• Integration: During and after exposure, the client is encouraged to process their emotions and thoughts related to the traumatic memories. This can involve cognitive restructuring (challenging negative or distorted thoughts), emotional processing (expressing and understanding their feelings), or mindfulness techniques (accepting thoughts and emotions without judgment). Integration helps the client create new, healthier associations with the traumatic memories.
• Habituation: As the client repeatedly engages in exposure and integration, they become less sensitive to the traumatic memories, and their emotional response decreases. This is known as habituation.
• Generalization and maintenance: Once the client has successfully habituated to the traumatic memories, they may need to practice confronting related situations or memories to generalize their new emotional responses. The therapist will also work with the client on strategies to maintain their progress and prevent relapse.

Understanding the Complexity of PTSD: Common Contributing Factors

PTSD is a complex mental health condition that can result from exposure to a traumatic event or ongoing stress. Understanding the potential causes of PTSD is an important part of effective treatment. Here are five common factors that can contribute to PTSD:

• Trauma from physical or sexual assault, accidents, or natural disasters: Exposure to a life-threatening event, such as a serious accident or a natural disaster, can result in symptoms of PTSD.
• Exposure to combat or other violent situations: People who have been in combat, experienced violence, or witnessed a traumatic event can develop PTSD symptoms.
• Childhood neglect or abuse: Trauma experienced during childhood, such as abuse or neglect, can have long-lasting effects and lead to PTSD and be treated by childhood trauma therapy in Calgary.
• Ongoing stress and lack of social support: Living with ongoing stress, such as financial difficulties or social isolation, can increase the risk of developing PTSD symptoms.

Genetic factors and brain chemistry: Research has suggested that there may be genetic factors that contribute to the development of PTSD and changes in brain chemistry may also play a role in the disorder.

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