Trauma and PTSD Therapists in 85228
Kathy McCoy
Marriage & Family Therapist, PhD
Verified Verified
Coolidge, AZ 85228
All of us have crisis points in our lives, times when it's hard to know what to do and where to turn. Whether you are experiencing depression, anxiety, marital or relationship conflict, an estrangement from an adult child or other family member or grief over the loss of a beloved person or pet, I am here for you. My approach is gentle and down to earth. As a therapist, I provide a safe and caring place for you to express the full range of your thoughts and feelings as we work together toward realistic and sustainable life changes.
All of us have crisis points in our lives, times when it's hard to know what to do and where to turn. Whether you are experiencing depression, anxiety, marital or relationship conflict, an estrangement from an adult child or other family member or grief over the loss of a beloved person or pet, I am here for you. My approach is gentle and down to earth. As a therapist, I provide a safe and caring place for you to express the full range of your thoughts and feelings as we work together toward realistic and sustainable life changes.
Trauma and PTSD Therapists
When should I seek treatment for trauma?
Not everyone who undergoes trauma needs therapy to heal, but many do. If, after experiencing a traumatic event, you find yourself struggling with symptoms such as nightmares, dissociation, irritability, or emotional numbness—especially if these symptoms last more than a month and are severe enough to interfere with your daily functioning—you may benefit from seeking out therapy with a trauma-informed provider.
How long does trauma therapy take?
Different types of therapy for trauma unfold on different timelines. Prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive processing therapy, for example, each take about three months, while trauma-informed CBT may last anywhere from 8 to 25 sessions. Other approaches, especially those that are less structured or that incorporate elements from multiple modalities, may be more open-ended, though many patients report feeling better within the first few months of treatment.
What happens if trauma is left untreated?
Unaddressed trauma can have serious—even devastating—effects on relationships, career, and day-to-day functioning. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can lead people to distrust or lash out at others, making it difficult to maintain intimate relationships; it can also trigger symptoms such as flashbacks or hyperreactivity that can interfere with a person’s ability to function effectively, personally and/or professionally. Some sufferers turn to drugs to find relief. Symptoms may lessen on their own with time, but there is no guarantee that PTSD will resolve on its own.
Can PTSD come back after treatment?
It is possible for PTSD symptoms to recur months or years after successful treatment. This is because, like most mental health disorders, it is not possible to “cure” PTSD, and stressful life events may cause symptoms to recur in even the most resilient individuals. There is no shame in re-experiencing PTSD symptoms nor in returning to therapy when such relapses occur; indeed, many forms of trauma therapy explicitly encourage periodic “maintenance sessions” to reinforce coping skills and ensure that symptoms stay manageable.