Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder which is characterized by nightmares, flashbacks, and hyper-vigilance caused by a traumatic event. People may develop PTSD if they experience or witness violence or a life-threatening situation. PTSD treatment often includes specialized therapy for PTSD.

A person who has PTSD often has elevated anxiety and intrusive, vivid, and emotionally traumatic nightmares or flashbacks during which the person reliving the trauma. One perspective of PTSD and the reliving of the traumatic memory is that the traumatic memory fails to be integrated properly into the person’s memory. Therefore, this emotionally-charged memory remains in the forefront of the person’s mind and is easily triggered. Due to the lack of integration, the memory also retains the intense emotions and feeling as if the event is recurring that integrated memories normally lack.

One common therapeutic approach to PTSD treatment is exposure therapy similar to how phobias are treated. In both cases, the person is exposed to the trauma or fear-triggering stimulus in a safe environment with the support of a therapist. With PTSD, the person may be asked to describe the traumatic event in detail.

The therapist may have the person progress gradually through this treatment. The individual may describe only the beginning of the event or a less-detailed account at first. In subsequent treatments, the person may be asked to describe more of the event. The location of the trauma may be visited at some point.
A relatively new therapy for PTSD is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) which is founded on the principle that the traumatic memories have not been successfully integrated. The goal of EMDR is to assist the person in reprocessing the memory so that it causes less emotional distress.

During the EMDR treatment process, the therapist guides the client through identifying and replacing negative thoughts and beliefs that are associated with the trauma. The therapist uses clicks, tones, or the client’s eye movement to encourage the reprocessing of the traumatic memory.

Family therapy is often recommended as part of PTSD therapy. The family is impacted by the condition and rarely has sufficient insight into the condition. PTSD is not easily understood by those who experience the condition much less those who don’t have the condition but have a relationship with someone who does. Family therapy can provide education about the disorder. The emotions of all family members are discussed. The therapist may help the family communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, and cope with their emotions.

Some therapeutic techniques for PTSD are related to the type of trauma experienced. For example, someone who developed PTSD from a sexual assault or rape may receive therapy from a sexual assault counselor who helps clients recover from sexual trauma.