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Therapy for PTSD

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Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can result from directly experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event(s) and can significantly negatively affect your mental health, interpersonal relationships and functioning at work.

We offer two evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD at ARC Psychiatry – Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

These therapies can significantly reduce the severity of PTSD symptoms and improve day-to-day functioning. Many patients achieve full remission of PTSD from these therapies, and this remission has been shown to continue even after the therapies have ended.

Interested in learning more about PTSD and evidence-based psychotherapies?

What is PTSD?

  • PTSD is a mental health condition that can result from directly experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event(s), such as a physical assault, life-threatening illness, sexual violence, or serious car accident.
  • Symptoms can include:
  • Nightmares and unwanted memories about the trauma.
  • Emotional or physical distress in response to triggers of the trauma.
  • Avoidance of people, places and things that are reminders of the trauma.
  • Exaggerated self-blame.
  • Feeling numb and detached from others.
  • Anger outbursts.
  • Being easily startled.
  • Difficulty sleeping.

  • PTSD commonly co-exists with other mental health conditions, including depression, other anxiety disorders and substance abuse.

  • PTSD can significantly negatively affect your self-esteem, relationships and functioning at home and work.

What are the treatments for PTSD?

  • First-line treatment for PTSD is trauma-focused psychotherapy.
  • ARC Psychiatry offers two evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD: Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

What is CPT?

  • CPT is a cognitive therapy to re-process how you think about yourself, others and the world as a result of the trauma(s).
  • Completing practice assignments to identify and challenge your thoughts is essential for the therapy.
  • CPT consists of once weekly sessions lasting approximately 55 minutes for 2-4 months.

What is EMDR?

  • EMDR is a non-traditional form of therapy that pairs side-to-side eye movements with traumatic memories and emotions.
  • You recall a distressing event and the emotions associated with this, while your therapist guides you through side-to-side eye movements. This helps to decrease the distress of the traumatic event.
  • EMDR consists of once a week session lasting 55 minutes.

What are the benefits of CPT and EMDR?

  • CPT and EMDR have strong evidence for significantly reducing the symptom burden and functional impact of PTSD, in addition to improving other mental health symptoms.
  • Many patients achieve full remission of their PTSD from these therapies.
  • The benefits of CPT and EMDR continue even after the treatment has ended.

Where can I get these services?

  • CPT is currently offered at our Beachwood office by Dr. Emily Sykes, MD. Dr. Sykes is a board-certified psychiatrist and a certified CPT provider for PTSD.
  • EMDR is offered by multiple therapists at several of our office location as well as by telehealth.

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