Treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Cognitive Behavioral CBT Approach | Dr. Rami Nader

Treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be complex and there are a lot of different treatment approaches for treating PTSD. However, not all therapies for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder work or are particularly effective. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has widely been viewed as the most effective form of therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and there is a lot of research to support its standing as the gold standard of treatment for PTSD. In this video, I discuss some of the components of cognitive behavioral therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and how these CBT skills work to help address PTSD symptoms.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder should include the following components for effective treatment of PTSD:
1) Prolonged imaginal exposure. This requires the person with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder to write out a detailed script of their trauma memory and review the PTSD script repeatedly to drain the emotional distress from the trauma memory. By doing this, the PTSD memory is less distressing to thing about and the person does not have to try to supress the PTSD memories, which is one of the factors that tends to maintain Posttraumatic Stress Disorder symptoms.
2) Challenging “stuck points” or faulty assumptions stemming from the PTSD incident. Traumatic events can change the way we think about ourselves, other people and the world more generally. These changes can lead to people with PTSD: a) viewing themselves as broken, flawed or more vulnerable; b) viewing others as untrustworthy; and c) viewing the world as a more dangerous or threatening place. Cognitive behavioral therapy aims at identifying and challenging some of these faulty assumptions and beliefs stemming from the PTSD events.
3) Behavioral exposure to situations, places and activities that people with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder avoid. Behavioral avoidance is a major factor that maintains distress and interference for people with PTSD and so CBT treatment focuses on gradual exposures to situations, places and activities that a person with PTSD is avoiding. In doing so, it reduces anxiety and distress in these situations and limits how much Posttraumatic Stress Disorder interferes in a person’s life.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for PTSD is not easy, but it can be the most effective form of therapy for someone suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, if they are able to do the work of therapy.

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8315 (61)

[Nancy-dzvo]

Thank you Dr Nader! Very helpful video. ❤

[pearlaftonchambers-miller]

I will try. There were so many events, beginning at my earliest memories that even at age 87 I still am constantly on alert. I just this week realized all my family and friends treat me with love and respect and have for many years. Why am I still afraid they will be upset or threading towards me?

[karmasouture]

I inadvertently performed the first exercise, without knowing it had a name. I wrote a novella about the trauma and grief of losing my first wife to cancer. It was incredibly difficult, but the result has been extremely balancing and healing.

[WindLake]

Your PTSD videos are very helpful. Thank you for posting them.

[cj]

Thank you for sharing your expertise. Can you turn on a light behind you? This dark room... Looks like someone is going to sneak up behind you.

[rabianaqvi]

Thank you so much for making such an informative video. Please keep it up.

[zdhpnrn]

Another great video. I always look forward to the next one. Would you be so kind to cover something on trauma and cognitive processing. Thank you

[amirkabado]

Very helpful way for the treatment of the PTSD 🙂

[austinsalazar]

Thank you dr. This video helped me a lot I hope to have a meeting with you soon I live in California everyday for 8 years I've had ptsd because I youse to play very sad violent video games for entertainment but as the years passed from April 2013 those memories of the video games came back with ptsd dr. What could I do to get help and come back to my old self again.i am now 22 years old.thank you for your video.

[pozmarciv]

Hello Dr, my daughter was sexually assaulted . She has been receiving counseling but still has anxiety and paranoia. She feels like people are keeping secrets from her and assigns meaning to colors. Do you recommend that she does what you suggested in this video? And what else can she do to help herself? Thank you

[saramolinaro]

Thank you very much for all you're doing!! I have a question: does this also work for CPTSD? What treatment would you suggest for it?

[shelleymodlin]

I'm having a terrible time with missing my mom who died one year ago...panicky feelings and depression...can this be PTSD ?

[skionen]

Interesting how do you go about challenging the thinking? Is it helpful to use Socratic method in CBT I’m just curious to know. Thanks for sharing this brilliant video

[sr]

Do you ever ask your clients if they are currently being abused by someone?

[petercastrocollins]

Do you find this type of therapy works well with EMDR?

[petercastrocollins]

Have you had a lot of success with Prolonged Imaginative Exposure? How long is this treatment typically?

[HomeFrendsten]

V experience traumas when parents r emotionallyneglectfull, in rigid families.

[austinsalazar]

Also to I had stopped playing those violent video games in 2016 after 016 I never played those harsh games based off the iraq war modern warfare.but that same year I had a lost uncle who died for his funeral.

[austinsalazar]

Sometimes a man needs a man to discuss real business with the subjects of education for schools and colleges across United States, economic development for red stock market to go green for good percentage rates that has to do with housing stock market recovery for this bad economy u.s. has in 2021, the issue behind politics and why police pruetillitity is a problem the president needs to fix because crimes have been committed to many times from ritites during the pandemic so the pour class american people with hard working american people get lower taxes um you know.

[austinsalazar]

Also to I had stopped playing those violent video games in 2016 after 016 I never played those harsh games based off the iraq war modern warfare.but that same year I had a lost uncle who died for his funeral.