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Trauma & PTSD Therapy - Ottawa, Ontario

Now providing virtual sessions all over Ontario

MN Psychotherapy Services Ottawa

Trauma & PTSD Therapy Services Ottawa, Ontario

Trauma and PTSD can be debilitating, and traumatic events can change our perspectives and relationships with ourselves, others, and the world. Many people recover from trauma, but some get stuck with symptoms like nightmares, flashbacks, and avoidance.

Trauma is not one size fits all. When triggered in the present, individuals often reenact their trauma response to the actual event from the past.

If you want to learn more about trauma and what you can do to overcome it, you can contact me for support and services. Commonly, people are scared or not ready to talk about their traumas, which is a typical response.

During our sessions, I facilitate processing trauma reactions, traumatic dreams, and adaptations in a safe and supportive environment. As a result, you will be able to reconstruct a narrative that helps you uncover your strengths and break free from trauma cycles.

Call me today to discuss how I can help.

Symptoms of Trauma and PTSD

Symptoms of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and trauma can include:

  • Intrusive thoughts or memories of the traumatic event
  • Nightmares or flashbacks of the event
  • Avoiding things or places that remind the person of the event
  • Negative changes in mood and cognition, such as feeling guilty, ashamed, or detached from others
  • Increased anxiety or aggression
  • Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
  • Irritability or outbursts of anger.
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You don't have to try to handle the burden of trauma on your own.

Several types of psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, may be used to treat trauma/PTSD.

I don't provide EMDR, but I do provide the following therapies for trauma and PTSD:

Cognitive Processing Therapy

This type of talk therapy helps you recognize the ways of thinking (cognitive patterns) that are keeping you stuck — for example, negative beliefs about yourself and the risk of traumatic things happening again. For PTSD, cognitive processing therapy often is used along with exposure therapy.

Narrative Exposure Therapy

This behavioral therapy helps you safely face both situations and memories that you find frightening so that you can learn to cope with them effectively. Exposure therapy can be particularly helpful for flashbacks and nightmares.

Process-Experiential Therapy

Process-Experiential Therapy (PET), part of Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), emphasizes emotional processing for growth, combining humanistic and client-centered elements to transform emotions in a supportive setting. The goal is to facilitate emotional awareness and reprocessing in a supportive environment, this includes the Wounded Child approach in EFT (child regression work).

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

PTSD treatment approaches can help you gain understanding of your trauma reactions and decrease symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks and avoidance. You and I can discuss what type of therapy or combination of therapies may best meet your needs. 

 

How can Trauma & PTSD therapy Ottawa help you?

Psychotherapy can be very beneficial for individuals who are experiencing PTSD and trauma. Some of the benefits of PTSD and trauma psychotherapy include:

  • Decreased symptoms: Psychotherapy can help reduce symptoms of PTSD and trauma such as intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and avoidance behaviors.
  • Improved mood: Psychotherapy can help individuals improve their mood and overall emotional well-being.
  • Increased coping skills: Psychotherapy can help individuals develop coping skills and strategies to deal with difficult thoughts, emotions, and situations related to their trauma.
  • Increased social support: Psychotherapy can provide a safe and supportive environment where individuals can share their experiences with a trained professional and receive feedback and encouragement.
  • Improved relationships: Trauma can often affect an individual’s relationships with others. Psychotherapy can help individuals understand how their trauma is impacting their relationships and how to improve them.
  • Improved self-esteem: Trauma can take a toll on an individual’s self-esteem. Psychotherapy can help individuals understand and challenge negative thoughts and beliefs about themselves, leading to improved self-esteem.

It’s worth noting that different types of psychotherapy may be better for different people, so it’s important to work with a therapist to find the right approach for you.

FAQs - Trauma & PTSD Therapy Ottawa

Trauma is a psychological response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event or series of events that overwhelm an individual’s ability to cope. Trauma can be caused by a wide range of events, such as physical or sexual abuse, car accidents, natural disasters, war, or other forms of violence. Sometimes, trauma is about racial/ethnic identity, sexual identity and gender identity. Trauma can also be caused by long-term exposure to distressing situations, such as living in poverty, experiencing discrimination, racsim or working in a high-stress occupation.

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a mental health condition that can develop after an individual experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. It is an anxiety disorder that can occur after exposure to events such as combat, sexual or physical assault, serious accidents, or natural disasters.

Psychotherapy can be a highly effective treatment for PTSD and can help individuals reduce symptoms and improve their overall well-being. However, it’s important to note that PTSD is a complex condition that can have a lasting impact on an individual’s physical and mental health.

  • Recovery from PTSD can vary widely from person to person and can depend on a number of factors such as the type and severity of the traumatic event, an individual’s coping mechanisms, and the support they have available.
  • For some individuals, symptoms of PTSD may improve significantly within a few weeks or months of treatment, while for others it may take longer. Studies show that most individuals who receive appropriate treatment experience a significant reduction in symptoms within 6 to 12 weeks. However, some people may continue to experience symptoms for months or even years.
  • It’s important to understand that recovery from PTSD is an ongoing process, and it may require ongoing therapy, medication management, or other forms of support. Some people may need to continue therapy for a longer period of time to manage symptoms, especially if they have experienced multiple traumatic events, or if they have other co-occurring conditions such as depression or anxiety.
  • It’s also important to note that recovery from PTSD is not always a linear process, individuals may have good days and bad days, and may experience setbacks along the way. It’s important to have realistic expectations and to work closely with a therapist to set achievable goals for recovery.
  • It’s also important to remember that recovery is different for everyone and it’s not always possible to completely eliminate symptoms, but with therapy and support, individuals can learn to manage and cope with them.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

For the time being, we will be conducting appointments exclusively through virtual means.

Thank you for your understanding.

Experience You Can Count On

About MEGO NERSES

I am an Ottawa-based Registered Psychotherapist and have a full-time private practice. In the past, I worked in social service agencies for many years. I offer individual, relationship, and sex therapy in English, Arabic, and Armenian to adults 18+, and I do not work with minors.

In 2011, I earned a master’s degree in Counselling from the University of Ottawa. I am a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario (CRPO#001132) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. In addition, I am a Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA#3058). My clinical training focuses on relationship and sex therapy and trauma/PTSD. Since 2013, I have been at Algonquin College as a seasonal professor, teaching courses in mental health and addiction.

I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to publish peer-reviewed articles and contribute chapters concerning Counselling, coming out, and trauma related explicitly to LGBTQ+ refugees and newcomers to Canada. I have presented numerous workshops and continue to offer trainings nationally and internationally on the mental health of LGBTQI+ and SOGIE refugees and asylum seekers.

 

Professional Work

Early in my professional career, I specialized in individual therapy and served clients with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and grief. Since then, I have taken my clinical work to a higher level and gained more experience in four areas: PTSD and Trauma, Sexuality and Gender Identity, Sex and Relationship Therapy, and Refugee mental health issues. I have received various trainings in these areas since choosing to specialize. As an example, I received training from Division 56, Trauma Psychology, Physicians for Human Rights, and the Global Institute of Forensic Research in writing immigration evaluations for immigration courts. Furthermore, I have completed multiple trainings in trauma/PTSD therapy and relationship therapy (Poly. Kink). I have participated in numerous training opportunities in the field of sex therapy, sexuality, and gender identity. 

I am a LGBTQI+/poly/kink/CNM supportive and informed therapist.

Therapeutic approaches
In addition to Narrative Exposure Therapy for PTSD (NET), I have also been trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD and Experiential Therapy and Focusing. I integrate social justice and rights-based principles into my work as a trauma-informed therapist.

Awards
In recognition of my dedication to helping LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers in Canada, I received the 2017 Humanitarian Award from the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA).

AffiliationsI have an international affiliate membership with Division 56, Trauma Psychology, the American Psychological Association (APA), and the Global Institute of Forensic Research.

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Facts about Psychotherapy