PTSD & Trauma
You Don’t Have to Keep Living in Survival Mode
Trauma has a way of staying with you long after the event is over—showing up in your sleep, your relationships, your ability to feel safe in your own body. If you’ve been struggling with flashbacks, anxiety, emotional numbness, or a constant sense of dread, you’re not broken. You’re having a very human response to something that shouldn’t have happened.
What Is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event—whether it happened once or over many years. PTSD isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s the nervous system’s attempt to protect you from something overwhelming. With the right treatment, it’s possible to reclaim your life.
How Trauma Shows Up in Your Life
Re-Experiencing: The past intrudes on the present through flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories that feel as vivid as the original event.
Avoidance: Steering clear of people, places, or conversations that remind you of what happened. Over time, the world gets smaller.
Hyperarousal: Feeling constantly on edge—easily startled, irritable, unable to sleep, always scanning for danger.
Negative Thoughts & Mood: Feeling detached, struggling with guilt or shame, or thinking “I’ll never be okay.”
How Dr. Ballas Treats Trauma
During his service as an Active Duty Army Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Ballas received intensive training in treating PTSD across a wide range of traumatic experiences—including combat, sexual trauma, childhood abuse, and sudden loss.
His approach is tailored to you, grounded in science, whole-person focused, and collaborative—addressing how trauma affects your relationships, identity, and daily functioning, not just your symptoms.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
PE works by gradually and safely bringing you into contact with the memories and situations you’ve been avoiding. Over time, your brain learns that these memories—while painful—are not dangerous. Fear decreases, avoidance lifts, and life opens back up.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
CPT focuses on the thoughts that trauma leaves behind—beliefs like “It was my fault,” “I can’t trust anyone,” or “I’ll never feel normal again.” You’ll learn to examine those beliefs, understand where they came from, and replace them with more accurate, balanced ones. CPT is especially effective for trauma involving shame, guilt, or self-blame.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have PTSD or just stress?
Stress typically eases once the stressor is gone. PTSD persists and includes specific symptoms like flashbacks, avoidance, and hypervigilance. A clinical evaluation can give you clarity.
Do I have to talk about the trauma in detail right away?
No. Treatment is paced to your comfort level, and Dr. Ballas will prepare you thoroughly before any trauma-focused work begins.
How long does trauma therapy take?
Many people see meaningful improvement within 12–20 sessions, depending on the complexity of the trauma.
What’s the difference between PE and CPT?
PE focuses on confronting feared memories through exposure. CPT focuses on shifting trauma-related thoughts and beliefs. Dr. Ballas will recommend the best fit for you.
Do you treat complex trauma?
Yes. Dr. Ballas’s training includes complex, chronic trauma such as childhood abuse, repeated assault, and prolonged combat exposure.
Contact me to schedule a consultation.