All-Is-Sun

I am a Masers prepared psychologist and counselor in Portland, OR. I have been trained in Evidence Based, Brief and Solution Focused Therapies. I also have Master Practitioner Certification in NLP. My spouse suffers from PTSD for over a decade, and I know full well it's debilitation. Thankfully, she is getting much better! I have successfully treated PTSD in several people, yet because of our marital relationship, I am not able to treat my wife and she chooses not to seek help . I can only comfort and support her. An assistance dog worked well for her in that the responsibility to walk the dog when I was at work got her out of the house rather than letting her become a hermit. Also having the dog with her in stores and such gave her the protection and support to allow her to feel the confidence to be in public spaces.

There is help for PTSD. There are both long term therapies and there are effective short term therapies. Both have the potential for long term cures. I tend to favor the brief strategies.My recommendation is two-fold. First, get the book Magic In Action http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Action-Richard-Bandler/dp/0916990141/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318285663&sr=8-1. Chapter 8 is entitled "Treating Symptoms of Post-Tramatic Stress Disorder with Neuro-Linguistic Programming". It the report of the treatment and followup study at a US Veterans Administration Hospital by Peter B. Gregory (not Richard Bandler). It is quite a remarkable case history.

Second, if this looks like something to try, find a Counselor trained in NLP and discuss it to see if you want to try it. (There are many who feel NLP is quackery. Still, the method described in the book is modeled on the well documented and highly effective work of Dr. Milton H Erickson, M.D. and as I have stated, I have used the method successfully several times).

I truly believe this is the most effective and least burdensome (financially) way of treating PTSD. However, should you wish more mainstream type therapy, then by all means go for it.The main thing is to recognize that help is available and to start working on it.

And yes, we all are likely to be traumatized once or more in our lives. That frequently is out of our control and we do not have to remain victims of it.

Best wishes for successful resolution and warmest regards.

Bigfoot

Thank you bigfoot!

I am able to find help with a psychologist who has much experience with PTSD and sex offenders (although that really has nothing to do with my experience, fortunately!). He lives in my area and shares his property with a Tibetan Bhuddist Monastery, right down the street from me. I would like to look into NLP. I am not normally a mainstream kinda gal, so thanks. I will talk to him about it too, as he is wonderful and also very open-minded. Being in Canada, and with full 100% extended benefits, cost is not an issue for me. For this, I really am blessed.

I am posting this thread because I truly want to help others. I am not a trained psychologist, but I do think it is OK to discuss anyways? What are your thoughts on this? In my view, we have a lot more inherent wisdom than we give ourselves credit for. I want to have members here be able to talk about difficulty and to build some core strength, in whatever way is possible.

all-is-sun

Oh, and thank you for the book title, Magic in Action. I just put it on my list of books. I'm rushing because I am just about to serve our Thanksgiving Dinner (I am living in Canada), and have to get the gravy made, but wanted to respond right away.

Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!