Quick Summary
Post-traumatic stress disorder is treatable. The first-line treatments in major guidelines are trauma-focused psychotherapies: EMDR, which reprocesses the memory with minimal verbal detail, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral approaches such as cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure, which work through the memory and the beliefs around it more directly. Medication prescribed by a physician can help alongside therapy. Choosing depends on your history, how much you can tolerate recounting, and whether the trauma is a single event or complex. Creative Healing in Chippewa Falls specializes in EMDR and complex trauma. Call or text 715-797-2770 for a free consultation.
Table of Contents
If you have been living with the aftermath of something that happened, whether last year or thirty years ago, you have probably heard that PTSD is treatable and wondered what that actually means. This guide lays out the real options, what each involves, and how to decide.
What PTSD is and how it shows up
PTSD develops when an overwhelming experience is not fully processed and stays “live” in the nervous system. It shows up in four clusters: re-experiencing (intrusive memories, nightmares, flashbacks, intense reactions to reminders); avoidance (of people, places, conversations or feelings connected to the event); negative changes in mood and thinking (shame, guilt, numbness, believing the world is dangerous or that it was your fault); and hyperarousal (being on guard, startling easily, irritability, poor sleep). Many people do not recognize their symptoms as trauma at all; see why trauma shows up as anger, anxiety or avoidance. Not everyone who has experienced trauma develops PTSD, and treatment helps whether or not the full diagnosis applies.
The main treatment options
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
EMDR uses a structured eight-phase protocol and bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess the traumatic memory so it is stored as a past event rather than a present threat. It requires very little verbal description; you do not have to tell the story in detail. It is a first-line treatment in PTSD guidelines from organizations including the World Health Organization and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and it is the primary trauma treatment at Creative Healing. See our full guide to how EMDR works and what EMDR does in the brain.
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapies
This family includes cognitive processing therapy (CPT), which focuses on the beliefs the trauma created (“it was my fault,” “I cannot trust anyone”) and works to change them; prolonged exposure (PE), which involves gradually and repeatedly approaching the memory and avoided situations until they lose their charge; and trauma-focused CBT (TF-CBT), developed for children and teens with caregiver involvement. These approaches involve more direct recounting than EMDR and are well supported. Ask any provider which of these they are trained in.
Parts work and somatic approaches
Parts work (often described as IFS-informed) helps you understand the protective parts of yourself that formed around the trauma, and is especially useful for complex trauma. Somatic, body-based approaches address the physical residue of trauma. At Creative Healing, both are integrated with EMDR rather than used alone.
Medication
Certain medications, prescribed by a physician or psychiatric provider, can reduce PTSD symptoms and help with sleep, anxiety or depression alongside therapy. Therapy remains the primary treatment; medication decisions belong with a prescriber, and we coordinate with them when you give permission.
How to choose
| If… | Consider… |
|---|---|
| You cannot imagine describing what happened out loud | EMDR, which needs minimal verbal detail |
| The trauma is a single, clear event | EMDR or prolonged exposure; both work well here |
| Guilt, shame or self-blame are the loudest part | EMDR targeting the belief, or cognitive processing therapy |
| The trauma was repeated, or began in childhood | A paced, parts-informed approach with EMDR, stabilization first |
| You lose time, feel unreal, or “go somewhere else” | A therapist experienced with dissociation before any processing |
| The person is a child or teen | TF-CBT or child-adapted EMDR with caregivers involved |
This is a starting map. The assessment in your first sessions is where the plan is made, and the most important variable is a therapist with real trauma-specific training; see how to choose a trauma therapist.
Complex trauma and dissociation
Trauma that was repeated or began early (neglect, abuse, chronic instability) often produces a broader pattern than classic PTSD: difficulty with emotions and relationships, a harsh view of self, and sometimes dissociation. Treatment is the same in principle but slower in pace, with more time on safety and stabilization before processing. Complex trauma and dissociation are a specialty at Creative Healing; see understanding dissociation and therapy for dissociation.
What treatment looks like at Creative Healing
Treatment begins with a free 20-minute consultation and a first session that is a casual, structured conversation. Early sessions build grounding and regulation skills and map out what to work on. Processing begins when you are ready, weekly or condensed into an EMDR Intensive of one to four days. EMDR is led by Jenifer Olson, LCSW, a certified EMDR therapist. Our post on how trauma recovery begins describes the arc.
Getting help in Chippewa Falls or Eau Claire
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or go to your nearest emergency room. Otherwise, call or text 715-797-2770 for a free consultation with our therapists. We accept most major Wisconsin plans; see rates and insurance. Learn more about trauma therapy at Creative Healing.
Ready to talk to someone?
Creative Healing Mental Health Center offers a free 20-minute phone consultation. Call or text 715-797-2770 or send us a message. We serve Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire and the Chippewa Valley from our office at 1791 County Highway OO, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most effective treatment for PTSD?
Trauma-focused psychotherapies are the first-line treatment in major PTSD guidelines. EMDR and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral approaches (including cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure) have the strongest support. The best choice depends on your history, preferences and how much you can tolerate talking about what happened.
Do I have to relive the trauma to treat PTSD?
Not in the way people fear. EMDR requires very little verbal description; you hold the memory briefly in mind during processing and control what you share. Exposure-based therapies involve more direct recounting, done gradually and with support. Your therapist will match the approach to you.
Can PTSD be treated without medication?
Yes. Trauma-focused therapy is the primary treatment and many people recover without medication. Medication prescribed by a physician or psychiatric provider can help with sleep, anxiety or depression alongside therapy; that decision belongs with a prescriber.
What if my trauma was a long time ago?
Time does not resolve trauma on its own; the memory can stay ‘live’ for decades. Treatment works regardless of how long ago the event happened.
Does Creative Healing treat complex PTSD?
Yes. Complex trauma and dissociation are a specialty at Creative Healing, treated with a paced, parts-informed approach and EMDR led by a certified EMDR therapist.
This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized care or medical advice. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room.