Achievement & Wellness Center

Roberta, an adult woman from Southampton, carried the effects of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), or more specifically, developmental trauma from her younger years.  She felt “emotionally immature” and was “easily triggered.”  She “internalized everything, felt hopeless and was unable to let things roll off her back.”  The effects of the trauma included feeling hopeless and being unable to focus.  She also reported high levels of anxiety, depression, and chronic pain.  She struggled with managing stressors in her relationships all her adult life, the results of which frequently ended with job termination.  

She understood much of the emotional difficulties she was experiencing in her adult life were rooted in the childhood trauma she experienced, but she felt helpless to cope positively.  Earlier attempts at counseling and medication were not successful so she decided to try neurofeedback with cognitive therapy. 

On intake she reported having symptoms like ADHD (attention deficit hypersensitivity disorder)  which included low energy, apathy, being easily distracted, being forgetful, as well as symptoms for anxiety and depression that included being irritable, moody, and withdrawn.   

Treatment included calming the PTSD symptoms she was experiencing as well as counseling to address the presenting issues.  She began experiencing a calmer and more balanced approach to her stressors rather than the usual emotional overreaction.  Roberta began to feel less overwhelmed by stressors and more insightful in her feelings and responses. 

Recently with a conflicted situation at her job, Roberta was able to self-advocate appropriately and successfully problem-solve. This was something that she could not previously do with other jobs.

The brain’s response to trauma is rooted in the nonverbal areas that are not easily reached by psychotherapy alone, making talk therapy difficult.  The areas holding the developmental trauma require a different approach to alleviate the trauma, and neurofeedback positively addresses the issue in those areas and calms the trauma brain.  Psychotherapy can then be useful to help develop insight and positive coping strategies. 

For more information about Achievement & Wellness Center, located at 301 Oxford Valley Rd, Suite 703B in  Yardley, call 215-321-9502.