The level of communication was truly remarkable. I never had to question how my son was doing or what was going on during his time at PrairieCare. No matter what was happening – we knew about it, and that makes all the difference!
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Trauma and PTSD Support in the Twin Cities, MN
What is Trauma?
Trauma is an experience or event that leaves a person feeling unsafe, incapacitated, or unable to protect themselves or others. Trauma can result from a single event, or an individual can have multiple traumatic experiences over time. Regardless of what happened to them, responses to trauma can be physical, physiological, emotional, and behavioral in nature.
The impact of a traumatic event varies depending on many factors, including a person’s developmental stage, personality, the internalized meaning of the event, their community resources and support in coping, and more. When trauma is not processed early on, it can progress into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that requires treatment.
PTSD treatment at PrairieCare addresses underlying trauma and PTSD, in addition to co-occurring issues like depression, anxiety, or substance use disorder. Our comprehensive programs give individuals and families the tools and support they need to recover and thrive after trauma.
Table of Contents
The Impact of Trauma
Trauma can result in a variety of emotional, physical, and behavioral effects, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Increased edginess, irritability, or other mood changes
- Heightened feelings of fear
- Feelings of guilt or shame
- Sleep problems—nightmares, hyposomnia (extreme sleepiness during the day), and/or insomnia
- Trouble concentrating
- Difficulty trusting others
- Relationship problems
- Inability to cope with daily activities, such as school or work
- Loneliness and isolation
- Changes in your identity and who you thought you were
- Migraines, chronic pain, and stomach issues
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
It’s normal to feel afraid, sad, numb, or repetitive thoughts after experiencing trauma. Many people recover from these symptoms with proper care, support, and treatment. People who do not recover from trauma for any number of reasons may be diagnosed with PTSD.
Signs and Symptoms of PTSD
After a traumatic event, symptoms may lessen over time. However, when trauma does not resolve, it can progress into PTSD. PTSD includes ongoing or worsening physical, emotional, and physiological symptoms that severely impair mental health and quality of life.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, adults, adolescents, and children age 6 and up meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD if they experience the following symptoms at least once, for at least one month:
- Intrusive symptom (at least once within a month)
- Avoidance symptom (at least once within a month)
- At least two negative alterations in cognition and mood (at least twice within a month)
- Alterations in arousal and reactivity (at least twice within a month)
Intrusion Symptoms
- Recurrent, involuntary, and distressing memories of the event (including playtime reenactments of the trauma for children)
- Recurrent nightmares of the event
- Flashbacks in which the distressing event feels or seems like it’s happening again
- Distress upon exposure to triggers that remind someone of the event
- Physiological reactions (such as sweating, racing heart, or shaking) upon exposure to triggers that are reminds of the event
Avoidance Symptoms
- Attempts to avoid distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings tied to the event
- Trying to avoid reminders of the event, including people, places, activities, and objects
Negative Alterations in Cognition and Mood
- Inability to remember an aspect of the event (not associated with head injury, medication, or substance use)
- Persistent negative beliefs about oneself or the world, such as “I can’t trust anyone,” “My nervous system is permanently ruined,” and “I’m a bad person”
- Blaming oneself or others for the event due to negative distortions in thinking
- Persistent negative emotional state, such as fear, rage, guilt, or shame
- Inability to experience positive emotions such as love, satisfaction, or contentment
- Decreased interest in once-enjoyable activities
- Feelings of detachment or isolation from others
Arousal and Reactivity Symptoms
- Irritability and angry outbursts
- Recklessness or self-destructive behavior
- Hypervigilance (always on the lookout for danger)
- Being jumpy or easily frightened
- Difficulty concentrating
- Trouble sleeping
Signs and Symptoms of PTSD in Children and Teens
Young children may display different behaviors than adults in response to trauma. Symptoms specific to children can include:
- Reverting back to bedwetting after being potty trained
- Talking less or being unable to speak
- Acting out the traumatic event during play activities
- Being unusually clingy or fearful with a caretaker
Symptoms of PTSD in older children and adolescents are more similar to symptoms in adults. And they may behave in more extreme ways, such as exhibiting aggression or disrespect, or destroying property.
When Is PTSD Inpatient Treatment Necessary?
If you or a loved one is dealing with PTSD that severely impacts your ability to function in daily life, PTSD inpatient treatment at a hospital may be necessary. Inpatient PTSD treatment may also be necessary following a severe PTSD episode.
A severe PTSD episode may include panic attacks, frightening flashbacks, and distressing physical symptoms, such as a racing heart, palpitations, and sweating. During a severe episode of PTSD, individuals may also be unable to eat or sleep. And they may engage in destructive and dangerous behaviors, towards others or themselves.
If you or a loved one are experiencing distressing or prolonged PTSD episodes, inpatient treatment can help. Hospitalization provides necessary and continuous support, stability, and professional medical care to immediately reduce distressing symptoms of PTSD and address underlying trauma.
If you or a loved one is at risk of suicide, call or text the suicide prevention hotline at 988 or go to a local emergency room immediately.
Insurance We Accept
PrairieCare is an in-network provider for most major insurance plans.
What Treatment for PTSD Includes
Living with untreated trauma or PTSD disorder is frightening, exhausting, and distressing. However, treatment can greatly improve your struggles at home, in your relationships, and at school or work. Treatment helps you reduce distressing symptoms, calm your nervous system, and get back to living the life you deserve.
Treatment varies according to each individual’s needs. But many trauma and PTSD treatment plans include a combination of the following:
- Psychotherapy, including various forms of behavioral and relational therapies
- Psychiatric care, including medication recommendations or medication management as necessary
- Environmental stabilization and education to help create routines that minimize mood disruptions and PTSD episodes
- Group therapy, which provides support within a safe community
- Other types of therapies, like marriage and family therapy or play therapy
PrairieCare’s PTSD Treatment in the Twin Cities
The appropriate PTSD treatment plan depends on the severity of symptoms and their impact on your life. When you fill out an assessment and intake for treatment with PrairieCare, our team will help you or your loved one determine your options and next steps.
No matter what type of treatment plan you need, we work with you to determine the best approach for your treatment. Our team of licensed therapists, psychiatrists, clinicians, and counselors have a patient-centered care philosophy, and we foster safety and healing through a trauma-informed lens.
PrairieCare offers a variety of services and programs at various locations throughout Minnesota. These include the following treatment options:
- Neuropsychological and psychological testing to determine the optimal care plan for you
- Psychotherapy with our experienced clinicians, using modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
- Group therapy, in which participants learn coping strategies for their symptoms and receive ongoing support and healing in a community environment
- Marriage and family therapy as needed
- Psychiatry and medication management by a dedicated team of health professionals
- A variety of specialty therapies facilitated by experts, including Play Therapy, Art Therapy, and integrative health programming
Our PTSD Care in Minnesota
PrairieCare provides various levels of trauma and PTSD treatment in the Twin Cities and Southern Minnesota. Our MN treatment locations provide a soothing atmosphere with warm, natural colors and plenty of windows and sunlight, staffed by compassionate team members. Our facilities are equipped with gyms, recreational therapy rooms, sensory rooms, and more, to allow patients to focus on safety and healing.
With our full continuum of behavioral health treatment, children, adolescents, young adults, and adults can receive the highest-quality care for PTSD treatment in Minnesota.
Our Locations Providing PTSD Treatment in Minneapolis and St. Paul:
- Brooklyn Park, Medical Office Building
- Brooklyn Park Inpatient Hospital
- Edina
- Maple Grove
- Maplewood
- Minneapolis, Center for Families
- Woodbury
Our Treatment for PTSD in Southern Minnesota:
Our Levels of Care for PTSD and Trauma Treatment
At PrairieCare, we provide intensive care, including inpatient hospitalization and residential treatment, as well as various outpatient programs, to fit the needs of each patient. Our team shapes a trauma treatment plan to fit the unique needs of each patient and determines the right level of care for the best outcome.
Clinic and Outpatient Services: Offering in-person and telehealth settings, our clinic and outpatient PTSD disorder treatment provides specialized psychotherapy, medication management, and evaluation. We offer specialty approaches including Play Therapy, Marriage and Family Therapy, Air Water Earth (AWE) Therapy, and more.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): IOP is a level of care that provides programming four days a week, several hours a day, for individuals struggling with symptoms of mental illness that are interfering with their daily living and are not manageable through weekly therapy and/or medication management alone. We offer IOPs for youth (ages 11–17) and young adults, as well as an Adapted Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (A-DBT) track.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): Our PHP programs take place five days a week, with a full day of programming. This level of care is helpful for adults and youth who are struggling with symptoms of trauma or PTSD that are interfering with their daily tasks, such as school, caring for themselves, and going to work.
PTSD Inpatient Treatment: Our inpatient program provides 24/7 safety and stabilization for children, teens, and young adults who are 35 years and younger following a severe PTSD episode. This type of PTSD treatment offers group, individual, and family therapy sessions in a hospital setting. Inpatient care focuses on stabilizing acute PTSD episodes and symptoms for patients who may have a higher risk of dangerous behavior, including suicidal behavior or self-harm.
Residential Treatment Program: With an average stay of three months, residential treatment offers those with severe PTSD and co-occurring disorders the care they need. Informed by psychodynamic theory and guided by therapeutic skills, PrairieCare’s residential PTSD and trauma treatment focuses on helping youth, young adults, and families build lives that are sustainable, enriching, and meaningful.
FAQs
When should you be hospitalized for PTSD?
Hospitalization for PTSD may be necessary following severe PTSD episodes that create marked impairments in functioning and increase the risk of suicidal behaviors or self-harm.
How do you recover from PTSD triggers?
Recovery from PSTD triggers requires professional mental health support, including psychotherapy to address underlying trauma. Once trauma is processed, triggers no longer hold the same power to destabilize the nervous system. In addition, Exposure Therapy is helpful in reducing PTSD triggers by helping patients gradually face and tolerate trauma-related memories and situations.
What are the 3 best treatments for trauma?
The 3 best treatments for trauma are EMDR, Exposure Therapy, and Cognitive Processing Therapy, a specific type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that helps patients learn how to modify and challenge unhelpful beliefs related to the trauma.
What does a severe PTSD episode look like?
A severe PTSD episode may include panic attacks, terrifying flashbacks, inability to sleep or eat, engaging in dangerous or destructive behaviors, and/or suicidal behaviors or self-harm.