Mental health, plainly explained

The CHC Journal

Evidence-based articles, practical tools, and unhurried guidance from licensed therapists in Alpharetta — with companion podcast and video for every piece.

Filtered: Trauma & PTSD

16 articles

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A worried White woman in her 40s talks with a compassionate Black therapist during a warm telehealth session at a sunlit kitchen table, the therapist listening with a gentle, reassuring expression — editorial documentary photo about compassionate care for factitious disorder

Trauma & PTSD

Factitious Disorder: Why It Is Not Just Faking It

Factitious disorder is not faking for attention. Learn what it really is, how it differs from malingering, and how trauma-informed therapy in Georgia can help.

Jun 19, 20268 min read

Two adults — an older Black man and a younger white woman, both casually dressed — sit a comfortable distance apart on a sunlit living-room sofa, one beginning to lean in slightly as trust is tentatively offered — editorial documentary photo about paranoid personality disorder and rebuilding trust

Trauma & PTSD

Paranoid Personality Disorder: Signs and How Therapy Helps

Paranoid personality disorder is a long-standing pattern of distrust. Learn the signs, why it develops, and how trust-building therapy in Georgia gently helps.

Jun 15, 20268 min read

A woman in her 30s sits in a cozy sunlit living room talking with a therapist on a tablet, her expression visibly relieved and validated, in a documentary editorial photo about being believed while living with functional neurological disorder

Trauma & PTSD

Functional Neurological Disorder: Your Symptoms Are Real

Functional neurological disorder (FND) is real and not faked. Learn the signs, why a normal scan is part of the diagnosis, and how evidence-based care can help.

Jun 5, 20269 min read

A young Asian woman in her 20s stands by a rain-streaked window in a warm living room, one hand resting on the glass with a distant, faraway expression as soft daylight blurs the street behind her — editorial documentary photo about depersonalization-derealization disorder and feeling detached from reality

Trauma & PTSD

Depersonalization-Derealization: When Reality Feels Unreal

Depersonalization-derealization disorder makes you feel detached or the world unreal. Learn the signs, why it happens, and how trauma-informed therapy helps.

May 30, 202611 min read

A young Black woman sits alone by a sunlit window with a warm mug, looking thoughtful and calm in a cozy living room — editorial documentary photo about understanding dissociative identity disorder and healing from childhood trauma

Trauma & PTSD

Dissociative Identity Disorder: What It Really Is

Dissociative identity disorder is a trauma-based condition, not the danger movies portray. Learn the real signs of DID, why it develops, and how therapy helps.

May 29, 202610 min read

A Black father and his teenage daughter sit together on a couch in soft evening lamp light, in gentle supportive conversation — editorial documentary photo about healing from trauma and reconnecting with family

Trauma & PTSD

PTSD: When Trauma Still Lives in Your Body

PTSD is not only for veterans. It can follow car accidents, medical trauma, assault, or loss. Learn the signs and the treatments that actually help people heal.

May 23, 202611 min read

A Latina woman in her 30s sits in a sunlit home office during a secure video therapy session on her laptop, leaning forward with a focused, engaged expression — editorial documentary photo about Borderline Personality Disorder, DBT, and compassionate care

Trauma & PTSD

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): What It Is and How It's Treated

Borderline Personality Disorder is heavily stigmatized but highly treatable. Learn the signs of BPD, why DBT works, and how to find compassionate care.

May 19, 202610 min read

A Black father and teenage daughter walk together on a tree-lined path at golden hour, deep in supportive conversation — editorial documentary photo about PTSD recovery and intergenerational support

Trauma & PTSD

PTSD: Trauma Symptoms and Evidence-Based Treatment in Georgia

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) follows many kinds of trauma — not just combat. Learn signs, EMDR, CPT, and PE, plus Georgia telehealth therapy options.

May 16, 20269 min read

A young Black woman sits on a couch by a window at sunset with closed eyes, hand on heart, breathing slowly — editorial documentary photo about PTSD recovery and grounding after trauma

Trauma & PTSD

PTSD: Symptoms, Causes, and Trauma-Focused Therapy

PTSD develops after trauma — assault, accident, abuse, sudden loss. Learn the four DSM-5 symptom clusters, who's affected, and the trauma-focused therapies (EMDR, CPT, TF-CBT) that work.

May 9, 202610 min read

A multiracial woman in her 30s sits at a sunlit kitchen table with her phone in hand, hesitating to respond to a text — editorial documentary photo about the fawn response and people-pleasing

Trauma & PTSD

People-Pleasing Is Not Being Nice — It's a Fawn Response

People-pleasing is a fawn response — a survival strategy your nervous system learned. Here's how it forms, what it costs, and how trauma-informed therapy helps.

May 4, 20269 min read

Person finding peace on a path forward representing PTSD treatment and trauma recovery in Georgia

Trauma & PTSD

PTSD Treatment in Georgia: Evidence-Based Approaches That Work

Six out of every 100 Americans will develop PTSD at some point in their lives. But PTSD is a condition people often don't name — not even to themselves. They think of themselves as people who are a little different now. Who don't talk about certain things. Who have learned to manage.

Mar 1, 202618 min read

Close-up of eyes representing EMDR eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy in Alpharetta

Trauma & PTSD

EMDR Therapy in Alpharetta: What It Is, How It Works, and Is It Right for You?

You can know, intellectually, that you are safe. That the event was years ago. That you are sitting in your own home with your family down the hall. And still — a sound, a smell, an unexpected touch — and your nervous system is back there, responding to a threat that ended long ago. This is not irrational. This is neurobiology. And it is what EMDR targets.

Mar 1, 202617 min read

Person on a healing journey from PTSD and trauma

Trauma & PTSD

PTSD Recovery: Healing from Trauma with Professional Support

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder affects millions of people who have experienced or witnessed traumatic events. With the right professional support and evidence-based treatments, recovery is not only possible but achievable.

Dec 8, 20248 min read

EMDR therapy session for trauma processing

Trauma & PTSD

EMDR Therapy: A Breakthrough Treatment for Trauma and PTSD

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has revolutionized trauma treatment. This evidence-based therapy helps the brain process traumatic memories, reducing their emotional intensity and power.

Nov 28, 20247 min read

Understanding the differences between Complex PTSD and PTSD

Trauma & PTSD

Complex PTSD vs. PTSD: Understanding the Key Differences

While PTSD and Complex PTSD share some similarities, they are distinct conditions with different causes, symptoms, and treatment needs. Understanding these differences is crucial for getting the right kind of help.

Sep 8, 20247 min read

Adult healing from the effects of childhood trauma

Trauma & PTSD

Childhood Trauma: How It Affects Adults and Paths to Healing

Childhood trauma casts a long shadow into adulthood, affecting mental health, physical health, relationships, and overall quality of life. Understanding these effects is the first step toward healing the wounds of the past.

Sep 5, 20248 min read

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