Trauma and PTSD can have a profound impact on your life, but you don’t have to face them alone. Our team of compassionate mental health professionals in Singapore offers expert treatment and support for individuals struggling with trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the associated stress. We provide personalised care to help you manage symptoms, develop coping mechanisms, and regain a sense of control and well-being.
Understanding Stress / PTSD
Trauma refers to a distressing event or situation that overwhelms your ability to cope and shatters your sense of security. PTSD is a specific anxiety disorder that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. While anyone can experience trauma, not everyone develops PTSD. Certain individuals may be more susceptible to developing PTSD. Some common causes of trauma include:
Combat or military experiences
Physical or sexual assault
Natural disasters
Serious accidents
Childhood abuse
Domestic violence
Witnessing violence
Sudden loss of a loved one
Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of PTSD
Intrusive thoughts or memories: Flashbacks, nightmares, or unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event.
Avoidance: Avoiding people, places, or activities that trigger memories of the trauma.
Negative changes in mood or thinking: Feeling detached, numb, or hopeless; difficulty experiencing positive emotions; negative thoughts about oneself or the world.
Hyperarousal: Feeling constantly on edge, easily startled, or having difficulty sleeping; irritability or outbursts of anger.
Physical symptoms: Headaches, stomach-aches, muscle tension, or fatigue.
Effective Treatments for PTSD
Psychotherapy: Trauma-focused therapies, such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Multichannel Eye Movement Integration (MEMI) or Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), can help you process traumatic memories, challenge negative thoughts, and develop healthy coping skills. For more information on each of these modalities, please refer to Therapy
Trauma-Informed Therapies: These approaches, such as Somatic Experiencing or Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, focus on the mind-body connection and help release trapped trauma responses that manifest psychologically.
Medication for Trauma/PTSD
Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications can be helpful in managing specific symptoms like depression, anxiety, or sleep disturbances. While medication is not always necessary, it can be an effective tool in managing some symptoms of trauma and PTSD while the individual is undergoing talk therapy concurrently. Our psychiatrists will carefully assess your individual needs and recommend medication if appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
A qualified mental health professional will conduct a thorough assessment, including a detailed interview and review of your symptoms, to determine if you meet the criteria for PTSD.
CBT is what is known as a “top-down” approach as it relies on the individual narrating the traumatic event and working with cognitions and the “thinking brain” to process the traumatic memory. This works well with individuals who have sufficient verbal abilities and cognitive functioning. For developmental trauma (i.e., traumatic events that took place early in childhood or are more latent) or for individuals who are not as verbally expressive, “bottom-up” approaches like EMDR, MEMI or SE target the autonomic nervous system and physiological responses directly for healing, without the need to go into the details of the traumatic event.
The duration of treatment varies depending on the individual and the severity of symptoms. However, with consistent therapy and support, many individuals experience significant improvement.
Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD. However, the severity and nature of the trauma, as well as individual factors (e.g. personality, history of adverse childhood experiences, etc), can influence the likelihood of developing PTSD.
Promises Singapore offers specialised treatment for PTSD and trauma using a range of evidence-based therapies like CBT and EMDR, alongside mindfulness and somatic approaches, to help individuals heal and regain control of their lives.
We are here to support you
Dr. Terry Spokes
Group Director, Clinical Services
Dr. Sean David Vanniasingham
Consultant Psychiatrist
Elizabeth Pang
Principal Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Yvonne Lek
Senior Counselling Psychologist
Dr. Mark Toh
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Elaine Yeo
Senior Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Janice Tan
Senior Clinical Psychologist
Leow Lilyn
Senior Clinical Psychologist
Tom Maniatis
Senior Addictions Therapist & Health Services
Gowri Thamotharan
Addictions Therapist, Visions
Jared Tan
Clinical Psychologist
Joyce Tan
Clinical Psychologist
Elizabeth Mireskandari
Psychotherapist
Amy Huang
Senior Psychotherapist
Vida Ortiz
Counsellor/Psychotherapist
Varian Monteiro
Psychotherapist, Visions
Pearlene Lim
Senior Clinical Psychologist
Winifred Ling
Couples Therapist & Relationship Coach
Samantha Cheng
Senior Psychotherapist
Chong Kai Wei
Senior Psychotherapist
Gaurang Bhatia
Counsellor
Amirah Munawwarah Binte Idilfitri
Art Psychotherapist
Valerie Lim
Senior Psychotherapist
Yana Ricart
Senior Psychotherapist
Joachim Lee, PBM
Senior Psychotherapist
Alexis Fosler
Addictions Psychotherapist, Visions
Ning Wong
Counsellor
Jetaime Thoo
Therapist
Spoken Languages:
Thank you for submitting the form!
Open the door to healing. Fill out our form and let's talk.
Trauma & PTSD can affect every aspect of your life. Our comprehensive treatment plans address the full spectrum of challenges, helping you manage symptoms, develop resilience, and improve your overall quality of life.
Take the first step towards healing and reclaim your well-being – contact us today.