PTSD Therapy in Franklin, TN

It can be hard to ask for help with something that happened a long time ago. You may have worked, raised a family, or built a good life since then. And still, there are nights, reminders or reactions that bring that experience much closer than you'd like.

What you're feeling now matters, however long ago it happened.

I'm Dave Saunders, LPC-MHSP, NCC. I welcome adults from Franklin for PTSD therapy at my office in Maryland Farms, just up I-65 in Brentwood.

Arrange a free 10-minute consultation, or call or text 615-905-6132.

When the past keeps interrupting the present

PTSD can involve memories that arrive uninvited, nightmares, or a strong physical response to something that reminds you of what happened. You might avoid the subject entirely and then feel frustrated when it seems to find you anyway.

Other symptoms are less obvious. Concentrating gets harder. You feel disconnected from someone you love. You keep returning to what you believe you should have done differently. Keeping those reactions private can take a lot of energy.

Symptoms can begin soon after trauma or show up later. A PTSD assessment looks at the full pattern, including how long symptoms have lasted and how they affect your life. We can explore that together, with no need to have the explanation ready. If PTSD doesn't quite describe what you're feeling, see trauma therapy in Franklin.

Making room for what you have been carrying

A good starting point is often the part of the week you find hardest. It might be going to bed, driving past a particular place, or staying calm during an ordinary disagreement. We can work from something concrete.

If you blame yourself for what happened, we can give that thought careful attention. There may be things you understand now that you couldn't have known then, and feelings that stay painful even when you know you weren't responsible. Both deserve time in the conversation.

How PTSD treatment can help

I'm Level II trained in EMDR and Brainspotting and have training in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. My work also includes attention to how stress shows up in your body. Together, we'll choose the approach that best fits what you want help with.

EMDR is an established PTSD treatment that works with distressing memories and the thoughts and sensations connected to them. You bring a memory to mind while following guided eye movements or another form of alternating stimulation. The aim is for remembering to feel less distressing.

Preparation is part of the process. Before working directly with a memory, we talk about what to expect, ways to calm distress, and your readiness. You can ask for an explanation or a pause at any point.

You can learn more on my EMDR therapy in Franklin page. If you feel on edge or short-tempered much of the time, you can also read about anxiety therapy in Franklin.

Looking for change in ordinary life

The changes you want may be very practical: sleeping more steadily, feeling less easily startled, or having more attention for the people around you. We'll use those goals to guide the work and review how you're doing.

Tell me honestly how things are going from week to week. Whatever the week brought belongs in the conversation.

Questions about starting PTSD therapy

No. It's never too late. We'll look at how the experience affects you now and what you'd like to change.
We'll talk about the experiences that matter for your treatment, and sessions also include preparation, current challenges and reviewing progress. With EMDR, a detailed spoken retelling is often unnecessary.
Weekly is best, and every other week works well too. We can talk about scheduling during your consultation.
No. You can begin with what you remember and what you notice in the present. There's no need to fill gaps or make your account sound complete before asking for help.