PTSD THERAPY
Psychological therapy for adolescents and adults experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with evidence-based treatment tailored to your individual needs, circumstances and readiness.
Appointments are available in person with Clinical Psychologist David Hennessy in Varsity Lakes on the Gold Coast and by secure telehealth across Australia.
Post-traumatic stress disorder can develop after experiencing or witnessing events that are overwhelming, frightening, threatening or deeply distressing.
For some people, the effects become apparent soon after an experience. For others, difficulties may emerge or become more noticeable over time.
PTSD can affect memories, emotions, sleep, concentration, relationships, physical arousal and a person’s sense of safety. People may find themselves repeatedly reminded of what happened, avoiding situations associated with the experience, feeling constantly alert to danger, or struggling to reconnect with parts of life that previously felt ordinary.
Psychological therapy can help make sense of these responses and gradually reduce the extent to which traumatic experiences continue to dominate everyday life.
PTSD does not affect everyone in the same way.
Some common difficulties include:
Having some of these experiences does not necessarily mean that a person has PTSD. Assessment can help clarify what is occurring and what type of support may be appropriate.
PTSD therapy is not simply about repeatedly talking about traumatic events.
Early sessions usually focus on understanding what has been happening, identifying the difficulties that are affecting everyday life and developing an individual psychological formulation.
Treatment can then be planned collaboratively and paced according to the person’s needs, stability, circumstances and goals.
Therapy may help a person:
The aim is not to erase memories. Rather, therapy can help memories become less overwhelming and reduce the extent to which past experiences continue to control present behaviour and wellbeing.
Treatment is tailored to the individual rather than applying the same process to everyone.
Depending on your circumstances, therapy may involve:
Learning about the way traumatic experiences can affect memory, attention, emotions, behaviour and the body’s threat-response systems can make otherwise confusing reactions more understandable.
Avoiding reminders can provide understandable short-term relief. Over time, however, extensive avoidance can sometimes reinforce a sense that reminders remain dangerous.
Therapy can help identify these patterns and develop more flexible ways of responding.
Traumatic experiences can alter beliefs about safety, responsibility, trust, vulnerability or self-worth.
Therapy may help examine these beliefs carefully and develop perspectives that better reflect the person’s current circumstances.
Grounding, attention strategies, breathing, mindfulness and other psychological skills may be used where appropriate to help manage intense arousal or emotional distress.
These strategies are generally components of treatment rather than substitutes for comprehensive PTSD therapy.
When appropriate, evidence-based trauma-focused treatments may involve carefully working with traumatic memories and associated emotions, thoughts and physical responses.
This work should be collaborative and appropriately paced. Trauma therapy does not require disclosing or processing every difficult experience immediately.
Clinical guidelines recognise several psychological therapies as effective treatments for PTSD.
Treatment at Hennessy Clinical Psychology is tailored according to the individual rather than determined by a single therapy model. Depending on a person’s presentation, preferences and treatment goals, therapy may draw on approaches including:
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural approaches can help people understand and modify patterns of thinking, avoidance and behaviour associated with traumatic experiences.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychological treatment that can be used to help process traumatic memories and reduce associated distress.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) may help people develop greater flexibility in responding to difficult internal experiences while reconnecting with personally meaningful activities and values.
Mindfulness-based strategies may help develop awareness of thoughts, emotions and physical responses without automatically becoming caught up in them.
Explore the broader evidence-based therapy approaches represented across Hennessy Clinical Psychology.
Two people who have experienced apparently similar events can respond very differently.
PTSD may also occur alongside anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, chronic pain, grief, substance use, physical health conditions or other psychological difficulties.
For this reason, treatment is based on more than a diagnostic label.
Assessment and formulation consider the person’s experiences, current circumstances, strengths, patterns of coping, psychological and physical symptoms, relationships, functioning and treatment goals.
Where appropriate and with consent, psychological treatment may also be coordinated with a GP, psychiatrist or other treating health professionals.
David Hennessy is a Clinical Psychologist providing evidence-based psychological assessment and therapy for adolescents and adults.
His approach to therapy is collaborative, practical and tailored to the individual. Treatment focuses on understanding what is happening, developing useful psychological skills and working towards changes that are meaningful in everyday life.
Trauma-related difficulties are approached with particular attention to safety, pacing, collaboration and individual readiness.
Learn more about David’s background, approach to therapy and professional experience.
In-person psychology appointments are available at Hennessy Clinical Psychology in Varsity Lakes on the Gold Coast.
Secure telehealth appointments are also available throughout Australia where telehealth is clinically appropriate.
You do not need to have a confirmed PTSD diagnosis before making an appointment. Some people seek psychological support because they recognise trauma-related difficulties but are unsure whether PTSD is the best explanation.
Early sessions can help clarify what is occurring and what treatment options may be appropriate.
This page focuses specifically on psychological therapy for PTSD. For broader information about trauma, PTSD and related psychological services, visit:
Explore the main Trauma & PTSD hub, including psychology services and educational resources relating to PTSD, complex PTSD, trauma responses and treatment.
Use the Trauma & PTSD hub to access the educational material explaining PTSD and complex PTSD without duplicating that informational purpose on this service page.
Explore the Trauma & PTSD cluster for psychological support relating specifically to complex PTSD.
Explore the Trauma & PTSD cluster for trauma-focused psychological treatment and related information.
Learn about Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing and its use as an evidence-based psychological treatment for PTSD and other trauma-related difficulties.
Common questions about accessing psychological therapy for PTSD.
No. You can seek psychological support because traumatic experiences, intrusive memories, avoidance, hypervigilance, sleep problems or other difficulties are affecting your life.
Assessment can help clarify whether PTSD or another trauma-related difficulty may be contributing.
No. Effective trauma therapy should be appropriately paced and collaborative. It is not necessary to immediately describe every detail of a traumatic experience.
Assessment, establishing treatment goals, developing a therapeutic relationship and strengthening coping may all form part of treatment before direct work with traumatic memories occurs.
PTSD and complex PTSD share important trauma-related features but are not identical. The Trauma & PTSD hub provides access to educational material addressing this distinction in more detail.
Yes. EMDR is one of several evidence-based psychological treatments used for PTSD. The most appropriate treatment depends on the individual person’s presentation, preferences and clinical needs.
Yes. Avoidance is an understandable response to distressing memories and reminders, but extensive avoidance can sometimes maintain PTSD over time.
Therapy may help people gradually develop safer and more flexible ways of responding to situations, thoughts, memories and emotions they have been avoiding.
Yes. Psychology appointments are available in person at Varsity Lakes on the Gold Coast and through secure telehealth across Australia where telehealth is clinically appropriate.
You do not need to have everything worked out before making an appointment.
If trauma-related difficulties are affecting your wellbeing, relationships, work or everyday life, an initial appointment can provide an opportunity to understand what is happening and consider what form of psychological support may be helpful.
Clinical Psychologist in Varsity Lakes, Gold Coast. Evidence-based psychology for adolescents and adults, with in-person appointments and Australia-wide telehealth.
Anxiety Disorders
Mood Disorders
Trauma & PTSD
Neurodiversity
CBT
ACT
EMDR
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
This practice is not a crisis service.
If you require immediate assistance, call 000. For crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
© 2021–2026 Hennessy Clinical Psychology. All rights reserved.