Individualized Approach

Each individual we treat has a unique life story and no one trauma event is the same. Therefore, our approach to treatment is designed to utilize research supported treatment principles applied to your own personal recovery. We specialize in providing Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) with an understanding of how exposure to trauma can influence the development of other disorders treated at our Center.

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, & sexual violence or who have been threatened with death, sexual violence or serious injury.

Symptoms of PTSD

Symptoms of PTSD fall into four categories. Specific symptoms can vary in severity.

Intrusion: Intrusive thoughts such as repeated, involuntary memories; distressing dreams; or flashbacks of the traumatic event. Flashbacks may be so vivid that people feel they are re-living the traumatic experience or seeing it before their eyes.

Avoidance: Avoiding reminders of the traumatic event may include avoiding people, places, activities, objects and situations that may trigger distressing memories. People may try to avoid remembering or thinking about the traumatic event. They may resist talking about what happened or how they feel about it.

Alterations in cognition and mood: Inability to remember important aspects of the traumatic event, negative thoughts and feelings leading to ongoing and distorted beliefs about oneself or others (e.g., “I am bad,” “No one can be trusted”); distorted thoughts about the cause or consequences of the event leading to wrongly blaming self or other; ongoing fear, horror, anger, guilt or shame; much less interest in activities previously enjoyed; feeling detached or estranged from others; or being unable to experience positive emotions (a void of happiness or satisfaction).

Alterations in arousal and reactivity: Arousal and reactive symptoms may include being irritable and having angry outbursts; behaving recklessly or in a self-destructive way; being overly watchful of one’s surroundings in a suspecting way; being easily startled; or having problems concentrating or sleeping.

Treatment Components

Education: Learning about how PTSD develops and is maintained helps people understand the condition as a natural response to seeking safety when ones life or bodily integrity was threatened. Learning about how others recover from traumatic experiences can inspire hope and set the foundations for effective treatment.

Exposure therapy: This helps people face and control their fear. It gradually exposes them to the trauma they experienced in a safe way. It uses imagining, writing, or visiting the place where the event happened. The therapist uses these tools to help people with PTSD cope with their feelings.

Cognitive restructuring: This helps people make sense of the bad memories. Sometimes people remember the event differently than how it happened. They may feel guilt or shame about something that is not their fault. The therapist helps people with PTSD look at what happened in a realistic way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is therapy right for me?

Seeking out therapy is an individual choice that will require commitment, openness, and a willingness to change. There are many reasons why people come to therapy. Sometimes it is to deal with long-standing patterns of problematic behavior, or problems with anxiety, depression, substance abuse, or food. Other times it is in response to unexpected changes in one’s life such as a divorce, loss, or work transition. Working with a therapist can help provide insight, support, and new strategies for all types of life challenges. Overall, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has demonstrated overwhelming research support and can provide long-lasting benefits. Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you’ve faced, there’s nothing wrong with seeking out extra help when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired.

Do you take insurance?

Yes, but we are not in-network with all insurance plans. Please check with our office to be certain. Even if we are not in-network, most insurance companies offer out-of-network benefits. If so, you may receive reimbursement by your insurance company, even if you have to pay out of pocket at first. Some feel that this is a good strategy for finding a provider of their choosing, rather than being forced to stay within their insurance network.

How do I make a first appointment?

Please call our office to speak with our office staff. If you decide to go forward an administrative staff member will set up your first appointment, review your benefits, and direct you to download the forms you will need to complete prior to the first session. You will be guaranteed a safe, comfortable, and private environment.

Where are you located and how do I get there?

We are located at 1 East Broad Street, Suite 510 in  downtown Bethlehem, PA. Our address is 1 East Broad St. Bethlehem, PA 18018. (Melting Pot Restaurant occupies the first floor).

From U.S. 22, take the PA-378 South exit. Travel about three miles to the Center City exit (exit 3). At the stop sign at the end of the exit, turn left onto Third Avenue. Go 100 yards to traffic light. At the light, turn left onto West Broad Street. Continue through the next two traffic lights onto Broad Street.

From Interstate 78  Take exit 67 for PA-412 toward Hellertown / Bethlehem. Turn right onto PA-412 N / Hellertown Rd for 0.8 miles and turn slight left onto E 4th Street for 0.7 miles. Take a slight right onto Daly Ave for 0.3 miles and turn right onto the Minsi Trail Bridge. After .5 miles take the first left onto East Market Street. Travel for a little over 1 mile and turn right onto Main Street. Take the 2nd right onto Broad Street and we are located on the left.

Where do I park?

There is a parking lot on the east side of our building with a meter parking. In downtown Bethlehem there are also two parking garages in walking distance to our practice on Walnut Street and North Street. Meter parking is also available throughout Broad Street.

How long are appointments?

A general therapy hour typically lasts 53-60 minutes. Evaluation sessions may be scheduled longer to complete initial assessments and undergo an interview to review relevant history. Testing and Assessment sessions are considerably longer and dependent upon the nature of the evaluation. Group therapy sessions are variable based on type of session.

Will the information shared with a therapist be kept private and confidential?

The privacy of information exchanged with your therapist is protected by law. The law also requires your therapist to break confidentiality with or without your permission if you or someone else is at risk of serious harm. Revelations that a child has been or is in danger of harm or neglect are required by law to be reported to Child Protective Services. You and your therapist may decide together that it is in your best interest for Center for Integrated Behavioral Health to exchange information with another party. In that case, your therapist may ask for written consent.

What is your cancellation policy?

We ask that our clientele notify us 24 hours prior to a scheduled session if they have to cancel. Barring any emergency situation within 24 hours of their scheduled appointment, clients who do not contact us before the 24 hour window will be charged a late cancellation fee of $50.00. If you reserve an hour and fail to attend that session without notice (no show) you will be required to pay the therapists full fee for that session.

Who do we contact in the case of an emergency?

During non-business hours our phone is answered by voicemail and we cannot guarantee each call will be answered during business hours. Center for Integrated Behavioral Health has coordinated with Northampton County Crisis Center for 24 hr coverage. Please call them at 610-782-3127. You can also call 911 or proceed to your nearest emergency room.

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