Experiencing emotional, physical, or sexual abuse often leads to significant trauma, which can manifest as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), depression, substance use, eating disorders, and various other challenges. Despite the fact that up to 1 in 3 Americans face some form of physical or emotional abuse (source: ncav.org), and over half endure sexual abuse or violence (source: rainn.org), there remains a strong stigma around discussing abuse openly. This stigma can compound survivors’ experiences, adding guilt or shame to their emotional burdens.

How Therapy at Liv Associates Can Help

At Liv Associates, we specialize in supporting survivors of abuse through compassionate and personalized mental health services. Therapy is a critical pathway for survivors to address mood disorders, relationship challenges, and behavioral issues resulting from past abuse. Our clinicians utilize a variety of therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Therapy, and Interpersonal Therapy, to help survivors manage symptoms, release guilt and shame, and rebuild self-esteem. Therapy offers a powerful means of reconnecting with one’s sense of self-worth and developing the tools for establishing healthy relationships moving forward.

Why Choose Liv Associates for Therapy?

Located in Warminster, PA, Liv Associates is a trusted provider of outpatient counseling for children, adolescents, and adults throughout Bucks County. Our therapists work collaboratively with each client, creating an individualized approach to support trauma recovery. With expertise in psychological assessments, trauma therapy, PTSD treatment, and mental health support, Liv Associates is dedicated to offering a non-judgmental and safe space for healing.

If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of past abuse, our team at Liv Associates is here to guide you on a path to recovery. We are committed to supporting survivors as they build resilience, find relief from emotional pain, and work toward long-term emotional well-being.

Addictive behavior not only encompasses substance abuse, but can also take the form of behaviors like sex, eating, or even shopping. Active addiction can cause serious harm to relationships, finances, and careers, as well as raising the risk of legal and health problems. Some forms of addiction, like substance abuse, can also be extremely physically dangerous. Besides disrupting normal life events, addictive behavior can also lead to secondary symptoms like hopelessness, depression, and anxiety. If addictive behavior is not directly confronted and dealt with, it almost always gets worse over time.  

How Can Therapy Help?

Many addicts have underlying trauma or mood disorders. This can cause what is known as “self-medication”, or using a substance or behavior in an attempt to numb negative feelings. Addicts who enter therapy may receive what’s called a Dual Diagnosis, which is simply the identification of an underlying mood disorder that may be causing or worsening the addictive behavior. For example, a common dual diagnosis is alcoholism and depression. After any underlying problems have been identified, the therapist will work with the addict to understand and cope with associated negative feelings and patterns of thought. Techniques like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can also help people overcome their addictions by offering support as well as coping skills for cravings.

Over the course of a lifetime, all of us experience difficult or stressful events at one point or another. Sometimes, dealing with tough situations can become overwhelming, leading to debilitating symptoms like depression or substance abuse. Adjustment disorder is diagnosed when an event—or series of events— triggers a pattern of feelings and behavior that are harmful or disruptive for an extended period of time. For example, a house is destroyed suddenly in a disastrous flood. Six months after the event, the homeowner is still experiencing nightmares and has enough trouble sleeping that his job performance begins to suffer. Adjustment disorder can also happen to people who have experienced several disruptive events in a row, such as illness followed by divorce, or who live in a continuously stressful situation like a refugee camp. Common symptoms of the disorder include anxiety, depression, isolation, and even physical discomfort. 

How can therapy help for Adjustment Disorder? 

Adjustment disorder happens when an event (or series of events) overwhelms a person’s coping mechanisms and results in significant mood or behavioral problems. A therapist can help someone manage these symptoms by introducing or renewing healthy coping skills. Several types of therapy are particularly helpful for this disorder, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, mindfulness training, or a combination of approaches. Using these tools, a therapist can guide an individual with adjustment disorder to learn to identify stressors, manage emotions, and even modify destructive behaviors. Learning and practicing these skills with the help of a professional can give someone suffering from this disorder the foundation needed to finally move forward from sad or traumatic events so that life can be enjoyable again.