PTSD Treatment in Naperville.
Heal the past, reclaim your present
What Is It?
When the Past Won't Let Go.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) occurs when the brain is unable to process a traumatic event, keeping you stuck in a state of high alert. It is not a sign of weakness; it is a biological injury. At Ascend Therapy in Naperville, we provide specialized care to help you process these memories so they become part of your past, not your present.
Meet Our Trauma Specialists.
Expert care from therapists trained in trauma processing modalities.
Sara Banks, LCSW
Specialties
EMDR Trained therapist specializing in trauma recovery and PTSD.
Nagla Mostafa, LMFT
Specialties
Trauma-informed care for individuals and families affected by complex trauma.
Signs & Symptoms
Common Signs of PTSD.
Symptoms often develop within 3 months of the event but can appear years later:
- Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares
- Avoidance of places, people, or activities that remind you of the trauma
- Negative changes in thinking and mood (guilt, shame, detachment)
- Hyperarousal: Being easily startled, feeling tense, or having trouble sleeping
- Emotional numbness or dissociation
- Irritability or angry outbursts
Treatment
Evidence-Based Trauma Recovery.
Healing is possible. We use therapies that directly address how trauma is stored in the brain.
Related Services
Therapeutic Approaches
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions.
No. With therapies like EMDR, we can process traumatic memories without you needing to verbally describe every graphic detail. Your safety and stability are our first priority.
Not always. Unprocessed trauma can actually worsen over time as avoidance behaviors grow. Active treatment is often needed to help the brain "digest" the memory.
It means we assume that you may have a trauma history and design our entire practice—from intake to discharge—to avoid retraumatization and prioritize trust and safety.
Your new chapter
starts today.
Every transformation begins with a simple outreach. Our clinical team is ready to guide your first steps.