“Caitlyn’s” Story
“Caitlyn,” a 15-year-old high schooler was isolated and depressed. For months, she endured physical, sexual, and emotional abuse from a close friend and classmate, leading her to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), feelings of guilt, and self-doubt. Previously happy-go-lucky and involved, Caitlyn became withdrawn and uncomfortable in social settings. After confiding in a friend about the abuse, who informed Caitlin’s parents and the authorities, Caitlyn was referred to therapy by the local child advocacy center.
Caitlyn’s therapist was trained by the Gavin Farrell Foundation in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), a first-line, evidence-based treatment for PTSD that is designed to teach clients how to identify and challenge unhelpful and unrealistic beliefs about the trauma. Like many individuals with PTSD, Caitlyn was initially reluctant to discuss the violence she experienced and grappled with guilt and self-blame. CPT focused on helping Caitlyn recognize that she was not responsible for the abuse and develop tools to challenge thoughts such as, “I should have done more to stop it.” As she developed more balanced and adaptive beliefs about the trauma, Caitlyn’s symptoms decreased, her depression abated, and she began making concrete changes in her life. At the end of treatment, Caitlyn was no longer experiencing PTSD symptoms. She was able to focus on typical teenage challenges and the demands of high school. Her mood improved drastically as she developed ways to trust friends again to build healthy, safe boundaries. Treatment helped Caitlyn meaningfully and thoughtfully select peers that would be a positive influence and support system for her moving forward. Caitlyn no longer suffers from PTSD and is living a healthy life.