DANIELLE MADONNA 
PSYCHOTHERAPY SERVICES PLLC

Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) is formally recognized in the ICD-11, the international diagnostic system used worldwide. It is not yet a separate diagnosis in the DSM-5, which means symptoms are often documented under PTSD or related trauma disorders. Regardless of the terminology, the pattern of complex trauma is widely understood within trauma-informed therapy. The focus is not on the label itself, but on addressing the underlying trauma patterns in a targeted and effective way.

Yes, EMDR can be very effective for complex trauma, but it looks different than treating a single-incident event. With C-PTSD, we often work with patterns, early relational experiences, repeated emotional themes, and core beliefs

That’s more common than you might think. You do not need perfect recall for therapy to be effective. Trauma isn’t always stored as clear, detailed memories. Sometimes it’s held as emotional reactions, body sensations, relationship patterns, or deeply rooted beliefs about yourself. You may not remember specific events, but you may notice recurring themes like feeling unsafe, unseen, responsible for others, or “not enough.”

PTSD is often linked to a single traumatic event and may involve flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, and heightened startle response. C-PTSD develops from prolonged or repeated trauma and tends to impact self-worth, emotional regulation, and relationships. It may show up as chronic shame, emotional flashbacks, fear of abandonment, or feeling stuck in survival mode. You don’t need to determine the exact label before starting therapy. Treatment focuses on your specific patterns and symptoms not just the diagnosis.

If you’re looking for therapy for C-PTSD in Nassau County or on Long Island, it can help to find a therapist who specifically understands complex trauma — not just anxiety or depression. C-PTSD often involves emotional flashbacks, attachment wounds, chronic shame, and long-standing survival patterns that require a trauma-informed approach. I provide specialized therapy for complex trauma in Long Beach, serving clients throughout Nassau County, with telehealth available across New York.