Everyone experiences anxiety or trauma at some point in life. For some, it turns into PTSD after a terrifying or life-changing event. Your experience is unique—and valid.
How it affects you depends on your story, your strength, and the support around you.
The good news? Healing is possible—and you don’t have to do it by yourself.
What Is the Difference Between Anxiety, Trauma, and PTSD?
What Is Anxiety?
→ Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress — a signal that something feels threatening.
→ It often shows up physically — racing heart, tight chest, restlessness, or shallow breathing.
→ Unlike passing nervousness, anxiety can linger even when everything looks “fine” on the outside.
→ Overthinking, dread, and intrusive thoughts can feel exhausting and impossible to turn off.
→ When it becomes chronic, it can quietly affect sleep, relationships, work, and your sense of safety.
→ Common forms include Generalized Anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety, and health-related worries.
✦ The good news: anxiety is highly treatable — with therapy, gentle body-based techniques, lifestyle changes, or medication when needed.
What is Trauma?
→ Trauma is your mind and body’s response to an experience that felt deeply overwhelming or unsafe.
→ It can come from a single terrifying event or from years of repeated stress, abuse, loss, or danger.
→ Afterward, you may feel on edge, disconnected, or like the world is no longer safe — even when the danger has passed.
→ Your body can stay in “survival mode”: tense muscles, exhaustion, trouble sleeping, or sudden waves of emotion.
→ Everyone’s response is different — some heal naturally with time and support, while others develop PTSD or other lasting effects.
✦ Healing is absolutely possible — through gentle therapy, learning to feel safe again, and taking one small step at a time.
What Is PTSD?
PTSD — Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder — is a condition that can develop after living through or witnessing something deeply frightening, dangerous, or life-threatening.
While many people think of veterans or first responders, PTSD can affect anyone — survivors of assault, accidents, childhood trauma, sudden loss, or any overwhelming event.
Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, but when it does appear, it often shows up in four gentle clusters:
→Intrusive memories — flashbacks, nightmares, or sudden waves of remembering
→Avoidance — staying away from places, people, or feelings that remind you of what happened
→Changes in mood and thinking — feeling numb, guilty, worthless, or detached from loved ones
→Feeling on edge — being easily startled, irritable, or always watching for danger
✦ The beautiful truth: PTSD is one of the most treatable trauma conditions we know — many people recover fully and go on to live rich, connected lives.
We Understand the Weight of Anxiety, PTSD, and Trauma—and We're Here to Help
When people express a desire to eliminate Anxiety, PTSD, or Trauma, they often articulate a range of feelings, thoughts, and hopes. Here are common themes and sentiments. Do they apply to you?
Desire for Healing
“I just want to feel normal again,” or “I want to move on with my life without this pain.”
Frustration with Symptoms
“I’m tired of feeling this way,” or “I want to stop reliving the past.”
Hope for a Better Future
“I believe I can overcome this,” or “I want to find peace and happiness again.”
Desire for Understanding
“I want others to understand what I’ve been through,” or “I wish people would stop telling me to just get over it.”
Seeking Control
“I want to take back my life,” or “I want to stop feeling like a victim.”
Longing for Closure
“I want to put this behind me,” or “I need to find a way to let go of the past.”
Need for Support
“I need help to get through this,” or “I wish I had someone to talk to who understands.”
We do understand how you’re feeling, and we’re here to help you.
We can help you.
Our expert and compassionate clinicians understand your feelings, and we can help you. The hope and healing you're looking for is a phone call away.
We use gentle, research-proven approaches that help calm the lasting effects of anxiety, PTSD, and trauma — so you can feel safe and in control again.
These evidence-based therapies have been carefully studied and shown to truly help people heal — not just manage symptoms, but actually move forward.
While some techniques work beautifully for anxiety, others are especially powerful for trauma or PTSD.
The best path is different for everyone — which is why we take time to listen and choose (or gently combine) the approaches that fit you.
Brainspotting is built on a simple, powerful truth: where you look affects how you feel.
Together, we gently find the exact spot in your field of vision that connects to an old hurt or overwhelming feeling.
When you rest your gaze there — with my quiet support — your brain naturally begins to process and release what’s been stuck, often without having to relive every detail.
It works deep in the parts of the brain that hold emotion and memory, which is why so many people experience profound relief from PTSD, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and even performance blocks.
Brainspotting is deeply respectful of your pace and your inner wisdom.
There’s no pressure to talk, perform, or “figure it out.”
You just need to show up exactly as you are — children, teens, and adults all respond beautifully.
Many people leave their very first session feeling lighter, calmer, and more like themselves again.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the gentlest, most proven ways to quiet the anxious mind.
It starts with a simple truth: the thoughts that race through your head directly shape how you feel and act.
When those thoughts are harsh, fearful, or stuck on “what if,” they can keep anxiety alive — even when there’s no real danger.
Together, we look at those thoughts with curiosity instead of judgment.
We test them gently, reframe them kindly, and practice new ways of responding — small steps that add up to big relief.
CBT is practical, short-term, and deeply respectful of your pace.
Many people notice less worry, fewer panic attacks, and a calmer nervous system in just weeks.
You don’t have to believe everything your anxious mind tells you — and we’ll prove it, one gentle step at a time.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) was created for people whose emotions feel too big, too fast, or too painful to carry alone.
It rests on a simple, powerful idea: you don’t have to choose between accepting yourself exactly as you are and growing into the person you want to become. You can hold both truths at once.
In DBT, you learn four life-changing skills — mindfulness, riding out intense feelings without making things worse, calming and balancing emotions, and communicating in ways that protect relationships and your own heart.
It’s especially gentle and effective for those who struggle with overwhelming emotions, borderline personality experiences, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts — many people say they finally feel understood and equipped for the first time.
You deserve to feel safe inside your own skin — and DBT helps make that possible, one kind, doable step at a time.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Groups
Our Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Groups are small, supportive circles where you learn to hold your emotions gently, ride out the hardest moments, and connect with others in healthier ways.
Alongside your individual therapy, these weekly groups give you a safe place to practice mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness — with people who truly understand.
A spot is waiting for you — whenever you feel ready.
EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — is one of the gentlest, most powerful ways to help your brain finally release old pain.
You don’t have to talk through every detail.
While you gently hold a difficult memory in mind, we use simple bilateral stimulation — side-to-side eye movements, soft taps, or quiet tones — to help your brain reprocess what happened in a safe, natural way.
Over a few sessions, the memory loses its sharp emotional charge.
The nightmares fade, the body relaxes, and the old beliefs (“I’m not safe,” “It was my fault”) quietly shift into something truer and kinder.
Most people feel noticeably lighter, calmer, and more like themselves again — often after just a handful of sessions.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold-standard, most effective treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related anxiety struggles.
Instead of running from the thoughts that scare you, we gently walk toward them — together, at your pace, in a completely safe way — while learning not to do the compulsions that keep the cycle alive.
Each small, brave step teaches your brain a new truth: “I can handle this feeling without my ritual.”
Over time, the obsessions lose their power, the anxiety drops, and life starts to feel spacious again.
ERP is always done with a trained therapist who truly understands OCD — someone who will never push, only guide, cheer, and keep you safe while you reclaim the freedom the obsessions stole.
Most people feel real, lasting relief in weeks — not years — and finally get their life back.
Prolonged Exposure (PE) is one of the most effective, research-proven ways to help PTSD finally lose its grip.
Instead of staying away from the memories and places that feel unsafe, we gently — and only when you’re ready — begin to face them together, in the safest possible way.
You’ll revisit the memory in small, manageable pieces while I stay right beside you, and we’ll also practice stepping back into real-life situations you’ve been avoiding.
Each time, your brain learns a new truth: “I can remember this and still be okay.”
Over just a few months, the flashbacks soften, the nightmares fade, and the world starts to feel safe again.
You get your freedom back — one brave, supported step at a time.
Most people finish PE feeling lighter, calmer, and truly ready to live again.
Other Therapy Techniques
Narrative Therapy: Encourages you to tell your stories, helping you understand your experiences.
Somatic Experiencing: Focuses on your body’s physical response to Trauma and aims to release stored tension and trauma
What services does Advanced Counseling and Research Services provide?
Advanced Counseling and Research Services provides support for Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, OCD, and other mental health concerns.
What is the difference between Psychotraumatology and Traumatology?
Psychotraumatology is the study of psychological trauma, focusing on the emotional and psychological effects of traumatic experiences.
Traumatology is the study, diagnosis, and treatment of physical injuries and wounds caused by trauma, such as accidents, violence, or natural disasters.
Who can benefit from the services at Advanced Counseling and Research Services?
Individuals struggling with mental health concerns such as Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, or OCD can benefit from the services provided by Advanced Counseling and Research Services.
What types of therapy does Advanced Counseling and Research Services offer?
Advanced Counseling and Research Services offers evidence-based therapy modalities, such as trauma-focused therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), EMDR Therapy, Exposure and Response (ERP) Therapy, Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy for treating Anxiety, Trauma, Depression, PTSD, OCD, and other mental conditions.
Do you provide services for adolescents and families?
Yes, we provide counseling services for individuals, children, and families to help address a variety of psychological and emotional needs.
How can I schedule a session with Advanced Counseling and Research Services?
You can schedule an appointment by contacting us by phone at 717-394-3994 or email listed on our Contact Us page.
What mental health concerns do you specialize in treating?
Our team specializes in treating trauma-related issues, Anxiety, Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and other mental health concerns.
Does Advanced Counseling and Research Services offer online or virtual therapy?
Yes, we provide virtual therapy sessions for clients who prefer online counseling or are unable to attend sessions in person.
What is Trauma-Informed Care (TIC)?
Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an approach to understanding and responding to the effects of trauma on individuals. To find out more, click Trauma-Informed Care.
Are your counseling sessions confidential?
Absolutely. All sessions are conducted in a confidential and safe environment, ensuring your privacy.
What qualifications do your therapists have?
Our therapists are licensed professionals with extensive training and experience in providing counseling and therapy for a wide range of mental health issues.
Do you accept insurance for counseling services?
We accept a variety of insurance plans. Please contact us to verify coverage or discuss payment options.
How do I know if counseling is right for me?
If you are experiencing emotional distress, Trauma, Anxiety, or other mental health issues that are impacting your daily life, counseling can be an effective way to get support and work through challenges with a qualified Advanced Counseling and Research Services therapist.
Masters Degree Candidate at Elizabethtown College.
Experienced in special education and behavioral intervention within urban settings, with a proven ability to address diverse needs, implement effective strategies, and foster positive outcomes for individuals in challenging environments.
Advanced Counseling offers Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Groups designed to help individuals build mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. These groups complement individual therapy by providing a structured, collaborative environment where participants can learn and practice core DBT techniques.
We are reaching out to provide clarity regarding recent news reports involving a similarly named mental health organization.
You may have seen media coverage about **Advanced Counseling and Testing Solutions**, a company located in Wyomissing and Lancaster, whose owners, Dr. and Mrs. Lucas, were recently indicted for insurance fraud.
We want to assure you that **Advanced Counseling and Research Services (ACRS)** has **no affiliation or connection—past or present—with Advanced Counseling and Testing Solutions** or the individuals involved in that matter. Although they opened their practice years after ours, the similarity in name is purely coincidental.
We remain an independent organization with a distinct leadership, mission, and ethical commitment to our clients.
Our team continues to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, clinical care, and integrity. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. We thank you for your continued trust in us.
