At Living at Reflections, we specialize in treating complex trauma and substance use in a private, luxury residential setting. Our trauma-informed, dual-diagnosis program blends advanced psychotherapy, somatic healing, psychiatric support, and holistic wellness to help clients rebuild internal safety, emotional stability, and long-term recovery.
🌿 What Is Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)?
Unlike single-incident PTSD, Complex PTSD develops from ongoing or repeated trauma, such as:
- Childhood emotional neglect
- Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
- Abandonment or inconsistent caregiving
- Domestic violence
- Emotionally volatile households
- Narcissistic or controlling partners
- Prolonged exposure to chaos
- Betrayal trauma
- Chronic invalidation
- Long-term bullying or relational aggression
- Traumatic relationships or family systems
- Attachment wounds
C-PTSD affects:
- Self-worth
- Identity
- Emotional regulation
- Sense of safety
- Attachment and relationships
- Trust in oneself and others
- Nervous system functioning
When the nervous system is stuck in survival mode for years, emotional pain becomes overwhelming — and many individuals turn to substances to cope.
🍃 Why C-PTSD and Substance Use Often Co-Occur
Complex trauma disrupts the brain regions responsible for:
- Emotional regulation
- Stress response
- Memory integration
- Impulse control
- Reward processing
As a result, clients often use substances to:
- Numb overwhelming emotions
- Reduce hypervigilance
- Quiet intrusive thoughts
- Escape shame or self-blame
- Calm panic or anxiety
- Avoid painful memories
- Cope with loneliness or emptiness
- Sleep
- Stabilize chaotic or unpredictable moods
Over time, substances worsen trauma symptoms, increase emotional instability, and damage the nervous system further — reinforcing the trauma cycle.
Healing requires treating both conditions together in a trauma-informed environment.
⚠️ Signs of Complex PTSD with Substance Use
Clients may experience symptoms such as:
Emotional
- Intense shame, guilt, or self-blame
- Emotional numbness
- Intense fear of abandonment
- Sudden emotional flooding
- Chronic sadness or emptiness
- Anger, irritability, or emotional volatility
Cognitive
- Intrusive memories
- Negative beliefs about self (“I’m unworthy,” “I’m broken”)
- Dissociation
- Overthinking and rumination
- Difficulty trusting others
- Identity confusion
Behavioral
- People-pleasing or codependent tendencies
- Relationship instability
- Withdrawal from social situations
- Self-destructive coping (substances, risky behavior)
- Avoidance of triggers or reminders
Physical
- Chronic tension or pain
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Sleep disturbances
- Fatigue or burnout
- Nervous system dysregulation
These symptoms become intertwined with substance use — deepening emotional dependency and increasing vulnerability.
🔬 Our Comprehensive Treatment Model for C-PTSD & Addiction
Healing complex trauma requires a deeply sensitive, individualized, trauma-informed approach. Our integrated program treats emotional, psychological, and biological layers of trauma and addiction together.
🩺 1. Psychiatric & Trauma-Informed Evaluation
Clients receive a full assessment exploring:
- Trauma timeline and impact
- Attachment wounds
- Emotional regulation patterns
- Substance use history
- Co-occurring mental health conditions
- Sleep and nervous system function
- Identity and relational trauma
- Dissociation or depersonalization
- Medical or psychiatric concerns
This allows our clinicians to build a treatment plan tailored to each person’s trauma history and goals.
🧠 2. Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy (Multiple Sessions Weekly)
Our therapists specialize in complex trauma and use evidence-based modalities such as:
✔ EMDR
Reprocesses traumatic memories safely and reduces emotional intensity.
✔ Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Heals “parts” impacted by trauma (e.g., inner child, protector parts).
✔ Somatic Experiencing
Releases trauma stored in the nervous system.
✔ Trauma-Focused CBT
Restructures harmful beliefs rooted in trauma.
✔ Attachment-Based Therapy
Repairs relationship injuries and restores emotional connection.
✔ Psychodynamic Therapy
Explores deep patterns created by early trauma.
✔ Narrative Therapy
Rebuilds identity through meaning-making and empowerment.
Therapy is always paced slowly to ensure emotional safety and stabilization.
🧘♀️ 3. Somatic & Nervous System Healing
C-PTSD is fundamentally a nervous system injury — so healing must involve the body.
We include:
- Trauma-sensitive yoga
- Somatic experiencing
- Breathwork
- Guided grounding
- Massage therapy
- Acupuncture
- Cold plunge & sauna (optional)
- Nature therapy
- Sensory stabilization techniques
These interventions help clients feel safe in their bodies again.
💊 4. Substance Use Stabilization & Medication Support
When clinically appropriate, we offer:
- Medication-assisted treatment (optional)
- Anti-craving medications
- Sleep stabilization
- Anxiety reduction support
- Psychiatric medication optimization
- Safe taper planning (if appropriate)
Our focus is on comfort, stabilization, and long-term healing — not punitive approaches.
💬 5. Addressing Shame, Self-Blame & Identity Injury
Clients with C-PTSD often struggle with:
- Feeling unlovable
- Feeling “too much” or “not enough”
- Chronic guilt
- Perfectionism
- Emotional abandonment wounds
- Harsh self-criticism
Our therapists help clients:
- Rebuild self-worth
- Develop internal safety
- Strengthen emotional resilience
- Process childhood or relational trauma
- Create self-compassion
- Reconnect with identity
This is essential for reducing emotional reliance on substances.
💼 6. Executive & High-Achievement Support
Many clients with C-PTSD are outwardly high-functioning, experiencing:
- Workaholism
- Perfectionism
- Leadership stress
- Burnout
- Hyperindependence
- Difficulty asking for help
We provide:
- Private bedrooms
- Controlled tech access
- Quiet workspaces
- Complete confidentiality
- An elegant, serene healing environment
This allows professionals to stabilize without sacrificing privacy or dignity.
🧩 7. Dual Diagnosis Integration
Complex PTSD often coexists with:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Bipolar symptoms
- Borderline personality traits
- Eating disturbances
- Chronic pain
- Substance misuse
- Dissociative symptoms
We treat all conditions together for long-term stabilization.
🌱 8. Holistic Wellness & Lifestyle Rebuilding
Clients participate in:
- Nutrition support
- Movement therapy
- Sleep hygiene
- Mindfulness practices
- Healthy social boundary development
- Self-care routines
- Emotional-regulation techniques
- Lifestyle stabilization coaching
We help clients create a life that supports healing — not survival mode.
🔁 9. Aftercare & Long-Term Support
Upon completion, clients receive:
- Trauma-informed outpatient therapy recommendations
- EMDR or IFS referrals
- Psychiatric follow-up
- Relapse-prevention plans
- Sober coaching options
- Family or couples therapy (optional)
- Skills for navigating triggers
- Continued somatic therapy recommendations
We ensure continuity of care beyond residential treatment.
🌴 Why Clients Choose Living at Reflections for C-PTSD & Substance Use Treatment
- Boutique-size program for individualized attention
- Luxury, private environment ideal for trauma healing
- EMDR, IFS, and somatic trauma specialists
- Executive-friendly, discreet environment
- Deep nervous system repair
- Holistic + clinical care blended seamlessly
- High confidentiality for professionals and private individuals
- Warm, trauma-informed, nonjudgmental staff
- Evidence-based dual diagnosis expertise
Reflections offers a sanctuary for clients seeking profound healing from complex trauma and addiction.