Most therapy teaches you to manage symptoms. We work toward cure. Psychological distress doesn’t just create symptoms—it changes how you see yourself, your relationships, and your future. At TRT Center of GA, we specialize in resolution using an etiotropic approach that addresses the root cause—whether from trauma, accumulated stress, substance use, or complex mental health conditions. We provide individualized care for anyone ready to move from coping to resolution, with specialized expertise in first responders, crisis managers, and emergency response organizations.
When individuals and their families face psychological challenges – whether accumulated stress, trauma, substance abuse struggles, or major mental health conditions – how do they decide which treatment approach is right for them?
That’s simpler than you might think. Just choose one of the 2 Cs.
Select the 1st C which stands for Cope, and learn to live with and manage your condition for the rest of your life. If, to the contrary, you prefer to address the underlying cause and achieve genuine resolution, then choose the 2nd C which stands for Cure – approaches designed to resolve the root problem and restore your health, not just manage symptoms indefinitely.
Here’s something most people never consider: Maybe the problem isn’t that you’re damaged, treatment-resistant, or “chronically ill.” Maybe the problem is the model you’ve been using.
If you’ve been in therapy for years, tried multiple medications, learned countless coping skills, and still struggle – you haven’t failed. The approach designed only to manage symptoms hasn’t addressed your actual problem. That’s not a character flaw. That’s a predictable outcome when you use a symptom-management model on a condition that has a treatable root cause.
You’re not broken. You may just need a different approach.
The symptom-focused model teaches individuals, often with the aid of pharmacological therapies – medication – how to cope with the thoughts, feelings, and actions that may be related to psychological symptoms. They believe that the list of symptoms means the person has a diagnosis like PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, or Bipolar Disorder. The treatment focuses on coping techniques that include such methods as Cognitive Behavioral, Behavioral, and unstructured psychodynamic therapies. They teach individuals how to recognize prospective symptoms and to adapt positively to them. That teaching-learning activity or behavioral modification technique is inclined in such a way that the diagnosis is a lifelong condition the person will never recover from, and therefore the models showing how to think are intended to remain with the person for life. The professionals and individuals hope that with the help of some medications and the forever continuing coping efforts, the disorder’s symptoms will be mastered and eventually controlled so that the disorder is much less a life discomfort for everyone involved. Learning to cope with the disorder is a lifetime experience, guaranteed.
While these approaches can provide some relief and are sometimes necessary, they operate on a fundamental assumption: that your diagnosis is chronic and will require lifelong management.
Emerging approaches – those that address the actual cause (etiology) of conditions rather than just symptoms – offer a fundamentally different paradigm. As Dr. Georgia Ede of Metabolic Mind describes metabolic psychiatry: as “the science of hope.”
These approaches recognize that many mental health conditions have identifiable, treatable root causes. They don’t assume you’re broken – they look for what’s actually causing your symptoms.
This isn’t wishful thinking or false promises. It addresses causes, not just symptoms.
Our Approach: We first separate the various issues that may be occurring simultaneously. Chemical dependency, co-occurring conditions, life stressors, and the primary condition itself must each be properly evaluated. Using structured assessment protocols, we present you with a clear, certain path forward that addresses what’s actually causing your suffering—not just what symptoms you’re experiencing.
When the root cause is properly addressed and resolved, thoughts, feelings, and behavioral responses shift naturally. You don’t have to work at managing them forever—because the source of the problem is gone.
You deserve to know: There may be cure-level options you haven’t been told about. Not every condition requires lifelong management. Not every problem is “chronic.” And if you haven’t gotten better yet, it might not be because you’re broken—it might be because you’ve been using an approach designed only to manage symptoms, not resolve causes.
You’re not damaged. You may just need a different model.
The first step is deciding which approach aligns with your goals: learning to cope for life, or addressing the root cause now.
This isn’t wishful thinking or false promises. It addresses causes, not just symptoms.
Our Approach: We first separate the various issues that may be occurring simultaneously. Chemical dependency, co-occurring conditions, life stressors, and the primary condition itself must each be properly evaluated. Using structured assessment protocols, we present you with a clear, certain path forward that addresses what’s actually causing your suffering – not just what symptoms you’re experiencing.
When the root cause is properly addressed and resolved, thoughts, feelings, and behavioral responses shift naturally. You don’t have to work at managing them forever – because the source of the problem is gone.
You deserve to know: There may be cure-level options you haven’t been told about. Not every condition requires lifelong management. Not every problem is “chronic.” And if you haven’t gotten better yet, it might not be because you’re broken – it might be because you’ve been using an approach designed only to manage symptoms, not resolve causes.
You’re not damaged. You may just need a different model.
The first step is deciding which approach aligns with your goals: learning to cope for life, or addressing the root cause now.
Many people have experienced trauma from more than one source over their lifetime. A “source” might be a single devastating event, like the sudden death of a loved one, or it might be an extended period of trauma-causing circumstances, like living with an addicted family member or experiencing repeated combat deployments.
Our approach brings order to addressing multiple trauma sources. We typically work on the most recent source first, resolving it completely before moving to earlier trauma. This systematic approach ensures consistent, thorough resolution of each trauma source rather than partial treatment of many.
Between addressing different trauma sources, clients often take breaks from therapy—sometimes for months or even years—before returning to work on another source. This is not only acceptable but often beneficial, allowing you to integrate the changes and live without that particular trauma’s influence before addressing the next.
How do we know when trauma is truly resolved? Rather than focusing primarily on whether symptoms have ended, we measure something more fundamental: the restoration of your identity.
Throughout TRT™, you’ll develop a clear understanding of three distinct versions of yourself:
This process is documented as part of your treatment, and both you and your therapist must agree that trauma has been completely resolved before concluding TRT™ for that particular source. The goal isn’t just feeling better—it’s being free from trauma’s influence on your identity and reality system.
Compassionate Care for a Healthier Mind and Happier Life.
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