What Is Complex PTSD?
Trauma-Focused Care for Lasting Healing
Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) develops from prolonged or repeated trauma, especially during childhood or in emotionally unsafe environments. While traditional PTSD may stem from a single traumatic event, C-PTSD is often the result of long-term emotional, physical, or relational harm—Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) is often more pervasive and difficult to treat due to its chronic nature.
At Wings Recovery, we recognize that Complex PTSD can shape a person’s entire emotional world, from how they see themselves to how they connect with others. Our trauma-focused care goes beyond symptom relief—We guide clients in understanding the source of their pain, cultivating inner safety, learning to soothe and regulate their nervous system, and rediscovering the authentic parts of themselves that may have gone dormant in response to trauma.
We provide treatment at three levels of care:
- Residential Treatment for 24/7 therapeutic support
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for structured, daily care
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for flexible, step-down healing
Recognizing the Symptoms of C-PTSD
Complex PTSD often systematically impacts identity, relationships, and emotional regulation. Many clients come to Wings after years of struggling with misdiagnosis or failed treatment attempts, still feeling emotionally unsafe or disconnected.
Symptoms of Complex PTSD may include:
- Difficulty regulating emotions (anger, shame, sadness, fear)
- Chronic feelings of emptiness or hopelessness
- A persistent sense of threat or being “on edge”
- Negative self-image or feelings of worthlessness
- Dissociation or emotional numbing
- Difficulty trusting others or maintaining relationships
- Flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts
- Disordered eating, substance use, or self-harming behaviors
These symptoms often coexist with anxiety, depression, body image concerns, and identity confusion—especially for those who experienced early childhood trauma or prolonged neglect.
Our Trauma-Focused Approach to C-PTSD
At Wings Recovery, we understand that healing from Complex PTSD takes time, safety, and the right support system. Our clinical model is specifically designed to help clients explore trauma gently and at their own pace, while also receiving the structure and accountability needed to stabilize.
We do not rush disclosure or force trauma processing before a person is ready. Instead, we help clients reclaim agency over their emotions, their narrative, and their recovery process.
All levels of care include:
- Individual therapy sessions multiple times per week
- Daily therapeutic groups that emphasize emotional safety, regulation skills, and connection
- Psychiatric evaluation and medication management (when appropriate)
- Somatic and experiential therapies, including art, movement, and mindfulness
- Nutritional counseling and therapeutic meal support (for those with disordered eating patterns)
- A supportive peer community that fosters connection, safety, and trust.
Whether you’re in residential, PHP, or IOP, your care plan is customized to support both stabilization and healing.
Who We Help
Many adults living with C-PTSD have tried therapy before—sometimes multiple times—without finding lasting relief. They’ve been labeled “resistant,” “too emotional,” or “unmotivated.” At Wings Recovery, we see things differently.
We treat adult men and women who:
- Are living with symptoms of Complex PTSD
- Have a history of chronic trauma (e.g., childhood abuse, neglect, relational trauma, betrayal trauma,religious trauma)
- Are also experiencing co-occurring conditions like disordered eating or depression
- Are ready to explore recovery in a trauma-focused, supportive setting
- Need a team that will honor their pace and personalize their care
We don’t ask you to “get over it.” We walk beside you as you learn how to live through it—and beyond it.
Why Wings Recovery for Complex PTSD?
Not all treatment centers are equipped to treat Complex PTSD. At Wings, trauma isn’t a footnote—it’s a clinical priority. Our entire approach is grounded in helping individuals make sense of the ways trauma has shaped them, and then guiding them toward a new way of relating to themselves and the world.
Why clients and providers trust Wings:
- Therapeutically designed, trauma-focused care to support healing
- Deep experience with emotional dysregulation and identity disruption
- Licensed clinicians trained in trauma-focused and attachment-sensitive work
- Comprehensive support across the full continuum of care, including RTC (Residential) PHP, (Partial Hospitalization Program), and IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program)
- An emotionally safe, compassionate, and nonjudgmental treatment environment
Let’s Begin Again—Together
Complex PTSD may have shaped your story, but it doesn’t have to define your future. If you’re ready to begin healing with a team that understands what you’ve been through, Wings Recovery is here to help.
Call us today at (888) 790-9377
Wings Recovery provides trauma-focused residential, PHP, and IOP treatment in Carlsbad, CA, for adult men and women with Complex PTSD and co-occurring conditions such as disordered eating, substance use, and mood disorders.