About Us
TRAUMATYS, a clinic specialized in trauma (PTSD)
Philosophy of TRAUMATYS
Dr. Gaston has also elaborated an advanced 2-year training in PTSD, according to the educative curriculum of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. Over 200 experienced clinicians (psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, and physicians) have been trained.
At TRAUMATYS, we value the integrity and the entirety of people. Although based on solid empirical findings, our philosophy involves the heart, the head, and the spine:
• The heart allows us to offer a solid relationship and an empathetic presence to the person. It insures we choose the most respectful interventions with respect to the dispositions of the person.
• The head helps us to better understand the complex clinical challenges and to employ the most effective interventions for each given person.
• The spine permits us to stand solid and dignified, that is, to evaluate by ourselves the validity of published empirical findings and to consider our own clinical experience and the responses of the person, first and foremost.
“Above all do no harm.”
Jointly, these human dimensions provide us with an ethical and respectful positioning toward the person, as well as the third paying party involved and the treating physician, allowing us to face challenges associated with PTSD.
Brief history of TRAUMATYS
In 1990, Dr. Gaston founded TRAUMATYS, a clinic specialized in evaluating and treating PTSD.
From clinical experience, research findings, and theoretical knowledge, Dr. Gaston developed an integrative model for treating PTSD (psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive, behavioral, and neurobiological) to respond to all the needs of people consulting us.
Since 1991, TRAUMATYS has evaluated and treated thousands of persons presenting with PTSD, with co-morbidity and functonal limitations. According to an independent and retrospective study by the research team of Dr Brunet at McGill University, examining 100 files randomly selected at TRAUMATYS (2004),
• psychotherapy lasted in average 9 months, ranging from few weeks to many months (sometimes to few years)
• at termination, using diagnoses obtained from a structured interview (SCID), PTSD remission rate was 96%.
In addition, a prospective neurological study of 18 persons treated at TRAUMATYS (Dickie et al., 2011) showed that, using magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), …
• PTSD changes were associated with activity changes in key neurological centers:
• amygdala (conditioned memory, anxiety, fear, anger)
• hippocampus (non-emotional memory, integration of complex informations, etc.)
• right anterior cingulate cortex (modulation of affects and behaviors)
• after 6 to 9 months of psychotherapy (some patients had not terminated yet), using diagnoses obtained from a structured interview (CAPS), PTSD remission rate was 65%.
Thus, TRAUMATYS’ psychotherapy is both specialized and effective.