My 3 yr old...Will therapy help?

I was with in a Domestic Violence situation for ten months, I finally left on march 31st of this year. I thought I had managed to shield my daughter from most of what went on. When we left we stayed in a domestic violence shelter for a few weeks, then we moved into a trailer. Since I left my ex my daughter has been completely different. Shes acting out more, like if I tell her not to do something she looks at me while she does it anyway. No amount of discipline works. She throws fits, screams etc when she doesn't get her way. Its not all the time, its just sometimes. I just assumed her behavioral changes was part of the uproot and the fact that we have no set schedule so there is no structure, which I know isn't good but like has been VERY hectic for the last few months. As I said I thought I had shielded her from most of what went on when I was with my ex. She never mentions his name unless she is pretending to talk on the phone, and then its just random conversation. But this morning I was doing some school work on the computer and she was in the living room watching her cartoons, and all of a sudden for about fifteen to twenty minutes she kept saying "Nathan don't hurt my mommy" "No Leave mommy alone" "Please don't hurt my mommy" "Nathan I said don't hurt my mommy" There is no one in the house but us. I started crying and called a friend of mine and told her and my daughter started screaming it, she heard her screaming over the phone and I was 3 rooms away. Then she was fine, It wasn't like she was in a trance like state or anything and shes running and playing like she always does. Then a few minutes ago she yelled out "Nathan! What are you doing here!" Then went back to singing the dragon tails song. I made her an appointment with a child psychiatrist in two weeks. But I guess my question is, what exactly can they do for a 3 yr old? I have never been in any kind of therapy so I don't know how it works.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

You did the right thing by arranging the therapy appointment because your daughter is showing signs of a post-traumatic disorder. You clearly recognize the need for structure and routine, so now it's important that you establish these things. It's not enough to say 'I know we should have structure' and then accept the status quo. It's your responsibility as a parent to establish a schedule, routine and structure. Also, it would be a good thing for you to be in therapy to address the circumstances of your life.