Specialty · Evidence-based

Trauma & PTSD Therapy

Heal Your Roots Wellness Editorial · Reviewed April 23, 2026 · ~6 min read

Trauma therapy is specialized treatment that helps the nervous system process events that overwhelmed the original capacity to cope, so memories no longer hijack present-day functioning. The most evidence-supported approaches are EMDR, prolonged exposure, cognitive processing therapy, and somatic experiencing, typically delivered in 12 to 24 sessions.

Founding clinicians offering Trauma & PTSD Therapy

Evidence-based approaches

Common client questions answered

About 6% of U.S. adults will have PTSD at some point in their lives, and women are twice as likely to develop it as men. Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, 2024.

Who seeks trauma & ptsd therapy?

Adults experiencing intrusive memories, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, or physical reactivity tied to past events.

Flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories
Avoidance of people, places, or topics linked to the event
Hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response
Emotional numbness or feeling detached
Sleep disruption, irritability, or difficulty concentrating

What evidence supports trauma & ptsd therapy?

The most-researched approaches are:

EMDR
Prolonged Exposure
Cognitive Processing Therapy
Somatic Experiencing
IFS

What to expect in treatment

Phase 1 — Stabilization: Build coping skills and a sense of safety before processing.
Phase 2 — Processing: Address the memories using EMDR, exposure, or somatic methods.
Phase 3 — Integration: Reconnect to relationships, work, and meaning.

"Trauma is not what happens to you. It is what happens inside you as a result of what happens to you. Healing means restoring the felt sense of safety in your own body." — Dr. Gabor Maté, Physician and author of The Myth of Normal

How Heal Your Roots Wellness handles trauma & ptsd therapy

Every founding clinician who lists Trauma & PTSD Therapy as a specialty has documented training and ongoing supervision in at least one of the modalities above. Heal Your Roots verifies licensure, requires transparent fee disclosure, and routes intakes to a clinician with matching specialty and lived experience where requested.

Get matched with a founding clinician Apply if you specialize in trauma & ptsd therapy

Common questions about trauma & ptsd therapy

Will trauma therapy make me feel worse before better?

Some clients experience temporary symptom intensification during processing. A trauma-trained therapist will pace the work to keep symptoms within a window of tolerance.

How is EMDR different from regular talk therapy?

EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (eye movements, taps, or tones) to help the brain reprocess stuck trauma memories without requiring detailed verbal recounting.

Can therapy help if my trauma was years ago?

Yes. Trauma is stored in the body and nervous system regardless of when it happened. Many clients seek treatment decades after the original event.