trauma & PTSD Therapy
You don't have to relive it to recover from it.
Trauma changes how your nervous system works. It makes you hypervigilant, throws you into flashbacks without warning, makes your body feel unsafe even when you're actually okay. You might find yourself trapped in thought patterns you can't escape, or numb to things that used to matter. If you're here because of something that happened, or something that happened over years, or something you're not even sure "counts" as trauma: it does, and we're here.
Trauma-informed therapy means we understand that healing happens in safety, at your pace, with you in control. It's not about forcing you to relive what happened. It's about helping your nervous system learn that you survived, that you're safe now, and that you have choices. We use evidence-based methods like EMDR and somatic approaches that work with your body and nervous system, not just your thinking mind.
Whether you're dealing with PTSD from a specific event, complex trauma from years of difficulty, childhood experiences still shaping how you relate to the world, or patterns you can't explain but desperately want to break: you belong here. Healing is possible. It doesn't require reliving everything.
You might be here because...
You have PTSD or symptoms of trauma (nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance)
Something happened to you years ago and you're still carrying it
You experienced trauma over a long period (childhood abuse, ongoing difficult situations)
You feel unsafe in your body even when you logically know you're okay
Your nervous system is stuck in fight-flight-freeze mode
Certain things trigger intense reactions and you're not always sure why
You're in a relationship and patterns from your trauma keep showing up
You're not sure if what happened "counts" as trauma but it's still affecting you (it does, and it is)
Healing happens in safety
You stayed alive through something hard. Now we help your nervous system learn that it's over.
Trauma-informed therapy isn't about forcing you to talk about everything that happened. It's about creating enough safety that your nervous system can begin to process what it couldn't before. Your therapist will never push you faster than you're ready.
We understand that trauma shows up in your body, your relationships, your beliefs about yourself, and your day-to-day functioning. We work with all of it.
Trauma therapy at DCA uses evidence-based approaches tailored to you:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): A powerful approach that helps your brain process traumatic memories without you having to relive them in detail. It works with how trauma gets stored in your nervous system. Learn more on our EMDR Therapy page.
Somatic Experiencing: Working directly with your body's trauma responses. Your body knows what happened, and we help it know that the danger has passed.
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): Building a life that matters, even while carrying the weight of what happened. You don't have to be trauma-free to move forward.
IFS (Internal Family Systems) and Parts Work: Understanding the different parts of you that developed to protect you from the trauma. We help them work together instead of fighting.
Mindfulness and grounding techniques: Tools to help you stay present and safe, especially when your nervous system is activated.
Client-centered, trauma-informed approach: Always respecting your pace, your boundaries, and your control.
How trauma therapy actually works
Your first session is about building safety and trust. We learn your story at whatever level you're comfortable sharing. We're not here to make you talk about the trauma in detail if you're not ready. We're here to understand how it's affecting you now.
From there, we work with your therapist to choose an approach that feels right for you. Whether that's EMDR, somatic work, or another modality, you're always in control. Sessions are typically once a week. We offer both virtual and in-person sessions in Austin, and we accept most insurance.
Trust is everything
Healing from trauma requires trusting the person you're working with. We carefully match you with a therapist who specializes in trauma, whose style feels safe to you, and who respects your need for control and boundaries. If something doesn't feel right, we help you find a better fit.
Questions we hear often
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Not unless you want to. Effective trauma therapy, especially approaches like EMDR, doesn't require you to relive or describe every detail. You stay in control of what you share and when. Your therapist will follow your lead.
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EMDR helps your brain process traumatic memories by using bilateral stimulation (usually eye movements) while you briefly focus on the memory. Research shows it's highly effective for trauma. Many people find it less re-traumatizing than talk therapy alone.
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Trauma is what happened to you. PTSD (and CPTSD) is the set of symptoms that can develop after trauma: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative mood changes, hyperarousal. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD or CPTSD. A therapist can help you understand where you fall on that spectrum.
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It varies widely depending on what happened, how long it lasted, and how much support you've had. Some people see major shifts in a few months. Others work longer-term, especially if trauma is complex or happened over years. We check in regularly about your progress.
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Both. We offer virtual and in-person therapy in Austin. Many trauma modalities work well virtually. Some people prefer in-person. You decide what feels safest.
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Yes, most major plans. We can verify your coverage before your first session. Sessions range from $75 to $190. Learn more on our Cost & Coverage page.
You're not broken. You're not stuck.
What happened wasn't your fault, and the ways your nervous system is responding makes complete sense. The thoughts you have, the reactions you can't control, the ways you protect yourself: they all made sense at the time. Now we help your system learn something new.
Healing from trauma is possible. You don't need to be perfect at it or do it alone. You need someone trained in trauma work who gets that your healing timeline is your own.
Our trauma-informed therapists are ready to support you at your pace, on your terms. Let's take the first step.