Trauma therapy is structured psychotherapy that addresses the lasting impact of overwhelming experiences on the nervous system, thoughts, and relationships. We match you with licensed trauma-trained therapists for treatment of PTSD, complex trauma, childhood trauma, and trauma-driven anxiety or depression. Insurance is verified before your first session.
What Trauma Therapy Is And Who It Is For
Trauma therapy is a clinical approach distinct from general talk therapy. The framework recognizes that traumatic experiences are stored in the body and nervous system, not only in conscious memory, and treatment combines processing the memory itself with stabilization, skills work, and somatic awareness. Sessions are typically 45 to 60 minutes weekly, with the matched therapist setting the pace your nervous system can tolerate.
Trauma therapy fits people whose current symptoms or patterns trace back to specific events or prolonged adverse experiences. Common reasons to start include:
- Diagnosed PTSD or unprocessed traumatic memories from a specific event
- Complex trauma from prolonged abuse, neglect, or repeated exposure
- Childhood adverse experiences affecting adult relationships and self-worth
- Combat, first-responder, or occupational trauma exposure
- Survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, or hate-motivated violence
- Medical trauma from serious illness, surgery, or hospitalization
- Trauma-driven anxiety, depression, or substance use that has not responded to general talk therapy
- Intergenerational trauma or culturally-rooted trauma patterns
Trauma-Focused Approaches We Match For
Trauma therapy is not a single technique. Therapists in our network are trained in evidence-based trauma-focused modalities, and the matched therapist selects an approach based on your specific situation, history, and preferences.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
CPT is a manualized 12-session protocol developed for PTSD. Sessions focus on identifying and changing the trauma-related beliefs that keep symptoms in place. CPT is one of two first-line PTSD treatments recommended by the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
Prolonged Exposure is an 8 to 15-session protocol where you gradually confront trauma memories and trauma-related situations under therapist guidance. PE is the other first-line PTSD treatment per VA/DoD guidelines and is well-evidenced for single-incident trauma.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
TF-CBT integrates cognitive-behavioral techniques with trauma-sensitive practice and family involvement where appropriate. Originally developed for children and adolescents, TF-CBT is also used with adults who benefit from structured psychoeducation and gradual exposure.
Somatic and body-based approaches
Somatic Experiencing, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and other body-based approaches work with how trauma is held in the nervous system. These approaches are often used alongside cognitive work, particularly for complex trauma or when verbal processing alone has not resolved symptoms.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS frames the mind as a system of parts, with traumatic experiences often producing protective parts and exiled parts that carry the trauma. The therapist helps you build relationship with these parts so the trauma-carrying parts can be heard and unburdened. IFS is widely used for complex trauma and dissociation.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation alongside memory recall to reprocess traumatic memories at a brain level. Our network includes EMDR-trained therapists, and EMDR has its own dedicated page covering the eight-phase protocol in depth. Visit /emdr-therapy/ for details, or tell us during matching if EMDR is the approach you want.
How Matching Works
We are a matching service. You tell us what you want to work on (specific event, ongoing symptoms, complex trauma history, prior therapy that did not resolve a target), your preferences (in-person or online, gender of therapist, schedule, insurance, modality preference), and we match you with a licensed trauma-trained therapist who has openings.
After you submit the form or call us, a member of our intake team contacts you within 24 hours to discuss your situation and which modality fits. We then reach out to therapists in our network whose trauma training and specialty match your situation and who have current availability, and we share their information, schedule, and rates with you.
You decide which therapist to start with. The matched therapist’s practice handles intake, insurance verification, and ongoing care directly with you. We share each therapist’s trauma-specific training (CPT-trained, PE-certified, EMDR-trained, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, IFS Level 1/2/3) during matching so you know their level of experience.
Trauma Therapy Vs General Talk Therapy
General talk therapy and trauma-focused therapy can both help, but they work differently. Trauma-focused approaches use structured protocols designed for trauma physiology; general talk therapy is more open-ended and may not directly address traumatic memories. Comparison below covers the most common questions.
Dimension | Trauma-focused therapy | General talk therapy |
Therapist training | Specific training in CPT, PE, TF-CBT, EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, IFS, or similar trauma-focused protocols | Licensed therapy training with broad clinical scope |
Session structure | Often manualized or protocol-driven; specific phases for stabilization, processing, integration | Open-ended exploration of current concerns and patterns |
How memory is handled | Direct work with trauma memories using structured techniques, with pacing matched to nervous-system tolerance | Memory may come up in conversation but is not the structured focus |
Course length | Often 12 to 20 sessions for single-incident PTSD; 6 months to 2 years or longer for complex trauma | Open-ended; weeks to years depending on goals |
Best for | PTSD, specific traumatic events, complex trauma, symptoms not resolving in general therapy | Life transitions, relationship issues, general mental health support, ongoing self-work |
Many people start with general therapy and add trauma-focused work when patterns suggest unprocessed trauma is part of the picture. The matched therapist can identify whether a trauma-focused protocol fits and refer to or coordinate with a trauma specialist when appropriate.
Insurance And Fees
We work with most major insurance plans. The matched therapist’s practice verifies your benefits before your first session. Many therapists in our network offer sliding scale fees based on income, with eligibility set by each therapist’s practice.
Most commercial carriers, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and UnitedHealthcare, cover trauma therapy as an outpatient mental-health benefit under the same code as other forms of psychotherapy. We do not quote rates because they vary by therapist and plan; after you are matched, the practice handles billing and shares specific cost details. Insurance verification typically takes about 15 minutes for plans without prior authorization, and 1 to 3 business days for plans that require it.
Other Services We Match For
Trauma therapy works alongside or in sequence with other services in our network. We match for the full continuum:
- EMDR therapy (dedicated trauma reprocessing modality)
- Individual therapy
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
- Aftercare planning
- Medication management
For more detail on specific trauma therapy methods or whether trauma-informed therapy is the right fit, the following resources cover common questions in depth:
Telehealth And Getting Started
Many trauma-trained therapists in our network offer telehealth by secure video, so where you live rarely limits which therapist you can work with. Online trauma therapy works well for many protocols, including CPT, IFS, and much TF-CBT work. Some clinicians prefer in-person for severe complex trauma, for Prolonged Exposure, or for somatic-based work, where in-person attunement and grounding support help. When you reach out, we match you on your situation, the modality you want, your schedule, and your insurance, then share trauma therapists with current openings for you to choose from.
Medical Reviewer
This page was reviewed by Dr. Courtney Scott, MD, a physician with credentials in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Addiction Medicine. Dr. Scott completed medical school at the Keck School of Medicine at USC and has more than a decade of experience in behavioral health. Clinical care for the people we match is provided by the licensed therapists in our network, not by Dr. Scott directly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between trauma therapy and regular therapy?
Trauma therapy uses structured protocols (CPT, PE, EMDR, somatic approaches) specifically designed for how trauma is held in the nervous system. Regular talk therapy is more open-ended and addresses general mental-health concerns. Trauma-trained therapists have additional training in handling trauma memories at a pace your nervous system can tolerate.
How is trauma therapy different from EMDR?
EMDR is one specific trauma-focused modality, not the whole field. Trauma therapy includes EMDR alongside CPT, Prolonged Exposure, TF-CBT, Somatic Experiencing, IFS, and others. The matched therapist’s training and your preferences determine which approach fits, and we offer a dedicated EMDR page at /emdr-therapy/ if that is the modality you want.
How long does trauma therapy take?
Single-incident PTSD often resolves in 12 to 20 sessions of protocol-driven work (CPT or PE). Complex trauma from prolonged exposure or childhood adversity typically takes 6 months to 2 years or longer, with stabilization work coming before active memory processing.
Will I have to talk about the trauma in detail?
It depends on the approach. Some protocols (Prolonged Exposure) involve detailed narration; others (EMDR, Somatic Experiencing) require less verbal detail. The matched therapist explains the protocol upfront and adjusts the pace based on your nervous system’s tolerance.
Does insurance cover trauma therapy?
Yes, for most plans. Commercial carriers (Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare) cover trauma therapy as a behavioral-health benefit, often billed under the same code as other psychotherapy. The matched therapist’s practice verifies your specific benefits before your first session.
Can trauma therapy be done online?
Yes for most modalities. Online trauma therapy works well for CPT, IFS, and many TF-CBT applications. Some clinicians prefer in-person for Prolonged Exposure or severe complex-trauma work where in-person attunement and grounding support help.
What if I am in crisis right now?
If you are in immediate crisis, please call 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room. Our matching service connects you with ongoing trauma therapy, not crisis services. Once safe, we can match you with a trauma therapist for ongoing work.
How quickly can I start trauma therapy?
Most people are matched with a trauma-trained therapist within a few days of reaching out. The first appointment is usually scheduled within 1 to 2 weeks depending on therapist availability. Insurance verification can add 1 to 3 business days for plans that require prior authorization.