Trauma Therapy in Austin, TX

Many people hesitate here, worried their experience wasn’t “bad enough.” Trauma isn’t measured by the size of the event but by how it stays with you. A single frightening event can leave a mark, and so can things that happened slowly, like growing up with neglect or living in a relationship that never felt safe. Nightmares, feeling on guard or a body that won’t settle are all worth talking about. You don’t need to prove anything to deserve care.

No. You never have to retell everything to begin, and you decide what you share and when. Early sessions usually focus on your life now and on skills that help you feel steadier. Some approaches gently turn toward a memory in small, manageable pieces, only when you’re ready. Others, like EMDR and Somatic Experiencing, can work with brief contact with a memory, or with what you notice in your body. You can always pause or say “not today.”

There isn’t one right approach for everyone, which can be a relief to hear. Several trauma-focused therapies have strong research support, including cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure and EMDR. Somatic Experiencing has a smaller but growing body of research, and many people find its gentler pace helpful. Some of our therapists combine trauma-informed talk therapy with mindfulness skills. Your therapist will explain the options and help you choose what fits, and you can meet our therapists first.

It’s a fair worry, and you deserve a clear answer. Turning toward painful memories can stir things up for a while; some people notice vivid dreams or feel tired after a session. Good trauma therapy plans for this. Before any processing begins, you build grounding skills and a sense of safety, and your therapist watches the pace so you aren’t flooded. Here’s what to expect in a first trauma therapy session.

It depends on what you’ve been through and what you hope for. A single event often responds to a focused course of treatment; cognitive processing therapy, for example, commonly runs about 12 sessions. When trauma happened over many years or began in childhood, therapy usually takes longer, with more time spent on safety and stability at the start. We’ll check in with you about progress along the way. Here’s how you’ll know therapy is working.

It’s a good question, since both are often mentioned together. Both help the nervous system let go of what it’s still holding, but they get there differently. EMDR follows a structured protocol: you briefly bring a memory to mind while following eye movements, taps or tones, and over time it tends to lose its sting. Somatic Experiencing starts with the body, letting stress discharge in small, gentle steps. Read what happens in an EMDR session and what Somatic Experiencing is.

That’s more common than people expect, especially with trauma from childhood or from times of extreme stress. Memory can be patchy, out of order, or mostly feelings and body sensations rather than a clear story. You don’t need a complete memory to start healing. Therapy works with what you’re experiencing now, and a careful therapist won’t push you to reconstruct anything. That’s part of why trauma lives in the body, and why body-based work can help.

For many people, yes. Research on trauma-focused therapy over video, including work from the VA’s National Center for PTSD, has found results similar to in-person care, and some people feel safer starting from their own home. EMDR and body-based work can both be adapted for video. We offer secure online therapy anywhere in Texas, and about half our clients meet online. You can also meet in person in North Austin or South Austin.

Cost is a real part of deciding, and it’s good to ask early. We accept several plans for individual counseling, including Aetna, BCBS-TX, Cigna and Optum (Oscar, Oxford, UnitedHealthcare); see every plan we take. Medicaid and Medicare aren’t accepted, and insurance doesn’t cover couples or family sessions. Self-pay rates run $75 to $200 a session. Call or text (512) 578-8070, or find your fit in about a minute with our therapist finder.

Your safety comes first, and reaching out about it takes courage. If you’re thinking about suicide or harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911 if you’re in immediate danger, including from another person. We aren’t a crisis service, so these are the fastest ways to get help in the moment. Once you’re safer, trauma therapy can be a steady place to begin rebuilding, at a pace that’s yours. Reach out whenever you’re ready.