Living with PTSD can feel like carrying a heavy weight that others can’t see. Whether it stems from a single traumatic event or a series of experiences over time, post-traumatic stress can deeply affect your thoughts, emotions, relationships, and sense of safety. But healing is possible. Therapy can be one of the most effective and supportive tools to help you process trauma, rebuild your inner world, and move forward with greater confidence and peace.
I want to walk you through what PTSD is, how therapy helps, and what options might be right for you or a loved one. My approach is grounded in warmth, connection, and working with you at your pace. You’re not broken. You’re doing your best to survive, and there is space to heal.
What is PTSD?
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. This can include abuse, accidents, natural disasters, violence, medical emergencies, military service, or other overwhelming life events.
People with PTSD might experience:
- Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Hypervigilance or feeling “on edge”
- Avoidance of people, places, or conversations that remind them of the trauma
- Emotional numbness or detachment
- Intense feelings of guilt, shame, or fear
You don’t have to check every box to “qualify” for PTSD or trauma therapy. If your past experiences are making it hard to live your life in the present, therapy may help.
The Role of Therapy in PTSD Healing
Therapy creates a safe, structured space to begin healing from trauma. Unlike advice from friends or well-meaning self-help books, trauma-informed therapy is tailored to you – your story, your pace, your needs.
Some of the benefits of therapy for PTSD include:
- Understanding how trauma has affected your nervous system and patterns of behavior
- Learning tools to manage symptoms like anxiety, panic, or dissociation
- Feeling heard, validated, and supported without judgment
- Reprocessing traumatic memories in a safe, contained way
- Rebuilding your sense of self, safety, and trust
And healing doesn’t mean forgetting what happened. It means loosening trauma’s grip on your present.
Approaches to PTSD Therapy
Different therapy modalities can support PTSD healing in unique ways. I draw from several of these depending on the person in front of me. Here are a few of the most effective ones:
Trauma-Focused Therapy
This is a broad term for therapy that is specifically oriented toward working with trauma. It often includes a combination of narrative processing, body awareness, and emotional regulation skills.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps people recognize and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that are keeping them stuck. For PTSD, this can mean working on beliefs like “I’m never safe” or “It was my fault.”
Mindfulness Therapy
Mindfulness-based approaches gently bring awareness to the present moment, which is key for grounding in times of anxiety or flashbacks. You’ll learn to observe your thoughts and feelings without getting swept away by them.
Attachment-Based Therapy
Trauma often affects how we relate to others. Attachment-focused therapy helps rebuild safe, trusting relationships — starting with the therapeutic relationship itself.
Ketamine Integration Therapy
For some people, ketamine-assisted therapy can offer profound healing, especially when other treatments haven’t been effective. Integration therapy helps you make meaning and lasting changes from your ketamine experiences.
Holistic Healing Approaches
Our minds and bodies are connected. Holistic approaches may incorporate somatic work, breathwork, and lifestyle shifts that support full-person healing.
What to Expect in PTSD Therapy
Therapy doesn’t look the same for everyone. Sometimes we start by simply building trust. Sometimes we dive into practical coping tools. And sometimes, when you feel safe enough, we begin to gently explore the past.
Your sessions might include:
- Learning how your nervous system responds to stress and how to self-soothe
- Naming and honoring difficult experiences without needing to relive them
- Processing painful memories with care and structure
- Identifying beliefs that keep you feeling stuck
- Creating new narratives about yourself and your future
You’re in charge of your healing. I’m here to walk alongside you.
How Long Does It Take to Heal from PTSD?
There is no one-size-fits-all timeline. Some people feel significant relief after a few months of weekly sessions. Others may benefit from longer-term support. What matters most is not “how fast” you move, but that your healing is sustainable and compassionate.
If you’re looking for more intensive support, therapy intensives might be helpful. These allow for deeper work over a shorter time period.
Online Therapy for PTSD
If in-person sessions don’t fit your schedule or comfort level, online therapy is a flexible and effective option. Many of my clients appreciate being able to meet from the comfort of their own space, especially when processing trauma can feel vulnerable.
Whether we meet online or in person, you’ll get the same level of care, presence, and professionalism.
Therapy for Teens and Veterans with PTSD
Trauma can affect anyone. I work with a wide range of clients, including teens who may be navigating trauma from family conflict, bullying, identity struggles, or early abuse.
I also offer veteran support, recognizing the unique ways military service and reintegration into civilian life can affect mental health. PTSD in veterans deserves nuanced, respectful care.
You Are Not Alone
If you’ve been feeling isolated, anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck in painful memories, I want you to know: this doesn’t have to be your forever.
Healing from PTSD is absolutely possible. With the right support, your nervous system can settle, your mind can feel clearer, and your relationships can deepen. You deserve that peace.
If you’re ready to take the next step, you can contact me here, or learn more about my services and therapy approach.
Your story matters. And healing is within reach.