Therapy for Trauma
Specialized treatment for PTSD and complex trauma
Healing from trauma is possible. Using trauma-informed, evidence-based approaches including CBT and EMDR, we'll work together to process painful experiences and help you reclaim your life.
What is Trauma?
Trauma is the emotional and psychological response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event (or series of events). It overwhelms your ability to cope and can leave lasting effects on your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Trauma can result from:
Single traumatic events: Car accidents, assaults, natural disasters, or sudden loss
Complex trauma: Ongoing abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or childhood trauma
Medical trauma: Serious illness, surgery, or traumatic childbirth
Vicarious trauma: Witnessing or learning about trauma experienced by others
Developmental trauma: Adverse experiences during childhood that shape your sense of safety
You don't have to have experienced "the worst" trauma to deserve help.
If it affected you, it matters.
"I didn't think therapy would help, but I was wrong.
I finally feel like myself again."
Client Testimonial
Trauma can show up in many ways, including flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories; feeling on edge, hypervigilant, or easily startled; avoiding people, places, or things that remind you of the trauma; emotional numbness or disconnection from yourself and others; difficulty trusting people or feeling safe; anxiety, depression, or irritability; physical symptoms like tension, headaches, or fatigue; and relationship difficulties or self-destructive behaviors. Trauma can make you feel like you're stuck in the past, even when you want to move forward.
Trauma therapy provides a safe, compassionate space to process your experience, reduce symptoms, heal emotional wounds, rebuild safety and trust, and reclaim your life, moving from survival mode to truly living. You'll never be forced to share details before you're ready, but therapy helps you make sense of what happened and learn tools to manage flashbacks, anxiety, nightmares, and hypervigilance. Therapy addresses feelings of shame, guilt, anger, or grief that often accompany trauma and helps you feel safe in your body, relationships, and the world again.
Healing from trauma is possible. You don't have to carry this alone.
How Trauma Affects You and How Therapy can Help
What is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a specific diagnosis that can develop after experiencing or witnessing trauma. Symptoms include:
Re-experiencing the trauma (flashbacks, nightmares)
Avoidance of trauma reminders
Negative changes in thoughts and mood
Heightened arousal (hypervigilance, irritability, trouble sleeping)
Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, but therapy can help with both PTSD and trauma-related symptoms.
Evidence-Based Approaches We Use
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Helps you process trauma and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors
Mindfulness-Based Techniques
Mindfulness helps you stay present and observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment. These skills can reduce anxiety, improve emotional regulation, and increase self-awareness.
Behavioral Activation
Increase engagement in meaningful activities to improve mood and energy.
Somatic Therapy Techniques
Address how trauma is stored in the body
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
Address relationship patterns and communication issues that contribute to depression.
Solution-Focused Therapy
Build on your strengths and take action toward your goals.
Why Choose Good Counsel Therapy?
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Your privacy matters. All online therapy sessions use encrypted, HIPAA-compliant video platforms to ensure your conversations remain completely confidential. We adhere to the highest standards of professional ethics and data security.
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Maranice Strickland is a licensed professional counselor specializing in trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. Fully licensed in Texas and New Jersey, she is committed to your mental health journey with compassionate, professional care.
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No commute. No waiting rooms. Schedule therapy sessions that fit your work and family commitments, with evening and weekend appointments available. Online counseling makes mental health support accessible when you need it most.
FAQs
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Online therapy (also called teletherapy or telehealth counseling) is a form of mental health treatment conducted remotely using secure video calls. A licensed therapist provides the same kinds of support they would in person—including talk therapy, coping strategies, and treatment plans—but through an online platform.
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Life happens! If you need to reschedule or cancel, just let us know as soon as possible. Our policy requires 24-hour notice to avoid a late cancellation fee, and we'll always do our best to find a new time that works for you.
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Yes, for many people and many mental health conditions, research shows that online therapy can be just as effective as traditional in-person therapy. Studies have found comparable outcomes for conditions like:
Generalized anxiety disorder
Major depressive disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Relationship and stress-related concerns
A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis published in JMIR Mental Health found that psychiatric treatment conducted via telemedicine showed comparable effectiveness to in-person modality for posttraumatic stress disorder, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders.
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Yes. Online therapy uses HIPAA-compliant platforms to ensure confidentiality. Many people feel safer starting trauma therapy from the comfort of their own home.
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Your first session is usually focused on getting to know each other and setting goals. Common steps include:
Reviewing confidentiality and how online therapy works
Discussing your concerns, history, and what brought you to therapy
Setting short- and long-term goals
Testing the technology (e.g., audio/video, comfort with the platform)
Asking any questions about the therapist's approach
You won't have to share everything at once—it's okay to go at your own pace.
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Online therapy may be a good fit if you:
Prefer the convenience of home sessions or have mobility or scheduling challenges
Feel comfortable communicating over video or phone
Want access to more therapist options outside your immediate area
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Not unless you want to. Some trauma therapies (like EMDR) don't require you to share every detail. You are always in control of what you share and when.
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A therapist can help you understand your symptoms and whether they meet the criteria for PTSD. Either way, if trauma is affecting your life, you deserve support.
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Yes, in many cases. Most major insurance plans in Texas and New Jersey cover online therapy (telehealth) similarly to in-person sessions, especially since coverage expanded after the COVID-19 pandemic. Coverage depends on your specific plan—co-pays, deductibles, and in-network requirements may still apply.
To learn more about our accepted insurance plans and self-pay rates, visit our Rates & Insurance page.
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Yes. Your privacy is very important to us. All sessions are conducted on a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform to ensure that your information and conversations remain completely confidential.
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Find a quiet, private space where you feel comfortable and won't be interrupted. It can help to have a notebook or something to drink nearby, and most importantly… just come as you are! There's no need to prepare anything special.
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Most clients start with weekly sessions to build consistency and momentum. As you begin to feel more grounded and confident, we can adjust the frequency to fit your needs and goals.
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That's common. Trauma can affect memory. Therapy focuses on how trauma is affecting you now, not on recovering every memory.