Trauma Therapy in Houston

PTSD is often linked to a single event, while CPTSD commonly develops after prolonged or repeated trauma, such as childhood trauma, chronic neglect, or ongoing interpersonal trauma. CPTSD may also involve persistent shame, relationship difficulties, and long-term emotional dysregulation. Learn more here: CPTSD vs PTSD.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a evidence-based psychotherapy used to help people process traumatic memories safely. It can reduce the emotional intensity of triggers, intrusive thoughts, and distressing memories, while strengthening adaptive beliefs and coping. This modality involves movement of the eyes in a specific way while processing traumatic memories. The goal of EMDR therapy is to help the individual heal from traumatic events or other distress. It can reduce the emotional intensity of triggers, intrusive thoughts, and distressing memories, while strengthening adaptive beliefs and coping. Learn more here: EMDR.

The effects of trauma can be unbearable and leave the individual unable to cope with daily life In turn, the person may resort to abusing drugs and alcohol to “numb” the pain. This method of self-medication can quickly spiral out of control and result in an addiction.

When both an addiction and a mental health condition co-occur, this is known as a dual diagnosis.

Yes. Trauma can affect mood, sleep, threat response, and emotional regulation. Some people experience anxiety or depression after trauma, and some use substances to cope with symptoms. When trauma overlaps with addiction or another mental health condition, treatment is most effective when both are addressed together.

What happens during a trauma therapy session depends on your specific situation and the type of therapy implemented. In some therapies, you will reprocess traumatic events. Other therapeutic modalities will involve self-expression. Others will incorporate self-talk.

No matter the type of therapy for trauma, you will work through the traumatic events and develop coping mechanisms to help you overcome the distress and duress experienced as a result of the trauma.

Everyone feels different after trauma therapy. Some people feel an immediate sense of relief, even after their first therapy session. Other people feel a sense of sadness, anxiety, or depression as they recount distressing events. Both of these are completely normal responses to your first experience in trauma therapy.

Trauma therapy is not a one-time fix. It takes time to work through trauma and develop the coping skills necessary to return to a normal disposition.

Outpatient care can be a strong fit if you are medically stable and need structured therapy while maintaining work, school, or family responsibilities. The right level (PHP, IIP, IOP, or OP) depends on symptom severity, safety, functional impairment, and co-occurring needs. We help you decide after a brief clinical assessment.

Both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (C-PTSD) are a result of experiencing extreme stress, but there are key differentiators in their root cause.

PTSD may be caused by a single traumatic event, while C-PTSD is a result of ongoing trauma that lasts for months or years. C-PTSD can be a result of chronic childhood abuse or neglect, an abusive romantic relationship, or a high-stress career surrounded by death and disease, such as that of a pediatric oncologist.

Both forms of PTSD require holistic, individualized treatment and the guidance of a trauma-informed therapist for the best chance at lifelong healing.

There is no one singular treatment that is the best therapy for PTSD. Everyone responds to trauma differently, as well as responds to trauma therapies differently. Some people will find that talk therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is most helpful while others will find adjunct therapies such as EMDR, Trauma-informed yoga, or Neurofeedback more helpful.

The best treatment for trauma is the one that works for you as an individual. At The Heights, your care team will create a treatment plan that fits your unique situation so that your therapies are as conducive to your recovery as possible.

If there is an immediate emergency, call 911. If you are concerned about suicide or self-harm, call or text 988 in the U.S. for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.