Trauma and PTSD are not signs of weakness. They are natural responses to experiences that were genuinely overwhelming — and with the right support, healing is possible. This page is here to help you understand what trauma is, what recovery can look like, and how to find a therapist who truly gets it.
By the numbers:
70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime
20M Americans are living with PTSD in any given year
With the right therapy, most people with PTSD improve significantly — many experience lasting relief
What trauma can feel like
Trauma doesn't always look the way we expect it to. It isn't only about dramatic events — it can come from anything that felt deeply unsafe, overwhelming, or out of your control. And it doesn't always stay in the past. For many people, it shows up in the present in ways that are hard to explain.
It might be nightmares or flashbacks. It might be feeling constantly on edge, or completely numb. It might be pulling away from people you love, or struggling to trust. It might be exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix, or a quiet sense that something inside you has shifted and you don't know how to get back.
If any of that feels familiar, please know — these are recognized responses to what you went through. They are not character flaws. They are not permanent. And you deserve support.
"Your therapist should empower you and welcome you as a collaborator in your therapy. It is crucial that you feel safe in your therapeutic relationship."
Susanne M. Dillmann, PsyD — GoodTherapy trauma specialist contributorExperiences therapy can help with
Trauma comes in many forms. You don't need a formal diagnosis to deserve help — if something has affected you, that's enough.
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) from prolonged or repeated trauma
Childhood trauma or abuse
Sexual trauma or assault
Military trauma and combat-related PTSD
Secondary or vicarious trauma (including military spouses and caregivers)
Grief and traumatic loss
Accident, medical, or disaster-related trauma
How therapy helps
A trauma-informed therapist doesn't push you to relive what happened before you're ready. They work at your pace, helping you feel safe first — then gently, carefully helping you process what's been carried for so long. The goal isn't to erase the past. It's to loosen its grip on your present.
EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
One of the most well-researched trauma treatments. EMDR helps the brain process traumatic memories without requiring you to talk through every detail. Many people experience significant relief in fewer sessions than traditional therapy.
CPT — Cognitive Processing Therapy
Helps you examine the beliefs that trauma created — about yourself, others, and the world — and gently work toward more balanced ways of seeing things. Particularly effective for PTSD.
Somatic therapy
Trauma lives in the body as much as the mind. Somatic approaches help you reconnect with physical sensations safely, releasing what the body has been holding onto.
Trauma-focused CBT
Combines cognitive and behavioral strategies specifically adapted for trauma — helping you understand the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and responses, and gradually building a sense of safety.
Read more from our therapists
These articles are written by licensed therapists who work with trauma every day.
Michael Mason, M.Ed., LPC — on PTSD, complex trauma, and the path from surviving to thriving
Susanne M. Dillmann, PsyD — a clear overview of the most effective trauma treatment options
On secondary trauma, vicarious trauma, and why the people who support others need support too
Lillian Palachi, LMHC — why wellness practices fall short for trauma, and what evidence-based therapy actually does differently
Healing isn't linear — but it does start somewhere.
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