Common Concerns · Trauma & PTSD
Therapy for trauma and PTSD, at a pace that feels safe.
Something happened, maybe recently, maybe long ago, and it still shapes how safe you feel, how you sleep and how close you let people get. Trauma responses are your mind's way of trying to protect you. With the right support, they can ease.
Our clinicians use evidence-based trauma therapies and always move at your pace. You decide what to share and when, in English, Mandarin, Cantonese and more, online or in person.
Signs it might be time to talk to someone
Trauma can leave its mark in many ways. You might notice some of these:
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In your mind
- Memories that intrude when you don't want them
- Feeling unsafe, even when you are
- Blaming yourself for what happened
- Feeling numb or detached
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In your body
- Startling easily
- Nightmares or restless sleep
- A racing heart when something reminds you
- Tension that never quite lets go
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In your day
- Avoiding places, people or conversations
- Irritability or sudden anger
- Finding it hard to trust others
- Feeling cut off from people you love
These are normal reactions to experiences that should never have happened. If they've lasted more than a month or are getting in the way of daily life, therapy can help, and you never have to go faster than feels right.
Kinds of trauma we treat
PTSD
Flashbacks, nightmares and feeling on guard long after the danger has passed.
Childhood and complex trauma
The lasting effects of growing up with neglect, abuse or chaos at home.
Accidents and sudden events
Car accidents, medical emergencies, disasters and other moments that shook your sense of safety.
Assault and abuse
Care that is gentle, private and led by you, whenever it happened.
Racial and cultural trauma
The weight of discrimination, hate and the stories carried across generations.
Trauma from work or service
What first responders, healthcare workers and veterans see and carry.
How we help
Your clinician will tailor treatment to you, drawing on trauma therapies with strong research behind them.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Get to know the protective parts of you that formed around painful experiences, and help them heal.
EMDR
Process painful memories so they feel less vivid and less charged.
Trauma-focused CBT
A structured approach for children, teens and adults to make sense of what happened and build coping skills.
Somatic and body-based approaches
Work with how trauma lives in the body, and steady yourself when memories or feelings surge.
Medication, if it might help
Our psychiatric providers can talk with you about whether medication could be part of your plan, alongside therapy.
In the language you think in
Sessions in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean or Spanish, depending on the clinician.
Clinicians who focus on trauma
Each of these clinicians lists trauma among their areas of focus. Look for someone whose languages and approach feel right to you.
See all clinicians who focus on traumaQuestions about trauma therapy
Something else on your mind? Our FAQ covers much more, and our intake team is always happy to talk it through.
Do I have to talk about every detail of what happened?
No. You stay in control of what you share and when. Many trauma therapies begin by building safety and coping skills, and some approaches don't require telling the full story at all.
Is it trauma if it doesn't seem big enough?
Trauma isn't measured by how an event looks from the outside, but by how it affected you. If something still weighs on you, it's worth talking about.
Can trauma therapy make me feel worse at first?
Sometimes facing painful memories brings up strong feelings for a while. Your clinician will go at your pace and help you build ways to stay steady along the way.
Can I have trauma therapy online?
Yes. Many people find it easier to open up from a place where they feel safe. Our clinicians are licensed across 15 states, and you'll need to be in a state where your clinician is licensed at the time of each session.
Can I have sessions in Mandarin or Cantonese?
Yes. Many of our clinicians speak Mandarin, and some speak Cantonese, Korean or Spanish. On Our Team you can filter clinicians by language.
Will my insurance cover trauma therapy?
Often, yes. We work with Lyra Health, Spring Health and Modern Health employee benefits, and with Kaiser when you have an external referral. Some of our clinicians also take plans such as Aetna and Blue Cross through Headway. With any other plan, we send you a superbill each month to claim out-of-network benefits, which typically repay 50 to 80 percent, and FSA and HSA cards are accepted.
Whenever you're ready, we're here.
- Reach outSend us a short message, or call or text (650) 434-2563. We reply within one business day.
- A free 15-minute callOur care team listens, answers your questions about cost and insurance, and suggests clinicians who fit.
- Your first sessionMany people meet their clinician within one to two weeks. The first session is mostly about getting to know each other, at your pace.
If you're in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, please call or text 988 any time, day or night. In an emergency, call 911.
