Trauma Therapy & Assessment
Specialized care for PTSD and related concerns, grounded in research and guided by your goals.
Finding the right care after trauma
If you’re looking for focused treatment for PTSD, substance use connected to trauma, trauma-related guilt and shame, or insomnia, Science for Survivors may be a good fit. I offer specialized, research-supported treatments that can be difficult to find, drawing on my experience studying these approaches and training other therapists to use them.
We’ll choose a treatment together, set clear goals, and plan a time-limited course of care. This approach may appeal to you if you want structured treatment focused on specific changes, a clear understanding of what the work involves, and regular feedback on your progress.
You do not need to know your diagnosis or which treatment you want before reaching out. We’ll begin by understanding your concerns and considering which options best fit your needs.
Specialized treatment options
Finding a therapist who offers a particular treatment can be challenging. Science for Survivors provides access to specialized approaches for PTSD and related concerns, with care informed by my direct involvement in research and clinician training.
My experience with every treatment listed here includes research, training other therapists, or both. This work examines how treatments work, who benefits, how to improve outcomes, and how to deliver them effectively. It informs the care I provide and the recommendations we consider together.
Explore the options below to learn what each treatment involves. You do not need to choose before reaching out—we’ll consider your needs, preferences, and goals together.
Treatment for PTSD
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Examining beliefs shaped by trauma
Trauma can change how you understand yourself, other people, and the world. CPT helps you examine beliefs related to self-blame, safety, trust, control, and intimacy. Together, we’ll work toward a more balanced understanding of what happened and what it means for your life now.
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Approaching trauma memories and reminders
After trauma, avoiding painful memories and reminders is understandable, but it can gradually limit your life. PE helps you process trauma memories and approach safe situations you’ve been avoiding, with guidance during sessions and practice between appointments. The goal is to reduce distress and help you participate more fully in everyday life.
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A brief, writing-based approach to PTSD treatment
If writing feels like a helpful way to approach difficult experiences, WET offers a structured way to work through a trauma memory with support from your therapist. You’ll write during appointments using specific prompts, with the goal of reducing the distress and disruption the memory causes in your life. Treatment typically includes five sessions, with no assignments between appointments.
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Addressing PTSD and substance use together
Alcohol or drugs may offer temporary relief from trauma-related distress while also creating difficulties of their own. COPE addresses PTSD and substance use together, helping you work through trauma, manage cravings, and make changes in your alcohol or drug use.
We’ll talk about your needs and whether weekly treatment with me offers enough support. If you would benefit from additional care, such as medical help to safely reduce or stop substance use, we’ll discuss options for getting that support.
Trauma-related guilt & shame
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Working through trauma-related guilt and moving forward with your values
You may look back and feel you should have known more, acted differently, or prevented what happened. TrIGR helps you consider the fuller picture—including what you knew at the time and the choices available to you—and develop a more balanced understanding of your responsibility. We’ll also identify ways to move forward that reflect your values and what matters to you.
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Developing a kinder relationship with yourself after trauma
You may find it easier to offer understanding to someone else than to yourself. This treatment helps you recognize self-critical patterns and practice responding to yourself with greater compassion. The goal is to make room for painful feelings without adding harsh judgment, while taking meaningful steps toward the life you want.
After trauma, you may find yourself questioning what you did, what you didn’t do, or what the experience says about you. Even when you recognize that you’re being hard on yourself, those feelings can be difficult to change. I offer focused approaches to help you understand and respond differently to guilt, shame, and self-criticism.
Sleep & Insomnia
Sleep difficulties can persist after trauma, even when other symptoms improve.
If you’re not ready to work directly on traumatic experiences, starting with sleep can be a meaningful first step. Research suggests that treating insomnia can also help reduce PTSD symptoms for some people.
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Practical treatment for trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
CBT-I helps you address ongoing difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. It goes beyond general sleep advice: we’ll track your sleep, develop a personalized plan, and work on habits and worries that keep sleep difficult. You’ll practice changes between appointments, with adjustments based on how you’re responding.
Getting Started
We begin with assessment to understand your concerns, clarify what may be contributing to them, and consider which treatment best fits your needs.
This typically includes two 90-minute assessment appointments, followed by a one-hour feedback and treatment-planning appointment. You’ll receive an explanation of the findings, personalized recommendations, and a plan for next steps—whether you begin therapy with me or pursue care elsewhere.
Standalone assessments and written reports are also available.
Healing isn’t quick or easy, but it can be real. Science for Survivors offers evidence-based tools and steady support to help you move forward.
