Book a session with a therapist or psychiatry provider near you
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
Discover how starting trauma therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
Look for a confirmation email in your inbox shortly. We’ll help find you a provider and guide you through everything you should know about starting care at Thriveworks.
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Toni:
My primary approach for helping clients with trauma (including PTSD) is EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing). However, I try to tailor my therapeutic approach to my clients' needs and incorporate other treatment theories and methods as appropriate, including polyvagal theory, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral theory, and person-centered therapy. My primary goal is to help clients feel supported and understood and to assist them in recovering a sense of security and safety.
Christin:
When treating individuals impacted by trauma, my go-to approaches are DBT, TF-CBT, CPT, and EMDR. The benefit of having different ways to approach trauma is that I can better meet my clients' needs. EMDR is helpful but doesn't work for everyone; DBT is a wonderful therapy, but some people have used it before and needed more support. I find CPT to benefit those who are very logical-minded.
Toni:
I teach my clients mindfulness coping strategies, including breath work, grounding exercises, meditation, and guided visualizations. I also teach cognitive strategies, including using self-talk to challenge negative automatic thoughts, cognitive distortions, and irrational beliefs.
Christin:
I encourage my clients to use mindful breathing from DBT, grounding, and a safe place to help manage triggers and their emotions.
Toni:
I know that a client is making meaningful progress addressing their trauma when they notice fewer triggers in their daily lives, i.e., they are better able to regulate their emotions and have fewer negative thoughts and somatic symptoms when faced with reminders of their trauma.
Christin:
The thing that lets me know someone is doing better is when they tell me how they used a skill or will have fewer tears or fear during sessions. I really notice when they tell me that they feel better.
Toni:
I often recommend that clients supplement trauma therapy during their personal time by engaging in meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, and other mindfulness strategies. I also believe that healthy social connections and engagement are very beneficial.
Christin:
I encourage you to use your breath, listen to your favorite “happy music mix,” and have a place in nature to visit when things are tough.
Toni:
To prepare for the first session to address trauma, I want potential clients to know that they don't have to share more than they are comfortable sharing at any given moment. The first step is to feel as safe and secure in the therapy room as possible and to trust that you will be heard, understood, and cared for. If someone wants specific information about EMDR therapy, I recommend going to the website EMDRIA.org.
Christin:
Before you start PTSD/trauma treatment, write down why you are starting therapy. Be open with your therapist.
Trauma therapy is a therapeutic approach that focuses on treating the psychological impact of traumatic events on individuals. Trauma therapy helps people process and heal from their trauma by guiding them through their trauma in a compassionate and supportive way, allowing clients to feel the full scope of what happened to them and eventually move on from the event(s). This process helps people who have experienced trauma find ways to feel safe in their lives.
Trauma therapy will often require individuals to walk through their experiences in a controlled and compassionate setting (unless the client has a dissociative disorder) so that they can fully process the event, an activity that will allow them to move on from what happened and feel safe again. Thriveworks Richmond therapists will also help clients learn healthy coping mechanisms to deal with their symptoms outside of therapy.
Thriveworks trauma counseling in Richmond, VA is conducted both in person and online through online therapy. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
If an individual is working through a single event that occurred during adulthood, they may only need a few months of treatment. However, in instances of childhood trauma or repeated traumatic events, therapy may continue over the course of years. Trauma therapy usually ends when the client believes they have met their therapeutic goals, however long that takes to occur. Thriveworks therapists in Richmond, VA will continue to provide care for as long as necessary to help clients meet their therapeutic needs.
If you have experienced a difficult or terrifying life event, you might not realize it, but you may be suffering from trauma. If this resonates with you and you think you could benefit from talking to a professional, reach out to Thriveworks Richmond for help. We have trauma therapists who are ready to help you as early as this week.
Trauma is an emotional response to an experience, such a violent act, the death of a loved one, or a natural disaster. Trauma can lead to chronic fear, anxiety, feelings of powerlessness, difficulty trusting others, a sense of being in constant danger, and feeling like you’re numb inside.
It’s estimated that 41 million emergency room visits each year are related to some form of trauma. The pain you feel is real, often expressing itself through:
There is hope for you. There is help and healing for anyone who has experienced trauma. At Thriveworks, a trained trauma counselor or psychologist can help you reclaim your life. We will work with you to overcome your fear, anxiety, and lack of trust. We can help you find coping skills that will bring back your confidence.
Call us today to schedule an appointment with one of our caring and supportive trauma counselors. You won’t have to wait to receive help. We can offer you an appointment right away, and you can meet with a provider as soon as this week.
We take your insurance and are open at times that are convenient for you. Don’t wait any longer. Don’t let the trauma you’ve experienced control your life any longer. Call (804) 554-0356 to schedule your appointment today.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
Friday | 8:00am - 9:00pm | |
Saturday | 8:00am - 9:00pm | |
Sunday | 8:00am - 9:00pm | |
Monday | 8:00am - 9:00pm | |
Tuesday | 8:00am - 9:00pm | |
Wednesday | 8:00am - 9:00pm | |
Thursday | 8:00am - 9:00pm |
Shown in ET
Friday | 8:00am - 9:30pm | |
Saturday | 8:00am - 6:00pm | |
Sunday | 8:00am - 6:00pm | |
Monday | 8:00am - 9:30pm | |
Tuesday | 8:00am - 9:30pm | |
Wednesday | 8:00am - 9:30pm | |
Thursday | 8:00am - 9:30pm |
Shown in ET
12 photos