Finding Great Trauma Therapy/PTSD Treatment in the Kansas City Area
Living with PTSD can be overwhelming and isolating, but it’s important to know that you don’t have to go through it alone. Seeking professional help from a trauma therapist can help you process your trauma and improve your overall well-being. If you live in the greater Kansas City area, you may be wondering where to start when it comes to finding trauma therapy services. In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of finding a specialist, provide tips for finding a trauma therapist in Kansas City, and offer advice on assessing fit with a potential therapist or program.
The Importance of Finding a Trauma Specialist
When it comes to treating PTSD, finding a therapist who specializes in trauma therapy is essential. Trauma therapy is a specialized area of mental health treatment that focuses on helping individuals who have experienced traumatic events. Trauma therapists have specialized training and experience in treating PTSD and other trauma-related disorders. They use evidence-based treatments such as EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Prolonged Exposure Therapy, which have been proven effective in treating PTSD symptoms.
Seeing a general therapist who does not specialize in trauma therapy can be helpful for some individuals. However, if you have been diagnosed with PTSD or are experiencing symptoms related to a traumatic event, it is important to seek out a specialist. Trauma therapists are trained to help you process your trauma in a safe and supportive environment.
Specific Things to Consider When Looking for a Trauma Therapist:
Find a Therapist Who Uses Evidence-Based Treatments for PTSD
It's essential to find a trauma therapist who uses evidence-based treatments like EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy, or Prolonged Exposure. These treatments have been proven to be effective in treating PTSD symptoms.
I consider PTSD one of the sub-specialties of mental health that really requires help from a specialist. PTSD treatment is nuanced and intense. Most therapists you see in a therapist directory have had some sort of trauma class and know the basics about how trauma impacts people. I would even argue most therapists are trauma-informed.
But, when your trauma is really holding you back from doing the things that matter to you and your PTSD symptoms need to be directly targeted, it’s important to find someone who works with trauma day in and day out. Those who have experience treating trauma are going to know the right questions to ask and will have the right interventions to help you start healing faster.
Look for a Trauma Therapist Who is Compassionate
It's important to find a therapist who is compassionate, empathetic, and understanding of your experiences. You should feel comfortable with them and feel like you can trust them to guide you toward healing.
I’m going, to be honest here that they may not always feel “compassionate” during the actual work. After all, they’re asking you to face the worst moments of your life. But you need to be able to tell that they truly care about you. That they “get” what’s important to you. That your feeling better is important to them. This will help you build a strong therapeutic relationship with them, and research is clear that having that bond is important for your healing.
These things are important so you can feel emotionally safe opening up and being vulnerable with them. Because let’s be honest, it can feel incredibly vulnerable to talk about these things. And trauma therapists know that. We feel honored to sit with you as you process things you may have never spoken aloud about. We don’t take the responsibility of being your safe space lightly.
Consider Your Insurance Coverage
When searching for a trauma therapist, it's important to consider your insurance coverage and your finances.
More and more therapists aren’t in a network with insurance companies. This can especially be true for trauma specialists who do extensive training and often meet with you for more than the standard once a week for 50 minutes. Seeing a trauma therapist out of network is often important if you’re treating intense PTSD and you can read all about the reasons we don’t accept insurance here. But I also know cost can be a barrier, so make sure to ask about costs early on in the process of seeking PTSD treatment.
Look for Evidence-Based Trauma Treatment Approaches
There are several evidence-based treatments that have been shown to be effective in treating trauma, including EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE). Look for a therapist who is trained and experienced in these specific trauma treatment approaches to ensure that you receive the most effective treatment for your symptoms.
This is not an exhaustive list. There are other forms of therapy that are shown effective for PTSD. So, it’s less a matter of the “what” type of trauma therapy they’re offering and more a matter of making sure they have something specific to directly target your PTSD. Ask for a simple explanation of their approach and make sure you feel comfortable with that.
Check for Licensure and Credentials
Make sure any potential therapist you consider is licensed in the state of Missouri (or Kansas if you’re on that side) and has proper credentials.
This can provide additional reassurance that they have completed the necessary education, training, and supervised experience to practice therapy effectively
Don't Expect to Feel Good After Every Session
It’s important that we acknowledge that processing trauma can be emotionally difficult and may not always feel "good" at the moment. In fact, sometimes trauma symptoms get worse before they get better. When you start to take a closer look at the trauma, it can feel overwhelming. And the right therapist will support you through this “worse” part so you can get to the “better” part.
Have Hope
PTSD can be a challenging and difficult condition, but it is important to have hope for recovery.
Effective trauma therapy can significantly improve symptoms and help individuals regain a sense of control and well-being in their lives.
Honestly, this is why I love doing trauma work. It’s transformative. It helps people gain control over their lives. I love watching the healing that can come from this work. Yes, it’s hard. Trauma therapy is really, really hard. Just know, that it works. People get better.
I’ve worked with clients who feared they would never feel good or safe again. I’ve sat with clients who had such shame and anger (often at the same time even) about what happened that they felt like they were broken beyond repair. And, I’ve had the honor of seeing those clients get better. I’ve seen those clients find healing and find new ways to move forward in their lives.
Questions to Ask Potential Therapists or PTSD Treatment Programs
It’s important that you find a program or therapist you feel really good working with. Here are some questions you may want to ask:
What is your experience with treating trauma?
What specific trauma treatment approaches are you trained and experienced in?
What is your approach to therapy and how do you tailor it to each individual's needs?
How do you prioritize safety and emotional regulation during therapy sessions?
What is the expected frequency and duration of therapy?
What are the costs and payment options for therapy?
How do you measure progress and success in therapy?
Take Action and Make a Trauma Therapy Appointment
Once you have identified potential trauma therapists in the Kansas City area, take action and make an appointment. Remember that finding the right therapist may take time and patience, but the benefits of effective trauma therapy can be life-changing.
If you’re in Missouri, the team at Aspire Counseling would love to help. Our therapists are specially trained to treat trauma. We believe in the power of psychotherapy to heal past wounds and every single member of my team has been trained in at least one (often more than one) evidence-based treatment for trauma. We’re also able to help with anxiety, depression, grief, and other things that often come with trauma. But trauma is our passion. We offer traditional individual therapy (often once or twice a week depending on the approach we’re using) but also a new trauma therapy intensive.
Final Thoughts
Trauma therapy is a crucial step in managing and reducing PTSD symptoms. By utilizing the resources and tips listed above, individuals in the Kansas City area can find the right trauma therapist to help them on their healing journey. Remember that true recovery is possible and that taking the first step toward trauma therapy is a courageous and powerful decision.
Ready to Join Us for a Trauma Therapy Intensive in Lee’s Summit, MO?
Are you ready to make significant progress toward feeling better? If you’re ready to work intensely with an individual therapist through our trauma therapy intensives, we’re ready to help. You can call our practice (573-328-2288) or fill out our contact form to start the process. Our client care team can tell you when the next available opening is, answer any questions and if you’d like can set you up with a quick free call with one of our clinicians just to make sure it’s the right fit
Living with the aftermath of trauma is hard. You didn’t want that to happen. But it did. And now, you can’t keep living this way. It’s time for a change. There is hope. You can feel better. And our experienced, compassionate trauma therapists want to help.
Other Mental Health Supports at Aspire Counseling
Aspire Counseling offers a variety of other mental health supports for people in Missouri. We offer in-person counseling both in Lee’s Summit and Columbia, MO. While we specialize in counseling for anxiety and PTSD treatment, we can help with a wide range of other concerns as well. We generally see children aged 10 through retirement age. And we have therapists with various specialties including disordered eating, depression, grief, gender-affirming care, and OCD treatment.
In addition to our Trauma Therapy Intensive, Aspire Counseling offers many other therapy services related directly to overcoming trauma. These services include the following: