PTSD & Trauma Treatment: Evidence-Based Approaches That Lead to Healing
You've been carrying this for too long.
Maybe it was a car accident. Maybe it was childhood trauma. Maybe it was something that happened in a relationship. Whatever it was, the past won't stay in the past.
You get flashbacks that make you feel like you're right back there. You avoid places or situations that remind you of what happened. You feel on edge all the time or maybe you feel numb—disconnected from everyone around you.
You might be wondering if this is just how life is now.
Here's the truth: You don't have to live with trauma symptoms forever. Trauma treatment actually works.
Does Trauma Therapy Really Work?
Yes. Trauma therapy is one of the most researched areas in mental health. We know what works and we know how to help people heal.
At Aspire Counseling, we track our clients' progress using standardized measures. For people who came to us with PTSD symptoms, their scores dropped from an average of 30.8 at the start of treatment to 14.09 at 20 weeks. That's an effect size of .93, which researchers consider excellent.
What does that mean in real life? It means people who couldn't sleep because of nightmares started sleeping through the night. People who avoided driving after an accident got back behind the wheel. People who felt like they'd never be okay again started to feel like themselves.
Trauma treatment doesn't erase what happened. But it helps you process what happened so it doesn't control your life anymore.
What Do Trauma Symptoms Actually Look Like?
Trauma shows up differently for everyone, but there are common patterns.
Intrusive memories and flashbacks. Your brain brings you back to the traumatic event when you don't want to go there. It might be vivid flashbacks or nightmares that wake you up in a panic.
Avoidance. You stay away from people, places, or things that remind you of the trauma. Maybe you avoid certain streets after an accident or can't watch certain TV shows.
Hypervigilance. You're constantly scanning for danger. You startle easily and have trouble relaxing. You feel like you're waiting for the next bad thing to happen.
Feeling detached or numb. You feel disconnected from people you care about. You have trouble feeling positive emotions.
Negative thoughts. Trauma often changes how you see things. You might think "I'm not safe," "I can't trust anyone," or "It was my fault."
If any of this sounds familiar, you're not alone. And you don't have to keep living this way.
What Kind of Therapy Helps with Trauma and PTSD?
At Aspire Counseling, we use specific evidence-based treatments for trauma. These aren't general talk therapy approaches—they're specialized methods designed to help your brain process traumatic memories.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) uses bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements) to help your brain reprocess traumatic memories. Many of our therapists use EMDR as a primary treatment. One of our therapists, Alison, was skeptical until she tried it herself after falls from horseback riding. After two reprocessing sessions, she was able to ride and jump again. The memories were still there, but no longer triggered the same intense fear.
CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy) helps you understand how trauma has affected your thoughts and beliefs. You'll identify and challenge thoughts that keep you stuck—like shame, guilt, or beliefs that you're not safe. CPT is highly structured and focuses on changing how you think about the trauma.
TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is the gold standard for children and teens. Our TF-CBT trained therapists work with kids ages 10 and up to process trauma in age-appropriate ways.
Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) are additional approaches we sometimes use. PE gradually helps you face avoided memories and situations. IFS helps you understand different parts of yourself that developed in response to trauma.
Your therapist will help you choose the approach that fits your specific situation.
Will I Have to Talk About What Happened?
This is one of the most common fears about trauma therapy. The answer depends on which treatment you choose.
With EMDR, you don't have to describe the trauma in detail. You'll think about it during reprocessing, but you don't have to tell the whole story out loud.
With CPT, you'll eventually write about what happened, but your therapist helps you build up to that. It won't happen in the first session.
With PE, you will talk about the trauma in detail as part of treatment. But this is gradual and your therapist guides you through it.
Will Treatment Make It Worse?
Another common fear is that therapy will make symptoms worse. While trauma work can be emotionally difficult, research shows it doesn't make PTSD worse. People who push through the difficult parts see the best results.
Your therapist will teach you coping skills before diving into trauma processing. You'll learn grounding techniques, ways to calm your nervous system, and strategies to handle difficult emotions.
Think of it like physical therapy after an injury. It might hurt while you're doing the exercises, but that temporary discomfort is part of the healing process.
What If I Need Help Faster?
For some people, weekly therapy feels too slow. If you're struggling with severe PTSD symptoms and need relief faster, we offer a trauma therapy intensive program.
Our CPT-based intensive is one week long. You'll meet with a trauma therapist twice a day for focused treatment, complete daily homework, and have access to skill-building resources and meditation support. This concentrated approach helps jumpstart healing. While continued therapy afterward is beneficial, many people experience significant relief from nightmares, flashbacks, and other PTSD symptoms within that first week.
Getting Started with Trauma Treatment in Missouri
If trauma is controlling your life, you don't have to keep carrying it alone. At Aspire Counseling, our therapists are trained in evidence-based trauma treatments that work.
We offer trauma therapy at both our Lee's Summit and Columbia, MO locations, plus online therapy for anyone in Missouri. Whether you're interested in EMDR, CPT, or another approach, we'll help you find the right fit.
Here's how to start:
Reach out to our team online or by calling 573-328-2288
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation to talk about your concerns and see if we're a good match
Get matched with a Missouri trauma therapist who can help you begin healing
You've survived what happened. Now it's time to heal from it.
About the Author
Jessica Oliver, MSW, LCSW is the founder and Clinical Director of Aspire Counseling. She opened the practice in 2017 with a commitment to providing evidence-based trauma and anxiety treatment in a warm, affirming environment. Jessica is trained in multiple trauma treatment modalities, including CPT and EMDR. She's particularly passionate about her trauma therapy intensive program, which allows her to provide concentrated, effective treatment to people who need help fast. Jessica believes that trauma survivors don't just deserve to feel better—they deserve to thrive.
