PTSD & Trauma Therapy near Houston in League City, The Woodlands & Midland TX
It’s happening again. Feelings I can’t predict or explain, bubble to the surface and take over my body.
A crushing sense of dread. Tightness in my body, as if all my muscles are knotted together. My emotions are heightened: I feel agitated, tearful, on the edge of losing control. Sometimes I feel like I have to disconnect entirely because experiencing these feelings is just too much. It doesn’t matter where I am, or who I am with, it’s like something is always lurking under the surface, ready to explode out of me and leave me reeling.
Trauma can make you feel like a prisoner in your own mind. Like your body is turning on itself as it alternates between rushing with adrenaline and shutting down completely.
You don’t understand why you feel so panicked and on alert, just sitting on the sidelines of your child’s soccer game, at your desk at work, or even at home trying to relax at the end of the day. You can’t always be sure what triggered the feelings this time, but you feel the fear and alarm rising within you. Your stomach roils with anxiety, your heart pounds within your chest, you struggle to swallow as if your throat is shrinking, your shoulders and neck stiffen with tension, and your head aches.
Dealing with these feelings has been difficult and complicated. Maybe you’ve tried distraction through numbing your mind with screens, or filling every moment with activity to keep your thoughts occupied. You may have turned to self-medicating, substance use, compulsive spending, or other outlets to avoid the full weight of what you’re feeling inside. You just want to feel like yourself again, without the sensation of your body being locked into the same old painful cycle you’ve been running from.
You’ve had a hard time admitting it to yourself, but you’re not okay. Your mind tries so hard to forget, but your body keeps score. It remembers the experiences that shook you to your core, that broke you in ways you struggle to acknowledge, and changed your view of the world as a safe place to one of hidden dangers. Your body is only trying to protect you, but as it holds onto the trauma, it also holds you back from healing. You need relief, a release, a reset. .
Restore the balance in your mind and body as you break the connection between your brain and past trauma.
You’re resilient. You’ve pushed through experiences, toxic relationships, and hardships that have changed you, but do not have to define you. You have carried yourself through these difficulties and found ways to live with the aftershocks. You should be proud of the way you have navigated the obstacles you’ve faced. The responses your mind and body created to protect you did their job by protecting you and sustaining you through these challenges. But now, it is time to lay your burdens down. You don’t need to carry this weight anymore.
It’s time to stop surviving, and start living!
Life can be hard, but it doesn’t have to feel hard all the time. Therapy can help you to explore, process, and move past the stuck feeling of holding onto past trauma. Your body and mind can let go of the trauma-responses that leave you feeling exhausted, anxious, and hopeless. You can enjoy peace in your day to day life, without fearing that you could be taken back to that painful experience at any moment.
For you, relief may look like feeling comfortable in your own skin. You can breathe freely again, the tightness and tension have loosened their grasp on your body. Your mind is open to possibilities and new experiences as you are no longer hostage to crippling episodes of fear and worry. You can enjoy the intimacy and vulnerability of fulfilling relationships with others, knowing you can let your guard down and connect without being hindered by doubt and insecurity.
We can help you quieten the noise in your head and soothe the chaos in your body.
Connect with us today for a free consultation to discover how we can help you break the cycle of trauma and begin healing from your past, as you make space for a beautiful future ahead.
What Healing Can Look Like
Imagine a life where:
You can get through the day without constantly looking over your shoulder or feeling on edge.
Flashbacks and nightmares lose their grip on you, and you finally feel safe in your own body.
You’re able to stay present—enjoying moments with loved ones without being pulled back into the past.
You trust yourself again, knowing you have the tools to manage the hard days.
You can breathe deeply, rest fully, and begin to feel like yourself again.
Healing takes time, and it’s not always easy, but it’s possible. Together, we can create a safe space to work through the pain. Whether that’s using EMDR to reprocess painful memories, learning grounding techniques to stay present, or just giving you a place to talk without judgment, we’ll take it one step at a time
What Are Symptoms of Trauma?
Anxiety
Intense Fear
Change in Sleep
Emotional Numbing
Change in Behavior
Change in Appetite
Withdrawing from loved ones
Nightmares
Exhaustion
Traumatic Events
Pandemics such as Covid-19
Illness
Grief, loss of someone or something
Job Loss
Betrayal trauma
Abuse
(sexually, physically, mentally and/or emotionally)
Witnessing an accident
Caregiving
Sexual Assault
Chronic Stress
Addiction
Natural disasters (such as earthquake, flood, tornado)
Man made disasters (such as bombings)
Violent person attacks (such as mugging, kidnap or being held captive)
Shock Trauma
Signs of Emotional Abuse
If you’re wondering whether it’s happening to you, here are some of the
signs:
- Yelling at you
- Name-calling
- Spewing insults or otherwise ridiculing you
- Attempting to make you question your own sanity (gaslighting)
- Invading your privacy
- Punishing you for not going along with what they want
- Trying to control your life
- Isolating you from family and friends
- Making subtle or overt threats
- Expectations of you are never met (unrealistic)
- They create chaos
- Humiliate you in public
- Treats you like a possession or property
Sexual Abuse
One in six women and one in 33 men in the U.S. has been raped or been the victim of attempted rape. After being sexually assaulted, it can be difficult to know where to turn for help. It is just as important to get help for the emotional impact of sexual assault as it is to receive care for physical wounds. Even if they think they are coping well, survivors of sexual assault often experience self-blame, lowered self-esteem, panic attacks, eating disorders, difficulty sleeping and concentrating, and problems with work and
social interactions. The National Women’s Study found that 30% of rape survivors suffer from depression. Rape survivors are also at an increased risk for suicide and drug abuse. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and fear are common among rape survivors. Interestingly, therapies that were designed to help soldiers with PTSD are now being used to help victims of
sexual assault. Symptoms Include:
- Intrusive re-experiencing (through memories or reminders) of the assault
- Avoidance of trauma-related stimuli or reminders
- Alterations in thoughts and mood (negative thinking and depressed, anxious, or angry mood)
- Increased arousal and reactivity (anxiety, hypervigilance, irritability, easily startle)
You might be in denial at first. It can be shocking to find yourself in such a situation. It’s natural to hope you’re wrong. It is common to feel confused, fearful, hopeless and shame. This emotional toll can also result
in behavioral and physical side effects. You may experience:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Moodiness
- Muscle tension
- Nightmares
- Racing heartbeat
- Various aches and pains
Types of Trauma Disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A disorder in which
a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a
terrifying event. The condition may last months or years, with triggers that
can bring back memories of the trauma accompanied by intense emotional and
physical reactions. Symptoms may include nightmares or unwanted memories of the
trauma, avoidance of situations that bring back memories of the trauma,
heightened reactions, anxiety, or depressed mood. Treatment includes different
types of trauma-focused psychotherapy as well as medications to manage
symptoms.
Acute stress disorder (ASD): is an intense, unpleasant, and
dysfunctional reaction beginning shortly after an overwhelming traumatic event
and lasting less than a month. If symptoms persist longer than a month, people
are diagnosed as having post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Adjustment disorders: is a group of symptoms, such as
stress, feeling sad or hopeless, and physical symptoms that can occur after you
go through a stressful life event. The symptoms occur because you are having a
hard time coping. Your reaction is stronger than expected for the type of event
that occurred.
Reactive attachment disorder (RAD): is described in
clinical literature as a severe and relatively uncommon disorder that can
affect children. RAD is characterized by markedly disturbed and developmentally
inappropriate ways of relating socially in most contexts.
Specific treatment for PTSD will be
determined by your individual circumstances:
Age
Overall Health
Medical History
Severity of Disease
Tolerance of Medications
Tolerance of Therapies
Your Expectations
Your Preference
Tolerance of Procedures
PTSD TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR YOU
Treatment for trauma includes cognitive-behavioral therapy which helps
process and evaluate thoughts and feelings about a trauma. A number of
psychotherapy approaches have been designed with the treatment of trauma , such
as EMDR therapy, mindfulness techniques, as well as
Cognitive- behavioral Treatment (CPT).
Treatment Benefits:
- Help you calm and soothe yourself
- Increase your awareness of, and access to, inner strengths and outside resources
- Process specific memories, through carefully guided talk and/or writing
- Challenge yourself to reconnect and do non-dangerous things you have been avoiding since the traumatic event(s)
- Challenge trauma-based thinking, so that you can restore a healthy mental framework for living
- Make meaning of what happened and how it has affected your deepest self and your family
- Reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety
- Increase a personal sense of confidence and competence
- Regain your quality of life, including enhanced relationships with others, greater activity level, and more positive and stable mood
- Reduce, if not eliminate, trauma-reaction symptoms/symptoms of PTSD
Frequently Asked Questions
If I’ve experienced a traumatic event, does that mean I have PTSD?
Not necessarily. Experiencing a traumatic event can lead to stress or emotional challenges, but not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). Many people recover and adapt after a traumatic experience, while others may continue to struggle with symptoms such as flashbacks, intense fear, or emotional distress. PTSD occurs when these symptoms persist and interfere with daily life for an extended period of time. If you’re unsure or concerned about your experience, a therapist can help assess whether PTSD is present and guide you through the healing process.
What is PTSD therapy and how does it differ from general trauma therapy?
PTSD therapy specifically targets the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which may include flashbacks, intense fear, emotional numbness, and intrusive thoughts. PTSD therapy often uses specialized approaches like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help process and desensitize traumatic memories. While trauma therapy focuses broadly on healing from trauma, PTSD therapy addresses the specific symptoms and difficulties that arise from PTSD.
What is the trauma therapy process, and what can I expect during treatment?
Assessment: We’ll begin by exploring your history of trauma and any related symptoms.
Processing: We’ll work through challenging emotions and memories, often using techniques like CBT, EMDR, or mindfulness.
Stabilization: We’ll focus on building coping strategies and grounding techniques to help manage overwhelming feelings.
Integration: You’ll learn to integrate these experiences in a way that promotes healing and reduces the impact of trauma.
Throughout the process, I’ll provide support and tools tailored to your specific needs to guide you toward greater resilience and well-being.
Is there a trauma therapist near me?
It depends where you are, we have offices in League City, The Woodlands, and Midland TX. We do offer virtual sessions in Texas & South Dakota.
I’ve heard of EMDR—why is it so popular, and do you provide it?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a highly effective therapy for trauma and PTSD. It’s popular because research has shown that it can help individuals process and heal from distressing memories, reducing the intensity of symptoms like flashbacks, anxiety, and emotional distress. EMDR uses structured eye movements or other bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories in a safe and supportive way.
Yes, most of us provide EMDR as part of my trauma therapy services to help individuals heal from the effects of trauma and PTSD.
Begin Trauma and PTSD therapy near
Houston, The Woodlands & League City, Midland TX
Our compassionate therapists, support and assist
clients to connect with their authentic self and learn to love, not hate,
themselves. Also, behaviors will be evaluated that are not currently working
for them. We utilize multiple therapy modalities based on the client’s
personality and problem. The therapy modalities are all research-based and are
showing success based on the particular problems and the client.
Our greatest desire at Therapy for Families is to help each individual
feel comfortable and hopeful about their therapy process.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. We also offer a free
consultation to help assess how therapy can benefit you and help you
to feel peace and happiness again.
Make the Next Step!
1 Reach Out
Schedule a free consultation by texting or calling 281-819-0308 or filling out the form below to learn more about us, ask questions, and see if you would like to move forward!
2 Begin The Healing
Experience the healing experience of therapy, where you can show up just as you are knowing we will do the same!
3 Discover Meaningful Support & Goals on your Treatment Plan
Begin leaving a peaceful and fulfilling life you deserve- free from past pain & connecting with who you were meant to be!