Trauma Therapy & EMDR

Empowering Healing Through Trauma Therapy & EMDR in San Antonio & Schertz

“Healing involves discomfort-but so does refusing to heal. And, over time, refusing to heal is always more painful.”

Resmaa Menakem

You’re tired of living your life with fear always at the forefront of your mind. You can’t remember the last time you truly felt alive instead of just surviving. It feels like you’re trapped in a nightmare that won’t end; the days change, but the pain doesn’t. You’ve worked so hard to push down your memories and tell yourself that ignoring them means they’ll fade away. But buried pain has a way of resurfacing when you least expect it, pulling you back into the same cycle of fear, shame, or numbness. You’ve tried to move on, yet you still feel stuck, disconnected from others, from yourself, and from the life you want to live. You’re tired of pretending to be okay when you feel anything but. You want to feel free again, and you’re ready for real change.

Our team of skilled EMDR and trauma therapists in San Antonio & Schertz will help you find peace again.

As trauma therapists, we help you face what’s been too painful to face alone. We don’t minimize or rush your story. Instead, we listen, validate, and create a path forward that helps you reclaim control and safety. Together, we’ll focus on helping you rebuild trust in yourself and others, regain a sense of calm, and reconnect to what makes life meaningful. You’ll learn to identify the thoughts and beliefs that have kept you trapped in survival mode, and you’ll begin replacing them with perspectives that support healing and confidence. Our goal is to help you feel grounded, capable, and genuinely alive again.

Trauma Therapy Process

Our therapists are trained in evidence-based trauma treatments, including EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy), TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). Each of these approaches is designed to help you process painful memories, reduce distress, and regain control over your emotions and your story.

In your sessions, we’ll work together to remove the weight of fear, anger, guilt, and unwanted thoughts that have kept you stuck. The early stages of therapy focus on building safety, exploring your trauma history at a pace that feels right for you, and strengthening your ability to regulate emotions. As you begin using new coping skills consistently, we’ll start addressing the traumatic experiences you feel ready to process — helping you lessen emotional reactivity, reduce avoidance, and develop a more balanced and compassionate view of yourself.

When you reach the later stages of trauma therapy, we shift toward reconnection, rebuilding your sense of purpose, reengaging with relationships, and helping you feel ready to live, not just survive.

Take the Next Step to Heal with Trauma Therapy in San Antonio & Schertz

Starting trauma therapy can feel intimidating, especially if you’ve carried your pain in silence for a long time. That’s why we make the process simple and supportive from the very first step. Click the button below to schedule a free 15-minute online consultation. We’ll talk about what’s been going on, share how therapy can help, and create a plan that fits your unique needs.

Healing doesn’t mean erasing your past. It means learning how to live fully again, and you don’t have to do that alone.

Trauma therapy is not a one size fits all experience, so we offer a number of trauma specialties to address your unique needs.

Acute Trauma

Acute trauma often happens suddenly and is the result of a single, overwhelming event. These events can be deeply distressing and can leave a person feeling overwhelmed and unsafe. When a person experiences acute trauma, the mind and body may go into “survival mode”. This is the body’s natural response to intense stress and emotional overwhelm. This can lead to a range of symptoms, like feeling constantly on edge, having trouble sleeping, and avoiding places or situations that bring back memories of the trauma. Many people have reported “replaying” the event in their minds or having nightmares, leading a person to feel as though they are reliving the trauma all over again. While this is a sign that the mind is attempting to make sense of what happened, it can be emotionally exhausting and deeply unsettling.

Acute trauma also affects a person’s relationships and daily life. A person may feel disconnected from loved ones and experience feelings of loneliness and frustration. The physical impact of trauma can take a toll on the body, causing headaches, stomach issues, or muscle tension, which can make even simple tasks feel challenging. When people struggle with these symptoms, it can affect their performance in their daily lives and make it hard to enjoy activities they once loved.

If acute trauma is left untreated, it can lead to lasting emotional, mental, and physical challenges. Untreated acute trauma can contribute to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and panic disorders. The ongoing emotional toll may impact self-esteem and lead to feelings of shame, guilt, or helplessness, especially if the person feels they “should” have moved on from the experience a long time ago. Physically, the body’s prolonged stress response can lead to chronic issues like fatigue, headaches, digestive problems, or cardiovascular stress due to high levels of cortisol and adrenaline that remain active when the trauma is

unprocessed.

Childhood/Developmental Trauma

Childhood trauma is an intense disruption that occurs during childhood, changing how someone feels and acts as they grow and mature. Trauma therapists have found that this type of trauma disrupts the normal course of healthy development, interfering with a child’s ability to form secure attachments, regulate emotions, and develop a coherent sense of self and the world around them. Trauma occurring in childhood can range from a number of overwhelming experiences, like physical, emotional, and sexual abuse or neglect, witnessing violence, or being in serious accidents and disasters.

These experiences can deeply affect how a person sees themself, others, and the world around them, which affects relationships, self-esteem, and overall well-being. If left untreated, childhood trauma can contribute to the development of mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Many adults who have experienced childhood trauma report carrying feelings of shame, guilt, and unworthiness, believing that they are fundamentally flawed or unlovable. These beliefs can become deeply ingrained, often leading to patterns of self-sabotage or withdrawal as a means of protecting themselves from further harm. Childhood trauma can also lead to physical symptoms, such as chronic pain, headaches, and gastrointestinal issues, as the body holds onto the stress and tension that has been built up from past experiences.

Complex Trauma

Complex trauma is a deep wound that results from prolonged exposure to multiple traumatic events, often occurring within interpersonal relationships and environments that are supposed to be safe and loving. Unlike singular traumatic incidents, complex trauma is defined by the mounting impact of ongoing abuse, neglect, or instability.

Individuals who experience complex trauma have often endured a number of adverse circumstances, like physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect, domestic violence, and community violence. These experiences can profoundly disrupt the development of a secure sense of self and connection with others. Complex trauma can show up in a number of ways, including difficulties in regulating emotions, forming healthy attachments, and navigating social interactions. It can lead to distorted beliefs about trust, safety, and intimacy. Complex trauma can also dysregulate the body’s stress response system, resulting in a heightened state of arousal and hypervigilance, even in the absence of immediate danger. Trauma therapists report that it can also contribute to the development of harmful coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse, self-harm, and disordered eating, as individuals attempt to cope with overwhelming feelings of pain, shame, and worthlessness.

Left unaddressed, complex trauma can contribute to the development of chronic mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), as well as physical ailments, including chronic pain, autoimmune disorders, and cardiovascular disease.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that develops in response to experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Its like carrying the weight of memories that refuse to fade. Traumatic events that can trigger PTSD include combat exposure, physical or sexual assault, natural disasters, accidents, or any life-threatening event that overwhelms the individual’s ability to cope.

PTSD can affect thoughts, emotions, and behaviors long after the traumatic event has occurred. Individuals with PTSD may experience intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and nightmares related to the traumatic event, causing intense distress and feelings of helplessness. PTSD can also destroy a person’s sense of self-worth and confidence, leaving them to blame themselves for the traumatic event or feel ashamed of their reactions and symptoms.

Left untreated, PTSD can have profound and far-reaching consequences for one’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. It can impair a person’s ability to function in daily life, disrupt relationships, and lead to feelings of isolation and despair. This type of trauma can also lead to hypervigilance and avoidance behaviors, as individuals try to protect themselves from potential threats and triggers associated with the traumatic event.

Racial Trauma

Racial trauma is an overwhelming experience rooted in systemic injustices, racism, and discrimination faced by marginalized racial and ethnic groups. It includes a range of distressing experiences, such as racial slurs, microaggressions, and acts of violence, as well as systemic injustice rooted in institutions like education, healthcare, and criminal justice. 

Individuals who experience racial trauma report feeling like they are carrying the weight of centuries of oppression and inequality on their shoulders. Others report feeling like they don’t belong, that they’re somehow less deserving of respect and dignity because of the color of their skin or the language they speak. This internalized racism can lead to feelings of shame, self-doubt, and alienation from one’s cultural heritage and community. Racial trauma can destroy a person’s sense of self-worth, fuel feelings of anger, frustration, and helplessness, and create a general sense of fear and hypervigilance when navigating everyday life.

Left unaddressed, racial trauma can impact interpersonal relationships, as individuals may struggle to trust others or feel a sense of belonging in spaces where they represent the minority. Every interaction, whether subtle or overt, then serves as a reminder of the systemic barriers and prejudices that exist in society.

Religious Trauma

Religious trauma is a complex experience resulting from harmful or abusive practices within religious contexts. It occurs when individuals face emotional, psychological, or physical harm due to rigid beliefs, teachings, or authoritarian structures within religious communities. Religious trauma can involve a number of distressing experiences, including spiritual abuse, indoctrination, shaming, and ostracism, which deeply affect a person’s sense of self and relationship with spirituality.

Individuals who experience religious trauma often struggle with feelings of unworthiness, fear of punishment, and doubt about their beliefs and identity. Religious trauma can lead to internalized beliefs of being flawed or unworthy of love and acceptance, as individuals wrestle with conflicting messages about their inherent value and worthiness.

Trauma therapists believe that this type of trauma can impact a person’s relationship with spirituality and organized religion, leading to feelings of disappointment, uncertainty, or outright rejection of religious beliefs and practices. It can create a sense of spiritual disconnection and alienation, as individuals struggle to reconcile their faith with their experiences of harm and betrayal within religious communities. Left unaddressed, religious trauma can hinder personal growth and self-actualization, as individuals struggle to break free from the chains of fear, guilt, and shame instilled by their religious upbringing.