Trauma can change how your brain and body respond to daily life. You might feel constantly on alert, have intrusive memories, avoid reminders, or feel numb and disconnected. The right therapy helps your nervous system relearn safety and gives you skills you can use right away. This guide explains three research-backed approaches to trauma therapy, how care works at Emberhaven Greensboro, and what to expect when you start.
What Trauma Therapy Means
Trauma therapy is structured, goal-focused counseling that targets symptoms like intrusive memories, hyperarousal, and avoidance. Treatment aims to reduce distress, update unhelpful beliefs, improve sleep and focus, and rebuild connection with people and routines. At Emberhaven, trauma therapy is paced to your comfort and grounded in evidence-based methods. Sessions begin with stabilization and practical skills, then move into processing and reconnection as you are ready.
Three Proven Approaches For PTSD
Multiple major guidelines identify several trauma-focused psychotherapies as first-line care for post-traumatic stress disorder. Below are three approaches with strong support, along with how they help.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
CPT is a structured cognitive behavioral therapy that helps you examine and update beliefs about safety, trust, power, control, and intimacy that often become “stuck” after trauma. In practice, you and your therapist identify patterns in thoughts and emotions, learn skills to challenge rigid or overly negative beliefs, and replace them with balanced, flexible interpretations. Many people notice less guilt and shame, fewer triggers, and more confidence in relationships and daily decisions.
Why it works: Trauma can narrow attention to threat. CPT trains your mind to notice and revise those automatic predictions. National guidelines highlight CPT as a leading treatment for PTSD. For a plain-language overview of why cognitive therapies help, see the VA National Center for PTSD overview of psychotherapy. For clinician guidance, review the 2023 VA–DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD and the APA Clinical Practice Guideline for PTSD.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
After trauma, your nervous system often treats many safe cues as dangerous. PE uses gradual, supported exposure to feared memories and real-life situations that you have been avoiding. With practice, your brain relearns that you can experience memories and visit places without the danger you expect. PE sessions follow a clear roadmap and include between-session practice so gains translate to daily life.
Why it works: Avoidance brings short-term relief but maintains long-term fear. PE reduces avoidance, which weakens the cycle of fear and triggers. The VA–DoD guideline recommends PE as a first-line treatment, and the APA guideline lists exposure-based CBT among the top options for PTSD. Learn more in the National Center for PTSD overview and the APA Treatments For PTSD summary.
Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR helps your brain reprocess traumatic memories while you focus on bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements. The goal is to reduce the emotional charge and transform distressing images and beliefs into more adaptive ones. EMDR follows a standardized eight-phase protocol and often integrates preparation and stabilization skills before processing.
Why it works: EMDR appears to help the brain integrate traumatic memories so they feel less immediate and overwhelming. EMDR is among the trauma-focused psychotherapies recommended by national guidelines. You can read an overview of recommended trauma therapies in the National Center for PTSD guide and review the treatment summaries in the APA guideline hub.
How Emberhaven Puts Evidence Into Practice
At Emberhaven, your plan reflects the best research and your personal goals. Many clients benefit from cognitive behavioral methods like CPT and exposure principles. We also build in skills that make day-to-day life more manageable, such as grounding, paced breathing, distress tolerance, and values-based action.
Our clinicians draw from approaches described on our Trauma Therapy page, including trauma-focused CBT, DBT-informed skills for emotional regulation, mindfulness, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. If you are interested in EMDR, ask during your intake. We will help you determine fit and connect you with a therapist who offers it or coordinate a trusted referral when appropriate.
What Sessions Look Like
Your first visit focuses on safety and next steps. We start with plain-language education about symptoms, two or three immediate practices, and a short plan for the week. As treatment progresses, we choose methods together and adjust pacing to your comfort. Most people begin weekly, then taper as skills take hold.
Want a step-by-step preview of intake, scheduling, and how we verify benefits before you begin? Visit What to Expect.
Greensboro Trauma Care, Close To Home
Our Greensboro office is easy to reach from I-73 and I-40 with on-site parking and ADA access. If you prefer to meet online, we offer secure telehealth anywhere in North Carolina. Explore hours, directions, and ways to get started at Counseling In Greensboro.
Who Benefits From Trauma Therapy
People seek care for many reasons. Some had a single incident like a crash or assault. Others lived through ongoing stress, abuse, or painful losses. Many notice anxiety, depression, sleep problems, or relationship strain along with trauma symptoms. Therapy helps at any stage. You do not need a diagnosis to begin. If trauma is making daily life harder, you are a good candidate to start a conversation.
Skills That Support Recovery
Strong outcomes do not depend on one method alone. Most plans include stabilization and coping tools that reduce reactivity and improve sleep. DBT-informed skills help you ride out urges and emotions without harmful behaviors. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps you move toward values even while symptoms are present. Mindfulness and paced breathing lower baseline stress so you have more room for change. These supports make trauma-focused work safer and more effective.
How Often You Will Meet
Consistency beats intensity. Weekly sessions help build momentum. As triggers ease and confidence grows, many people shift to biweekly or occasional check-ins. Your therapist will recommend a cadence that respects your schedule and goals.
Insurance, Costs, And Access
We verify benefits before your first visit and provide a clear estimate of costs. Many plans include outpatient mental health coverage. If you have questions about deductibles or copays, our team will explain them in plain language. You can start with a quick call to Greensboro at (743) 867-6529 or use the contact options on What To Expect.
How To Get Started
Beginning is simple. Tell us what you want help with, your scheduling needs, and whether you prefer in-person or telehealth. We will match you with a therapist who fits and make sure early sessions deliver real, practical relief. Read more about services we offer in Greensboro at the Greensboro Counseling page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to retell everything in detail? No. We begin with stabilization and skills. You choose the pace and depth of processing.
Can therapy help if I tried before? Yes. We adjust methods, focus on practical wins, and track progress to keep care aligned with your goals.
Is telehealth effective for trauma? Many people find secure video sessions helpful, especially once a safety plan and grounding skills are in place.
Do you coordinate with my physician or prescriber? With your written permission, yes. Integrated care often improves sleep, mood, and overall progress.
Crisis And Community Resources
Emberhaven is not a crisis center. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential, 24-hour help, call or text 988, the 988 Suicide And Crisis Lifeline. For local options, Guilford County operates a Behavioral Health Center that provides urgent behavioral health support. North Carolina’s crisis services also include in-person Mobile Crisis Teams that come to you when needed.
Why Choose Emberhaven?
We combine research-supported methods with compassionate care. You get clear explanations, steady skills, and a plan tailored to your life. Our Greensboro location is convenient and private, and telehealth is available statewide. When you are ready, we are ready to help you heal. Learn more about our services on What We Treat, or, if you are a clinician or school counselor, see Provider Referrals for coordinated access.