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Trauma is not about what is “wrong” with you — it is about what happened to you, and how your mind and body tried to protect you from an overwhelming experience. Traumatic events can leave lasting imprints that affect your thoughts, emotions, relationships, and sense of safety in the world. If you are living with the effects of trauma, you deserve compassionate, expert support — and healing is genuinely possible. At Guzman & Baker, our therapists are trained in the most effective trauma therapies available, and we are committed to walking alongside you at every step.
Everything you share with your therapist at Guzman & Baker is confidential. We will never share your information without your written consent, except in the narrow circumstances required by law — such as an immediate safety concern. You are in control of your story. Your therapist will always discuss any limits of confidentiality with you before your work together begins.

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What is trauma?

Trauma occurs when an experience — or series of experiences — overwhelms your ability to cope, leaving you feeling helpless, threatened, or profoundly unsafe. Trauma is not defined by the event itself, but by the impact it has on you. What is deeply traumatic for one person may affect another differently, and both responses are equally valid.
Acute trauma results from a single, time-limited event: a car accident, a natural disaster, a physical assault, a medical emergency, or witnessing violence. The event is over, but its psychological impact can persist long afterward.
Chronic trauma develops from repeated or prolonged exposure to traumatic experiences — such as ongoing domestic violence, childhood abuse or neglect, or living in a chronically unsafe environment. Chronic trauma tends to have a deeper and more pervasive impact on identity, relationships, and emotional functioning.
Complex trauma (C-PTSD) refers to the effects of prolonged, repeated trauma — often interpersonal in nature and occurring during developmental periods in childhood. Complex PTSD shares many features with PTSD but also includes difficulties with emotional regulation, self-perception, and relating to others. Many people with C-PTSD have spent years not understanding why they struggle in ways that feel disconnected from any single event.
Secondary trauma can affect people who are exposed to the trauma of others — emergency responders, healthcare workers, family members of trauma survivors, or therapists. The effects are real and also deserve attention.

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD develops in some people following exposure to a traumatic event. It is not a sign of weakness — it is the result of how trauma changes the brain’s alarm and memory systems. PTSD can develop immediately after a traumatic event or emerge months or years later.

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Symptoms of PTSD

PTSD symptoms fall into four main categories: Re-experiencing — Intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, or intense distress when reminded of the trauma. It can feel as though the event is happening again in the present moment. Avoidance — Deliberately avoiding thoughts, feelings, people, places, or activities that are reminders of the trauma. Avoidance provides temporary relief but keeps the trauma from being processed. Negative changes in thinking and mood — Persistent negative beliefs about yourself or the world (“I am bad,” “nowhere is safe”), distorted guilt or blame, persistent negative emotions, feeling detached from others, or inability to experience positive emotions. Changes in arousal and reactivity — Being easily startled, hypervigilance, difficulty sleeping, irritability, angry outbursts, or reckless behavior. This reflects a nervous system that is still on high alert long after the danger has passed.
It is very common to experience some of these symptoms after a traumatic event — this is part of the normal stress response. PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms persist for more than a month, are significantly distressing or impairing, and cannot be explained by medication, substances, or another medical condition.

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How trauma affects daily life

Trauma can quietly shape every area of your life in ways that may not feel obviously connected to what you experienced:
  • Relationships: Difficulty trusting others, fear of intimacy, or conflict patterns that keep people at a distance
  • Work and school: Concentration difficulties, avoidance of situations that trigger memories, or difficulty completing tasks
  • Physical health: Chronic pain, gastrointestinal problems, sleep disorders, and a higher risk of physical illness
  • Self-image: Deep-seated shame, guilt, or the belief that you are fundamentally damaged or different from others
  • Emotional life: Feeling numb or disconnected, or experiencing intense, difficult-to-manage emotions
Understanding these connections — seeing that your reactions have roots in what happened to you — is often a powerful first step in healing.

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Evidence-based treatments at Guzman & Baker

Our therapists are trained in several approaches with strong evidence for treating trauma and PTSD. Your treatment plan will be tailored to your specific history, symptoms, and goals.

Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT)

TF-CBT is especially designed for children and adolescents who have experienced trauma. It involves caregivers in the process and helps young people process their trauma through gradual, structured steps in a safe environment.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

CPT is one of the most well-researched PTSD treatments for adults. It focuses on identifying and reshaping “stuck points” — distorted beliefs about the trauma and its meaning — that keep PTSD going.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT for trauma addresses the unhelpful thought patterns and avoidance behaviors that maintain PTSD symptoms, helping you gradually build a sense of safety and reclaim your life.

Person-Centered Therapy

For some people, a supportive, non-directive therapeutic relationship provides the foundation of safety necessary before deeper trauma work can begin. Our therapists can integrate approaches to meet you where you are.

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The healing process

Healing from trauma is not linear, and it looks different for everyone. Some people move through it relatively quickly; for others, especially those with complex or developmental trauma, it is a longer journey. What matters most is that you are supported throughout. Trauma therapy at Guzman & Baker generally moves through three broad phases:
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Phase 1 — Safety and stabilization:

Before diving into trauma memories, your therapist will help you build coping skills, establish a sense of safety, and develop the emotional resources to approach difficult material without becoming overwhelmed.
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Phase 2 — Processing the trauma:

Using structured, evidence-based techniques, you will gradually work through traumatic memories and the beliefs they have created. This phase is approached carefully and at your pace.
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Phase 3 — Integration and reconnection:

As the trauma loses its power over your present life, therapy supports you in building the life you want — strengthening relationships, reconnecting with your values, and developing a sense of self that is not defined by what happened to you.
You do not have to recount every detail of your trauma to heal. Our therapists will work with you at the level of detail you are comfortable with. Your sense of control throughout the process is a priority.
If you are ready to take the first step — or if you are not sure yet whether you are ready — reaching out to Guzman & Baker is a good place to start. We will meet you exactly where you are.