Trauma & PTSD Therapy Services in Ontario

Trauma treatment is a specific kind of therapy designed for what happens after overwhelming experiences. It typically has three loose phases: (1) safety and stabilization, (2) processing the traumatic memories themselves, and (3) integration and reconnection. The pacing depends on you, not on a protocol.

Therapy helps in two ways. It gives the experience a place to be told and witnessed — which the original moment usually didn't allow. And it helps the nervous system finally complete the response it didn't get to complete at the time, so the body can begin to recognize that the danger is over.

There's no single best technique — it depends on the kind of trauma and the kind of work that fits you. EMDR, somatic experiencing, IFS, and trauma-focused CBT all have strong evidence. We're integrative, and we'll be transparent about which approaches we think fit your specific situation.

Not before you're ready, and sometimes not at all. Modern trauma therapy doesn't require a detailed retelling — many approaches (like EMDR and somatic work) can process trauma without you having to narrate it in depth. The choice is always yours.

Trauma work is typically longer than therapy for situational issues. Most clients work with us for 6–18 months, sometimes longer. The pacing varies a lot depending on the type of trauma and your nervous system's history. We re-evaluate together regularly.

If something from the past keeps reaching forward into your present — through symptoms, relationship patterns, or an inner sense that part of you is stuck somewhere — it's worth a consultation. You don't need a diagnosis or a 'big enough' story. The body's signal is enough.

Trauma is the experience and its imprint. PTSD is a specific clinical diagnosis with criteria around intrusion, avoidance, mood, and arousal symptoms persisting more than a month. Many people have trauma that doesn't meet PTSD criteria but still affects their life — both are valid reasons for therapy.

Yes — we offer PHIPA-compliant video sessions across Ontario. Some trauma work translates well online; some clients prefer the contained safety of in-person for deeper processing sessions. We can talk through which fits.

Psychotherapy by RSWs and RPs isn't covered by OHIP, but most extended health benefits through employers do cover one or both. We provide invoices you can submit to your insurer; we don't direct-bill. Reduced-rate spots are available for clients without coverage.

That's a normal feeling, and it's a good sign — it means you're paying attention to your nervous system. The free consultation is a low-stakes way to talk through what trauma therapy looks like, ask questions, and decide whether and when feels right.