Moving forward after a highly distressing event or experience is tough. The lingering impact of trauma can mean difficulty concentrating at work, having a hard time sleeping, and having less freedom to do the things you used to enjoy. The good news is that with trauma therapy, you can feel like yourself again.

Columbia Mental Health offers support for individuals dealing with emotional, physical, or psychological wounds through personalized trauma therapy and counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Our PTSD treatment in Towson is conveniently located near Towson Town Center and less than five minutes from the intersection of York Road and Towsontown Boulevard. Columbia Mental Health is home to licensed therapists trained in effective, evidence-based care for your unique experiences. We make it easy for everyone who needs care to access care.

What is trauma therapy?

Trauma therapy focuses on helping people who have experienced hard events process feelings of pain and overwhelm. The goal is to help reduce the psychological and emotional symptoms that trauma can leave behind, such as anxiety, flashbacks, sleep disturbances, or a persistent sense of fear. While everyone responds to trauma differently, therapy can be a safe space for people to work through what they’re feeling and learn new tools to cope.

What types of events can cause trauma?

Trauma can result from many difficult experiences, and there are also levels of trauma. Certain non-life-threatening events, that are still deeply unsettling, are commonly considered “little T” traumas and can have just as significant an effect on an individual’s mental health.

Events that are most often considered to be “big T” trauma include:

• Car accidents or serious injuries
• Physical or sexual assault
• Domestic or intimate partner violence
• Childhood abuse or neglect
• Natural disasters like hurricanes or fires
• Combat exposure or first-responder work
• Sudden loss of a loved one
• Medical trauma or invasive procedures

These events can affect someone’s emotional well-being long after they occur, and the onset of symptoms can sometimes be delayed for years. Through structured, compassionate care, therapy helps people rebuild their sense of safety, trust, and control.

When should you consider counseling for PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition that can develop from trauma. Symptoms often interfere with daily life and relationships and may include:

• Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks
• Nightmares or disturbed sleep
• Avoiding people or places that remind you of the trauma
• Irritability or emotional numbness
• Feeling “on edge” or hyperaware of surroundings
• Difficulty concentrating or relaxing

If you’re experiencing symptoms and they’ve lasted more than a few weeks or affect your quality of life, counseling for PTSD can help you regain your footing.

The Columbia Mental Health approach to trauma therapy

Columbia Mental Health specializes in evidence-based treatments that help manage trauma and PTSD. Our team works with you to create a customized plan to help move you forward, drawing on modalities like:

Trauma-informed cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

Trauma-informed CBT is a structured, short-term therapeutic approach designed for individuals—especially children, teens, and their caregivers—who have experienced trauma. It helps reduce symptoms of PTSD by guiding clients through understanding their thoughts, regulating emotions, and developing coping strategies. Clients learn how to reframe negative beliefs and build resilience over time.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is an innovative, nontraditional therapy that uses guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation to help people process and reframe their traumatic memories. Instead of retelling painful events in detail, clients focus on specific memories while using specific stimulation techniques to help reduce the emotional intensity surrounding those events.

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)

CPT is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy specifically developed for those who struggle with symptoms of PTSD. It focuses on helping individuals challenge and change unhelpful beliefs related to their trauma, such as guilt, shame, or feelings of blame. Through writing and dialogue, clients learn to reshape the way they view themselves and the world after trauma.

Prolonged exposure therapy

This form of therapy helps clients gradually confront trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations they’ve been avoiding. By doing so in a safe and supportive environment, prolonged exposure therapy reduces fear and avoidance behaviors, allowing clients to re-engage with life more fully. It’s often used to treat severe PTSD and phobia-related symptoms.

Mindfulness-based approaches

Mindfulness strategies include meditation, breathwork, and body awareness. These techniques can all be woven into trauma therapy to help you stay grounded in the present. These approaches reduce anxiety and improve emotional regulation by assisting clients in observing their thoughts and feelings without judgment.

We offer trauma therapy in both in-person and telehealth formats. For clients whose symptoms may benefit from medication, we also offer medication management as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Who can benefit from trauma therapy?

Trauma therapy can be beneficial for anyone who has experienced emotional distress related to past events. If you’re wondering whether trauma therapy is right for you, you might find it helpful to understand the kinds of events trauma-informed therapy can help you work through:

• Abuse or assault
• Veteran or first responder incidents
• A major medical diagnosis or accident
• Death or divorce
• Chronic stress, burnout, or emotional shutdown

Contact Columbia Mental Health today for trauma therapy in Towson, MD

Columbia Mental Health is committed to serving Towson and nearby areas with inclusive, high-quality care. We accept most major insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, and aim to remove barriers to access so clients can receive the support they need. Whether you’re coming from Rodgers Forge or just off I-695, our Towson clinic is here to help you begin your healing process.

Columbia Mental Health is here to help you move forward with counseling for PTSD. Call us today at 703.682.8208 to learn more.

For new clients, please click here to schedule an appointment. For existing clients, please click here and find your office location to contact your office directly.