Online trauma therapy in California
Something happens and your body reacts before your brain catches up. A sound, a smell, a phrase someone says. You're back there again.
You know, logically, that you're safe. But your nervous system didn't get the memo. We're two licensed therapists in California who work with you over secure video to process what happened at whatever pace feels right.
Can online therapy help with trauma?
Short version first, then the page goes deeper.
Online trauma therapy can help adults in California build safety, process trauma responses, and reduce PTSD symptoms with evidence-based support from a licensed therapist.
- Treatment approach: trauma-focused CBT and cognitive processing therapy
- Best fit: triggers, nightmares, avoidance, numbness, and hypervigilance
- Access: secure online sessions anywhere in California
- Cost: insurance accepted or $125 private pay per session
What trauma does
Trauma rewires your threat detection system. Your brain learned that the world isn't safe, and now it keeps the alarm on even when there's no danger. That's not a character flaw.
The symptoms look different for everyone. Some people get flashbacks or nightmares. Others feel numb, disconnected, or on edge all the time. Some avoid anything that reminds them of what happened.
Research from the VA shows that 53% of patients no longer meet PTSD criteria after completing treatment. Your brain learned this response. It can learn a different one.
Signs trauma might be affecting you
- You're easily startled or always scanning for danger
- Certain places, people, or situations trigger intense reactions
- You feel emotionally numb or disconnected from people you care about
- Sleep is hard: nightmares, insomnia, or waking up in a panic
- You avoid talking or thinking about what happened, but it keeps coming back
How we treat trauma
We use two approaches with strong research behind them: trauma-focused CBT and cognitive processing therapy (CPT). Trauma-focused CBT helps you process memories that are stuck on repeat without your body going into full alarm mode.
CPT works on the beliefs that formed around what happened. A lot of people walk away from trauma believing things like "it was my fault" or "I can't trust anyone." We help you look at those beliefs and update the ones that aren't serving you.
A 2020 study by Morland et al. found that online therapy works just as well as in-person for trauma treatment. Sessions happen over secure video from anywhere in California. We accept insurance, and you'd usually pay your plan's copay. If you're not using insurance, private pay is $125 per session. We accept Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Carelon Behavioral Health, and CIGNA.
What this actually looks like
- We build safety and stability first, before touching the hard stuff
- You learn grounding techniques to use when your nervous system gets activated
- We process trauma memories gradually, at your pace
- We examine the beliefs that formed around what happened and update the ones that aren't serving you
Licensed, pace-aware trauma care
A quick skim of what matters before someone decides to reach out: license, method, access, and cost clarity.
Licensed California therapist
Sessions are provided by an LMFT licensed to work with clients located in California.
Evidence-informed methods
The page names trauma-focused CBT and cognitive processing therapy as the core approaches.
Stability before processing
The page explains that trauma work begins with safety, trust, and grounding before deeper processing.
Clear cost context
The page states insurance acceptance, copay variability, and private-pay pricing.
Source notes on this page
- The page references VA outcomes language and Morland et al. on online trauma treatment.
- Treatment language distinguishes trauma-focused CBT from cognitive processing therapy.
- FAQ content makes clear that clients do not have to talk about what happened right away.
Not sure where to start?
Book a free 15-minute consultation. We'll talk about what you're dealing with and whether we're a good fit.
Book a free 15-minute consultation→No cost. No pressure. We'll reply within 24 hours.
How it works
Free consultation
We talk about what you're going through and figure out if we're a good fit. No cost, no commitment. Just a conversation.
Building trust and assessment
Your therapist gets to know your history and what's happening now. We don't jump into the deep end. The first sessions are about understanding where you are.
Processing at your pace
When you're ready, we start working through the trauma using CBT and cognitive processing therapy. If something feels like too much, we slow down.
Building a life after
Trauma therapy isn't just about processing the past. It's about being able to show up for your life now and feel like yourself again.
Who you'll work with
Daishea Poole
LMFT #142484
Daishea has close to a decade of clinical experience, and trauma is one of her primary specialties. She uses an existential-humanistic approach alongside trauma-focused CBT, which means she's helping you reconnect with who you are underneath what happened.
Trauma therapy FAQ
No. We don't start there. The first few sessions are about getting to know each other, understanding how trauma is showing up in your life right now, and building the skills you'll need before we go deeper. You set the pace. We won't push you into anything you're not ready for.
Yes. A 2020 study by Morland et al. found that online trauma therapy works just as well as in-person treatment for PTSD. You're getting the same evidence-based therapy from a licensed therapist. The only difference is you're in your own space, which some people actually find more grounding.
It depends on what you're working through. A full course of cognitive processing therapy is usually 12 sessions. Trauma-focused CBT runs 12 to 20 sessions. Some people need longer, especially if the trauma happened over months or years rather than in a single event. We check in regularly so you can see what's shifting.
Trauma isn't only car accidents and combat. Growing up in a home where your emotions were dismissed, years of being criticized by a partner, chronic stress without support. These things change your nervous system too. If something from your past is still running your reactions today, that's worth working on.
You don't have to carry this alone.
Book a free call to talk about what's going on and whether we're the right fit.
Book a free 15-minute consultationYou survived it. Now you get to process it.