Trauma Therapy
Trauma therapy in Chicago, IL for adults experiencing anxiety, flashbacks, emotional numbness, relationship difficulties, and post-traumatic stress. Evidence-based treatment helps you rebuild safety, strengthen resilience, and regain control after trauma.
Quick Facts
- Who It’s For: Adults healing from trauma or PTSD
- Common Concerns: Flashbacks, anxiety, avoidance, emotional numbness
- Modalities: EMDR, Brainspotting, CBT, DBT
- Sessions: Individual therapy, 45–60 minutes
- Location: Chicago, IL + Telehealth in Illinois
- Insurance: In-network & out-of-network options
What Is Trauma Therapy?
At FreeLife Behavioral Health, we offer trauma therapy with a deep understanding that healing is a personal and transformative process. Trauma can impact how you view yourself, your relationships, and your sense of safety in the world. Rebuilding trust, restoring connection, and reclaiming a sense of control over your life takes time—and you don’t have to do it alone. Our therapists provide a compassionate, nonjudgmental space to support your healing. Whether you’re facing the effects of past abuse, neglect, discrimination, or other traumatic events, we are here to help you work through the pain, build resilience, and reconnect with a sense of safety and peace.
Therapy for LGBTQIA+ Individuals
at Every Stage of Your Journey
A Space for Honest Conversation,
Skill Building, and Resilience
Many people seek therapy to better understand themselves, overcome challenges, and build a more fulfilling life. Common reasons people come to therapy include:
Persistent anxiety or fear: Feeling constantly on edge, easily startled, or overwhelmed by fear in situations that may not seem threatening to others.
Emotional numbness or detachment: Struggling to feel connected to yourself, your emotions, or the people around you, often as a way of coping with past pain.
Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks: Experiencing unwanted memories, nightmares, or flashbacks that make it difficult to move forward.
Difficulty trusting others: Finding it hard to build or maintain relationships due to fear of being hurt, betrayed, or let down again.
Avoidance behaviors: Going out of your way to avoid reminders of traumatic experiences, such as certain places, people, or situations, even when it disrupts your daily life.
Whatever challenges you're facing, therapy offers a space for reflection, healing, and growth. We're here to support you every step of the way.
How Does Trauma Therapy Help After Abuse, Neglect, or Discrimination?
Our therapists are here to guide you with compassion and understanding. We proudly specialize in LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy while welcoming and supporting individuals of all backgrounds and identities.
How Is Trauma Therapy at Freelife Behavioral Health Different?
At FreeLife Behavioral Health, we go beyond simply offering inclusive care—we provide therapy shaped by shared experiences within the LGBTQ+ community. Our therapists understand the complexities of identity, relationships, and societal expectations because they’ve lived them too.
Through a blend of compassion and expertise, we aim to foster resilience, promote healing, and empower every client to embrace their authentic self. By addressing the unique challenges LGBTQ+ individuals and couples face, we help create lasting transformations and a sense of belonging in a world that doesn’t always make it easy.
Why Does Affirming Care Matter in Trauma Therapy?
Therapy at FreeLife is about understanding, connection, and growth. Our therapists, all members of the LGBTQ+ community, bring a unique perspective and deep empathy to their work. We provide a safe, inclusive space for individuals of all identities to explore, heal, and thrive, offering care grounded in authenticity and expertise.
How Does Trauma Therapy Work?
1. Intake
We begin with an initial session focused on understanding your history, current symptoms, and what feels most urgent. This includes discussing trauma experiences at a pace that feels safe and collaborative.
2. Assessment
We identify patterns such as anxiety, flashbacks, avoidance, emotional numbing, or relationship difficulties. Together, we clarify goals and determine which evidence-based approaches best fit your needs.
3. Treatment
Sessions may include EMDR, Brainspotting, CBT, DBT, or trauma-informed therapy. The focus is on building emotional regulation, processing traumatic memories safely, and reducing nervous system reactivity.
4. Integration
As symptoms decrease, we work on rebuilding trust, strengthening relationships, and developing sustainable coping strategies. Insights from therapy are applied in daily life.
5. Follow-Up or Intensives
Depending on your goals, therapy may continue as ongoing support, transition to maintenance sessions, or include focused trauma intensives when appropriate.
What Can Trauma Therapy Help You Work Through?
Reconnect with Yourself: Rediscover who you are beyond the pain and rebuild trust in your body and mind.
Heal from Past Wounds: Work through the emotional and physical impacts of trauma in a compassionate and nonjudgmental environment.
Strengthen Relationships: Learn how to communicate, set boundaries, and foster healthy, supportive connections with others.
Navigate Triggers: Develop tools to manage anxiety, flashbacks, and other responses to trauma in a way that feels empowering.
Overcome Guilt and Shame: Release feelings of blame and shame that trauma often leaves behind and replace them with self-compassion.
Embrace Resilience: Build confidence and discover your inner strength as you move forward in your healing journey.
At FreeLife Behavioral Health, therapy is more than working through challenges—it’s about creating a path to empowerment, connection, and peace. Wherever you are on your journey, we’re here to walk alongside you.
Your Questions, Answered
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Trauma therapy is effective when it uses evidence-based approaches such as EMDR, Brainspotting, CBT, and trauma-informed care. Research shows these treatments reduce PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and emotional reactivity.
Progress depends on consistency, safety, and individualized pacing.
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Yes. Trauma therapy is structured to move at a pace that protects emotional safety. Techniques are used gradually, with stabilization skills built first before deeper trauma processing begins.
You are never required to share more than feels manageable.
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The number of sessions varies depending on trauma history, symptom severity, and goals. Some clients benefit from short-term focused work, while others engage in longer-term therapy.
Treatment length is discussed collaboratively and adjusted as progress unfolds.
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Trauma therapy can help with PTSD, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, emotional numbness, anxiety, relationship difficulties, and chronic stress responses.
Treatment focuses on restoring emotional regulation and a sense of safety.
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Yes. Trauma therapy can be integrated with psychiatric care, medication management, or other therapeutic modalities when appropriate.
Coordination ensures treatment remains cohesive and aligned with your goals.
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American Psychological Association. (2017). Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of PTSD.
https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guidelineAmerican Psychological Association. (2023). PTSD Treatments.
https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families
Getting Started is Easy
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