Licensed Trauma Therapists
Trauma Therapy in Indianapolis for Healing, Recovery, and Emotional Relief
Sommer Psychology Group provides evidence-based trauma therapy for young adults and adults in Indianapolis. Our licensed therapists use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and trauma-informed approaches to help you process difficult experiences, reduce emotional distress, and regain a sense of safety and control. We offer in-person therapy in Indianapolis and secure online sessions across Indiana for flexible, effective care that fits your life.
- I often feel on edge, overwhelmed, or easily startled, even in situations that seem safe.
- Memories of past events replay in my mind, sometimes as intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, or distressing dreams.
- I avoid certain places, conversations, or situations because they remind me of something painful.
- Sleep, focus, or daily routines feel harder than they used to, and small tasks take a lot of energy.
- My emotions feel out of control, swinging between numbness and intense feelings of anger, fear, or sadness.
- If feel disconnected from others and from myself, even when I'm around people who care about me.
When Your Mind and Body Feel Stuck in Survival Mode
People experiencing trauma, PTSD, or chronic stress often feel unable to fully relax, as if their body is constantly on alert. Intrusive memories, emotional reactions, or distressing thoughts may appear unexpectedly, sometimes triggered by reminders of past experiences.
To cope, many people begin avoiding certain places or situations, or feel stuck in patterns of anxiety, irritability, difficulty concentrating, sleep problems, and feeling “on edge.”
Trauma-focused treatment often includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Therapy. These approaches help you understand how trauma affects your thoughts and behaviors, while building skills to reduce avoidance, regulate emotions, and respond to triggers in a healthier way.
At Sommer Psychology Group, our trauma specialists help you move out of survival mode and toward greater safety, stability, and control in daily life.
What to Expect from trauma therapy
How Trauma Therapy Can Transform Your Life
Trauma therapy looks different for each person, but with consistent support and evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Therapy, many people experience meaningful, lasting change. As treatment progresses, many clients begin to notice:
- Less intensity around painful memories and emotional triggers
- Greater emotional balance and fewer overwhelming reactions
- Less avoidance of people, places, or situations tied to past experiences
- Better sleep, focus, and daily functioning
- Stronger connection in relationships and support systems
- More confidence managing stress and feeling in control again
Intrusive Memories & Constant Alertness
Unwanted memories or images from the past may surface suddenly and feel difficult to control. These experiences can be distressing and may make it hard to stay present in the moment.
Your mind and body may stay on high alert, even when you are safe. This can lead to feeling tense, easily startled, or unable to fully relax.
Emotional Overwhelm & Numbness
Strong emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, or anxiety may feel difficult to manage. At times, these feelings may seem to appear suddenly or feel more intense than expected.
Some people feel disconnected from their emotions or find it difficult to experience joy or closeness. This numbness can be a way the mind protects itself from overwhelming pain.
Avoidance Patterns & Relationship Strain
You may begin avoiding certain places, people, or situations that remind you of past experiences. While avoidance can feel protective in the moment, it can also make life feel smaller over time.
Trauma and chronic stress can affect how safe or connected you feel with others. This may lead to withdrawing from relationships or struggling to communicate your needs.
Physical Tension & Loss of Contrlol
Stress related to trauma can show up in the body as headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, or restlessness. Your nervous system may remain in a state of “fight or flight” for long periods of time.
You may feel like your thoughts, emotions, or reactions are harder to manage than they used to be. Many people worry they are “losing control,” even though these responses are common after trauma.
Sleep & Concentration Problems
You may struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up feeling unrested. Nightmares or racing thoughts can make nighttime especially challenging.
Focusing on tasks, conversations, or daily responsibilities may become harder. Stress and intrusive thoughts can make it difficult for the mind to settle and stay engaged.
Treatment for trauma can help you move beyond survival mode and reconnect with the parts of life that matter most.
Trauma therapy in indianapolis
What is Trauma Therapy?
Trauma therapy is a form of psychotherapy that helps you process and recover from distressing or overwhelming experiences that continue to affect your thoughts, emotions, and body.
The goal is not just to talk about the past, but to help you feel safer, more grounded, and more in control in your daily life. Treatment is personalized and often includes evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Therapy to reduce avoidance, ease emotional distress, and change unhelpful trauma-related patterns.
Over time, trauma therapy can help you feel more stable, emotionally regulated, and able to engage more fully in your life.
At Sommer Psychology Group, we provide compassionate, evidence-based trauma therapy that supports healing at your own pace.
What We Treat in Trauma Therapy:
Overwhelming Worry
Persistent fears or heightened anxiety about your safety, the safety of loved ones, or future events, even when there is no immediate danger.
Intrusive Memories
Distressing thoughts or images from past traumatic events that pop up unexpectedly and feel hard to control.
Hypervigilance
Feeling constantly “on edge” or overly alert to potential danger, even in safe environments.
Avoidance
Steering clear of people, places, or situations that remind you of trauma, which can limit daily life and experiences.
Emotional Numbness
Difficulty connecting with your emotions or feeling detached from yourself and others, even in meaningful moments.
Sleep Disruption
Trouble falling or staying asleep, frequent nightmares, or waking up feeling unrested due to stress or intrusive memories.
Approaches We Use in Trauma Therapy
At Sommer Psychology Group, we provide evidence-based, compassionate care for individuals navigating trauma, PTSD, and chronic stress. Our approach is personalized to your unique needs, helping you develop practical tools to manage intrusive thoughts, reduce distress, regulate emotions, and regain a sense of calm, confidence, and connection in your daily life.
Exposure Therapy for Trauma
Exposure therapy is an evidence-based approach often used to treat trauma. It helps you gradually and safely face memories, situations, or reminders of the traumatic experience that may currently trigger fear, anxiety, or distress. Rather than avoiding these triggers, exposure therapy supports you in approaching them at a pace that feels manageable, while using coping skills to stay grounded and regulated.
Through repeated, supported exposure, your mind and body begin to learn that these reminders are not dangerous in the present moment. Over time, this process can reduce the intensity of emotional reactions, decrease avoidance, and help traumatic memories feel less overwhelming. As triggers lose their power, many people experience greater confidence, a stronger sense of safety in their daily lives, and an increased ability to engage in activities that once felt too difficult.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Trauma
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a proven, evidence-based approach for treating trauma, PTSD, and chronic stress. In therapy, we work together to identify unhelpful thought patterns—such as persistent fears, intrusive memories, or catastrophic “what if” scenarios—and gently challenge them. Through guided exercises and supportive conversation, you’ll learn how your thoughts influence your emotions and behaviors, and develop practical strategies to respond to distress more effectively and regain a greater sense of control.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Trauma
Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), we help you build skills to accept difficult thoughts and emotions without judgment, stay present in the moment, and take actions aligned with your values. ACT supports you in creating a life guided by meaning rather than fear, helping reduce avoidance, increase emotional flexibility, and improve overall well-being. Through this approach, you’ll gain practical tools to manage distress, strengthen resilience, and move forward with a greater sense of calm, control, and connection to what matters most.
ABOUT US
Why Work With Sommer Psychology Group
We understand that life can sometimes feel overwhelming—whether it’s managing anxiety, balancing responsibilities, or facing the fear of the unknown. As specialists who work with individuals who struggle with anxiety, OCD, and related disorders, we aim to help you find your way forward.
Our approach is solutions-focused and evidence-based, designed to meet your unique needs and help you achieve lasting change. Whether you’re dealing with stress, life transitions, or relationship challenges, we are dedicated to giving you the tools to overcome obstacles and thrive.
At Sommer Psychology Group, we believe in the power of quality care. That means giving you dedicated, thoughtful, and individualized support, with the flexibility of virtual sessions that fit into your life, wherever you are.
Our evidence-based therapy is grounded in three core principles:
Integrity
We believe integrity is the foundation of effective therapy. It fosters trust, respect, and accountability, ensuring our clients receive honest, consistent, and ethical guidance throughout their journey.
Compassion
Compassion is at the heart of our practice. It nurtures emotional healing, creating a safe space where clients can feel heard, valued, and understood while developing a culture of collaboration and respect.
Quality Care
We prioritize quality care to ensure the best outcomes for our clients. By addressing both clinical needs and emotional well-being, we build trust and deliver effective therapy that supports long-term growth and success.
Meet Our Trauma Therapists
Sommer Psychology Group is a specialty clinic providing evidence-based trauma therapy for young adults and adults in Indianapolis. Our licensed therapists are trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and use a trauma-informed approach to help clients process difficult experiences, reduce emotional distress, and build lasting change. We offer both in-person therapy in Indianapolis and secure online sessions across Indiana, providing flexible, accessible care with experienced clinicians you can trust.
Our Approach
How Our Trauma Therapy Works
Our approach to trauma therapy is compassionate, structured, and evidence-based, designed to help you find relief and regain a sense of calm and confidence.
We begin with a thorough assessment to understand what you’re experiencing, whether it’s intrusive memories, flashbacks, hypervigilance, emotional overwhelm, or persistent stress. This helps us get a clear picture of how trauma and stress are showing up in your life and allows us to create a treatment plan tailored to your unique needs.
Together, we create a customized plan that addresses your specific challenges. Whether you’re struggling with intrusive thoughts, emotional overwhelm, sleep issues, or avoidance behaviors, we’ll outline a step-by-step path to support your healing and well-being.
You’ll learn practical, research-backed strategies to manage distress, respond to intrusive thoughts and triggers with greater ease, and reconnect with your values and priorities. Treatment may include individual therapy, mindfulness practices, self-compassion work, and support with emotional regulation and daily routines. The goal is to help you feel grounded, resilient, and more connected to yourself and the life you want to live.
Trauma Therapy in Indianapolis
Questions about Trauma Therapy
Can the effects of trauma be cured?
While the effects of trauma aren’t “cured” in a single moment, they can be treated and managed effectively with the right support. Evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure Therapy, and in some cases, medication prescribed under medical supervision, have been shown to significantly reduce symptoms. Treatment focuses on helping you understand the patterns behind your thoughts and reactions, develop healthier ways to respond to distressing memories or triggers, and rebuild a sense of safety, confidence, and calm. With care tailored to your unique experience, recovery is not only possible—it’s expected.
How can I stop the effects of trauma from taking over my life?
The key to managing the effects of trauma is learning practical coping strategies tailored to your unique experiences. Therapy can provide tools to build self-compassion, regulate overwhelming emotions, and strengthen your ability to respond to triggers. Techniques such as mindfulness, cognitive reframing, relaxation exercises, and gradual exposure to distressing memories or situations can help you regain a sense of control, so trauma and stress no longer dominate your thoughts or interfere with daily life.
Why can’t I just relax?
Difficulty relaxing is common for people experiencing trauma. Past traumatic experiences, ongoing stress, and a heightened state of alert can keep the mind and body in “survival mode,” making it hard to feel calm or at ease. Intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, disrupted sleep, and persistent worry can intensify this state, keeping relaxation out of reach. Through gentle, supportive therapy, you can learn practical strategies to regulate your nervous system, manage distressing thoughts, and cultivate a greater sense of calm and safety in your daily life.
How can I support my relationships while managing the effects of trauma?
The effects of trauma can place strain on relationships, making communication and connection more challenging. Open communication, mutual understanding, and healthy boundaries are essential to staying connected with loved ones. At Sommer Psychology Group, we provide individual therapy to help you manage distress, regulate emotions, and build coping strategies that support both your well-being and your relationships. Strengthening these skills can improve communication, reduce conflict, and foster deeper, more resilient connections with the people who matter most.
How long will it take to me to get over my trauma?
Every person’s experience with trauma is unique, so the timeline for improvement can vary. Many people begin to notice relief after just a few therapy sessions, while full progress often unfolds over several weeks or months with consistent, focused treatment. The goal of therapy is to equip you with lasting skills to manage symptoms, regulate emotions, and respond to triggers more effectively—helping you feel more grounded, confident, and in control in your daily life.
Have More Questions?
Send us a message and we’ll get back to you shortly.
You acknowledge that by submitting this form, you are providing what may be considered “sensitive data” and consent to Sommer Psychology Group’s Privacy Policy & Terms. By submitting this information, you consent to receive communication from Sommer Psychology Group about our services via text, calls, or by email at the address provided.
