Photo of Shanna J. Evering, Licensed Professional Counselor in Houston, TX
Shanna J. Evering
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LCPC, LPC
Verified Verified
16 Endorsed
Houston, TX 77098
I am a certified clinical trauma professional with EMDR training.
Have you ever just wanted to sit down to off-load something that’s been eating away at you for too long? Recognizing the need for help and seeking professional therapy is a sign of strength and determination to live a productive and meaningful life. As a part of living our lives, we may encounter situations that are difficult to manage alone. Some seek support due to a situational crisis. Others seek treatment as a necessary aspect of managing a medical disorder, commonly known as a mental illness. Whether you are experiencing a life adjustment or more complex medical conditions, it is a well known fact that therapy helps.
I am a certified clinical trauma professional with EMDR training.
Have you ever just wanted to sit down to off-load something that’s been eating away at you for too long? Recognizing the need for help and seeking professional therapy is a sign of strength and determination to live a productive and meaningful life. As a part of living our lives, we may encounter situations that are difficult to manage alone. Some seek support due to a situational crisis. Others seek treatment as a necessary aspect of managing a medical disorder, commonly known as a mental illness. Whether you are experiencing a life adjustment or more complex medical conditions, it is a well known fact that therapy helps.
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Trauma and PTSD Therapists

When should I seek treatment for trauma?

Not everyone who undergoes trauma needs therapy to heal, but many do. If, after experiencing a traumatic event, you find yourself struggling with symptoms such as nightmares, dissociation, irritability, or emotional numbness—especially if these symptoms last more than a month and are severe enough to interfere with your daily functioning—you may benefit from seeking out therapy with a trauma-informed provider.

How long does trauma therapy take?

Different types of therapy for trauma unfold on different timelines. Prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive processing therapy, for example, each take about three months, while trauma-informed CBT may last anywhere from 8 to 25 sessions. Other approaches, especially those that are less structured or that incorporate elements from multiple modalities, may be more open-ended, though many patients report feeling better within the first few months of treatment.

What happens if trauma is left untreated?

Unaddressed trauma can have serious—even devastating—effects on relationships, career, and day-to-day functioning. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can lead people to distrust or lash out at others, making it difficult to maintain intimate relationships; it can also trigger symptoms such as flashbacks or hyperreactivity that can interfere with a person’s ability to function effectively, personally and/or professionally. Some sufferers turn to drugs to find relief. Symptoms may lessen on their own with time, but there is no guarantee that PTSD will resolve on its own.

Can PTSD come back after treatment?

It is possible for PTSD symptoms to recur months or years after successful treatment. This is because, like most mental health disorders, it is not possible to “cure” PTSD, and stressful life events may cause symptoms to recur in even the most resilient individuals. There is no shame in re-experiencing PTSD symptoms nor in returning to therapy when such relapses occur; indeed, many forms of trauma therapy explicitly encourage periodic “maintenance sessions” to reinforce coping skills and ensure that symptoms stay manageable.