Trauma Therapy in Austin

At Neema Counseling, we offer trauma and PTSD therapy at our Austin office on Rio Grande Street in West Campus, three blocks from the University of Texas. In person in Austin, you can meet with a counselor in English or in Spanish. We also see clients online anywhere in Texas, which many people find easier when they are just starting out.

Neema is the Swahili word for grace. Trauma has a way of convincing people that they should be over it by now. We want our office to be a place where you can stop pretending you are fine and start healing at a pace that feels safe.

How do I find a PTSD therapist in Austin?

Look for a licensed counselor who is trained in trauma-informed care, who takes your insurance or offers a rate you can manage, and who you feel comfortable talking to. That last part matters more than most people expect.

A good first step is a short phone consultation. Ask the counselor how they work with trauma, how they will help you feel steady before you talk about the hardest parts, and whether they offer in-person sessions, online sessions, or both. At Neema, the first 15-minute consultation is free, and our care coordinator will help match you with a counselor whose approach and schedule fit what you need.

Signs that trauma may still be affecting you

Trauma often shows up in what your mind and body learned to do to get through a hard experience. People who come to us often describe things like:

• Feeling on guard most of the time. You notice every exit, every tone of voice, every change in someone's mood.
• Reactions that seem bigger than the moment. A sound, a smell, or a raised voice can bring back feelings you thought you had put away.
• Avoiding places, people, or conversations. Over time your world can get smaller without you quite noticing.
• Trouble sleeping or concentrating. Nightmares, a racing mind, or a fog that makes school or work harder than it should be.
• Feeling numb or far away. Some people describe watching their own life from a distance.
• Struggling in relationships. Trust can feel risky, and closeness can feel both wanted and frightening.

If some of this sounds familiar, these are common responses to experiences that were too much to carry alone. You can read more in our article on signs of unresolved trauma.

What we help with

People come to our Austin office after many different kinds of experiences, including:

• Childhood abuse, neglect, or a chaotic home. What you learned growing up about safety and love can shape your relationships today.
• Assault or violence. Including experiences you have never told anyone about.
• Car accidents, medical trauma, and sudden loss. Single events can leave lasting effects, even years later.
• Betrayal in a relationship. An affair or a long pattern of deception can produce trauma symptoms of its own.
• Church hurt and spiritual abuse. When harm happened in a faith community, it can be hard to know where to turn.
• Immigration and displacement. Leaving home, family separation, and what happened along the way.

How trauma therapy works

Trauma therapy usually moves through three stages. First, you and your counselor build safety and stability, so you have tools for the moments when your body reacts before your mind can catch up. Then, when you are ready, you begin to process what happened. Finally, you work on rebuilding the parts of your life that trauma has crowded out.

Our counselors use an eclectic approach, so what this looks like depends on your therapist. Depending on who you see, sessions may draw on trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR, cognitive processing therapy, family systems work, or attachment-focused care. You can read more about these approaches on our main trauma therapy page.

Treatment works. A large review of 64 clinical trials of psychological treatments for PTSD found that several approaches, including cognitive processing therapy, cognitive therapy, exposure-based therapy, and EMDR, led to large reductions in PTSD symptoms.

Is online trauma therapy as effective as meeting in person?

For most people, yes. A meta-analysis of randomized trials comparing teletherapy with in-person therapy found no meaningful difference in outcomes between the two.

Some people find it easier to talk about painful things from their own home, especially at first. Others want the separation of a room that is just for counseling. You can choose either one, and many clients mix the two. Learn more about online counseling across Texas.

Where does faith fit in trauma therapy?

At Neema Counseling, we believe that faith and science are meant to work together, not contradict each other. We are a Christian counseling practice, and if your faith matters to you, it can be part of your healing as much as you would like it to be. For some clients that means bringing their questions about God and suffering into the room. For others, especially those hurt in a church setting, it means taking faith slowly or leaving it aside for now.

Research supports giving people that choice. A review of research on religion, spirituality, and health found that religious involvement is often linked with better coping and more hope. Clients of every background are welcome, and you decide how much faith is part of the conversation. Learn more about our approach to Christian counseling in Austin.

Who sees trauma clients in person in Austin

Elvia Delgado, LPC-Associate (supervised by Lauren Jones, LPC-S) sees teens, college students, adults, couples, and families at our Austin office and online, and trauma is one of the concerns she works with. She is fluent in Spanish and English, so you can meet in either language. Her approach integrates Bowen Family Systems and cognitive behavioral therapy. She is able to see clients with Aetna and Cigna, and see clients virtually with Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Online trauma therapy with our wider team

These counselors see clients online anywhere in Texas, including Austin:

• Hallie Nicholls, LPC-Associate (supervised by Lynn Strom, LPC-S) draws from EMDR, cognitive behavioral therapy, and solution-focused therapy. She works with people who are grieving a significant loss and those healing from church hurt. She is able to see clients with Aetna and Cigna.
• Fabian Armenta, LPC works with adults in English and Spanish, especially people who feel overwhelmed by anxious thoughts and strong emotions. He is in network with Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, UMR, Oscar, Ambetter, Lyra, Magellan, Superior, and Medicaid.
• Allison Sims, LMFT-Associate (supervised by Heather Timmis, LMFT-S) works with individuals, couples, and families, including those living with the aftermath of trauma. She is able to see clients with Aetna and Cigna.

Some people feel more comfortable talking about trauma with a counselor of the same gender. If that matters to you, let us know when you call and we will take it into account when we match you.

Rates and insurance

Sessions with a Licensed Professional Counselor are $175 for the intake and $150 for each ongoing individual session. With an LPC or LMFT Associate, the intake is $150 and ongoing individual sessions are $135.

We are in network with many plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare, and each counselor's networks are listed above. Our care coordinator checks your benefits before you are charged anything. We accept cash and credit cards, including FSA and HSA funds.

Some of our counselors also have openings for reduced-rate sessions based on household size and income. If cost is what's holding you back, please ask us about it. You can find all of the details on our rates and insurance page.

Finding our Austin office

Our office is at 2717 Rio Grande Street, Austin, TX 78705, in West Campus. It is an easy walk for UT students and a short drive from Hyde Park, North Loop, Mueller, Clarksville, and downtown. You can find directions and parking information on our website.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to talk about what happened in the first session? No. The first sessions are about getting to know you and building a sense of safety. You decide when and how much to share.

What is the difference between trauma and PTSD? Trauma is the experience and its effects. PTSD is a specific diagnosis for a set of symptoms that last more than a month after a traumatic event, such as intrusive memories, avoidance, and feeling constantly on guard. You do not need a PTSD diagnosis to benefit from trauma therapy.

Do you offer EMDR in Austin? Hallie Nicholls draws from EMDR and sees clients online anywhere in Texas, including Austin. Ask our care coordinator about the best fit for you.

Can I see a counselor in Spanish? Yes. Elvia Delgado sees clients in Spanish at our Austin office and online, and Fabian Armenta sees clients in Spanish online.

Do I have to be a Christian? No. Clients of every background are welcome, and faith is never required.

How do I get started? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation or call us at 512.669.5701. We will talk about what brings you in and help you find the right counselor.

How do I take the first step?

Reaching out is often the hardest part. A free 15-minute consultation is a low-pressure way to ask questions and see whether we are a good fit. Schedule your consultation here.

Written by Lauren Jones, LPC-S, Director of Neema Counseling.

This page is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or call 911.

References

Cusack, K., Jonas, D. E., Forneris, C. A., Wines, C., Sonis, J., Middleton, J. C., Feltner, C., Brownley, K. A., Olmsted, K. R., Greenblatt, A., Weil, A., & Gaynes, B. N. (2016). Psychological treatments for adults with posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 43, 128–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2015.10.003

Koenig, H. G. (2012). Religion, spirituality, and health: The research and clinical implications. ISRN Psychiatry, 2012, 278730. https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/278730

Lin, T., Heckman, T. G., & Anderson, T. (2022). The efficacy of synchronous teletherapy versus in-person therapy: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 29(2), 167–178. https://doi.org/10.1037/cps0000056