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How we work

Trauma-informed care
in Houston

Trauma-informed care is not a single technique. It is a way of working that keeps you safe and in control at every step, built on the understanding that what you have been through shapes how you heal. At The Lovett Center, our therapists are trained to recognize trauma and treat it with patience, never asking you to relive it before you are ready.

Talk to someone Call (713) 589-5991

Outpatient care in Montrose, Houston. Most major insurance accepted.

A man sitting calmly on a sofa by a sunlit window in a warm Houston living room, a mug in his hands, settled and at ease, looking quietly forward.

The approach

Care that starts
with safety.

Trauma-informed care recognizes how common trauma is, and how deeply it can shape the way a person thinks, feels, and relates to others. Rather than treating symptoms in isolation, it brings that awareness into every part of the work.

The idea is simple: healing begins with feeling safe. Trauma changes how a person experiences safety, trust, and relationships, so a trauma-informed approach makes those things the foundation of care rather than an afterthought. You stay in control of the pace, and the work is built around what feels manageable for you.

That stance runs through everything we do, from the first conversation to the way sessions are paced. We pay attention to the mind and the body together, because trauma often shows up as physical symptoms as much as emotional ones, and we make sure the process never leaves you feeling re-traumatized.

Explore all our therapies
A calm, light-filled consultation room at The Lovett Center in Montrose, Houston, with a soft gray sofa, a wingback chair, and a window looking onto green trees.

Where it helps

What we use trauma-informed
care for at Lovett.

Trauma rarely stays in one lane. These are the conditions we most often treat with a trauma-informed approach, on their own or alongside one another. It also supports healing from grief, loss, and the lasting effects of adverse childhood experiences.

  • Trauma and PTSD

    When a past event still surfaces as flashbacks, nightmares, or hypervigilance, trauma-informed care gives you a safe, steady way to work through it at your own pace.

    Trauma and PTSD care

  • Anxiety and panic

    Anxiety often has roots in something earlier that never felt safe to face. We treat the symptoms and the experiences underneath them, not one without the other.

    Anxiety treatment

  • Depression and emotional numbness

    Trauma can leave you feeling flat, disconnected, or heavy long after the event. A trauma-informed approach works on those roots so the weight begins to lift.

    Depression treatment

  • Substance use and co-occurring conditions

    Trauma frequently sits underneath addiction. We treat both together in one plan, healing the wounds that made substances feel necessary rather than passing you between programs.

    Dual diagnosis care
See everything we treat

Is it right for you

When trauma-informed
care helps.

Trauma shows up differently in everyone. Here is an honest read on when this approach tends to help, and what it is and is not.

  • A good fit when the past keeps intruding on the present

    If a particular event or a long stretch of distress keeps surfacing as fear, images, or a racing heart, trauma-informed care helps you process it without being overwhelmed.

  • A good fit when you have felt unsafe or unheard in treatment before

    Many trauma survivors have had care that felt rushed or dismissive. This approach is built so you stay in control, set the pace, and never feel re-traumatized in the room.

  • A good fit when symptoms do not have an obvious cause

    Unexplained headaches, fatigue, trouble trusting people, or feeling disconnected can all trace back to trauma. We work with the mind-body connection, not just the surface symptom.

  • It is a way of working, not a single technique

    Trauma-informed care shapes how every part of your treatment is delivered. Inside it we use specific evidence-based therapies such as EMDR, CBT, and group work, matched to you.

  • It will not force you to relive what happened

    You stay within what feels manageable. We build safety and coping skills first, and several of the approaches we use do not require describing the trauma in detail.

The evidence

A recognized framework,
backed by real research.

Trauma-informed care is a recognized clinical framework, not a marketing phrase. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration describes it through six guiding principles: safety, trustworthiness and transparency, peer support, collaboration, empowerment, and attention to cultural, historical, and gender issues. Those principles shape how we deliver every part of treatment.

Trauma is also closely tied to specific conditions. The National Institute of Mental Health explains that traumatic experiences can lead to lasting symptoms such as intrusive memories, avoidance, and hyperarousal, and that the main treatments are psychotherapy, medication, or both. Importantly, it notes that trauma is treatable, and that an experienced clinician can help find the plan that fits your symptoms.

Within a trauma-informed approach, we draw on therapies with strong evidence behind them. The American Psychological Association points to trauma-focused therapies for post-traumatic stress, and we use approaches including EMDR, CBT, DBT, family therapy, and group therapy, matched to what you need.

At The Lovett Center, trauma-informed care is delivered by trained members of our licensed clinical team, including trauma-focused therapists such as Marina Rathjens, LCSW, C-DBT, who use it within our outpatient programs in Houston.

Where it happens

Care that fits
your life.

Trauma-informed care at The Lovett Center is outpatient, so you live at home and keep up with work, school, and family while you do the work. The right level of structure depends on what you need right now.

A quiet one-on-one outpatient therapy office with soft natural light.

Outpatient Program (OP)

Regular individual sessions at a steadier pace, including step-down care after a more intensive program.

Compare all levels of care

Common questions

Trauma-informed care,
answered.

There is no single best therapy for everyone. Trauma-focused approaches with strong evidence include EMDR and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, and we also use individual, group, and family work depending on what you need. What matters most is that the care is trauma-informed, meaning it is delivered in a way that keeps you safe and in control. We start with an assessment and match the approach to you, not the other way around.

Learn about EMDR

It depends on the kind of trauma and what you are working toward. The National Institute of Mental Health notes that psychotherapy for trauma usually lasts about 6 to 12 weeks but can run longer, especially for complex or long-standing trauma. Your therapist sets the pace with you and adjusts as you go, so it is never a fixed timeline imposed from outside.

No. One of the core principles is safety, so you work within what feels manageable and are never pushed beyond it. We build grounding and coping skills first, and several of the approaches we use, including EMDR, do not require describing the trauma in detail. The goal is to process the experience so it carries less charge, not to make you live through it again.

Clear, detailed memories are not required for healing. Trauma is often stored in the body and nervous system even when the conscious mind does not hold a clean account of it, and trauma-informed therapy works with whatever awareness you have. You do not need to reconstruct exactly what happened to feel better.

Yes. Unresolved trauma is one of the most common drivers of substance use, and addressing it is often essential for lasting recovery. When a mental health condition and substance use occur together, we treat both in one integrated plan rather than treating the addiction alone and leaving the trauma untouched.

Dual diagnosis care

In many cases, yes. The Lovett Center is in network with major insurers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Magellan, and TriWest, and we also work with out-of-network benefits and self-pay. Because coverage and any out-of-pocket cost vary by plan, the surest way to know is to verify your benefits with us.

Verify your insurance

Start the conversation

Healing is possible,
and you do not have to do it alone.

When you are ready, a real person at The Lovett Center will listen and help you find the next step, whether that is trauma-focused therapy, another approach, or simply a conversation about what is going on. No pressure, no commitment.

  • A real person, not a call center
  • Most major insurance accepted
  • Confidential from the first call

Prefer to call?

(713) 589-5991

Every conversation is confidential. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 any time to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.