Your guide to finding a trauma-informed therapist

Looking for any new therapist can be daunting, but especially so when you’re trying to find one with specific expertise. Here’s a step-by-step guide to locating a trauma-informed therapist.

What to look for in a trauma therapist

Unfortunately, there is no single license or degree that automatically signals a therapist is trauma-trained. And since “trauma” has become a popular term colloquially, it’s also not enough for a therapist to simply say they’re “trauma-informed” or “trauma-sensitive” in their biography. 

Look for providers who have demonstrated experience using approaches like cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or somatic therapies. Trauma-focused organizations including the Trauma Institute & Child Trauma Institute, the Attachment and Trauma Network, and Somatic Experiencing International also run certification programs and publish provider directories, which you can use to find vetted clinicians. 

Consider your resources for trauma therapy

Once you’ve determined that a provider offers treatments that are appropriate for trauma care, you should also make sure you’re able to see them. 

Sadly, specialized treatment approaches can be costlier than general talk therapy, and providers who practice these techniques may not accept insurance. If you are not able to pay out-of-pocket, make sure any prospective therapists take your insurance plan before you start meeting with them.

If you have a strong preference about seeing a provider in-person or online, you should also make sure appointments are possible in your preferred setting. (The good news: research suggests many therapeutic approaches, including some used for trauma, are still effective when delivered virtually.)

Search for trauma therapists with your needed specialties and insurance coverage

When searching for a therapist, it’s smart to be as specific as possible. Using online provider directories like Headway’s is a great way to get targeted results. 

Headway’s directory, for example, allows you to search for therapists by their specialty, level of training, accepted insurance plans, appointment locations, and more. Given the sensitive nature of trauma therapy, you may also prefer to see a therapist of a particular gender or ethnic background. Headway’s directory allows you to filter your results to reflect those preferences, too.

Carefully evaluate trauma therapists’ bios to evaluate fit

Once you’ve narrowed your search to a few different options, take a close look at each therapist’s biography. Most therapist bios include a snapshot of their typical therapeutic approaches, the mood they try to strike in sessions, or even the types of clients who tend to like their style. All of that information is important to take into account, as there are lots of factors that determine whether a client-provider relationship will click. In addition to having the right training and specialties, a therapist also needs to be a personality and culture fit for you.

As you search, try to imagine how you would like your therapy sessions to feel. Do you want a therapist who actively or passively leads discussions? One who is funny or serious? Are you looking for unconditional support or tough love? Does a particular treatment approach seem like a fit for your symptoms? Once you have a vision in mind, try to choose a professional whose style and training seems to best match it. 

Set up an introductory session

Most therapists offer short, free consultations by phone or video. These introductory sessions allow you to get a better feel for culture and personality match, and give you a chance to ask questions that are important to you. Remember, it’s perfectly OK — and even encouraged — to have consultations with a few different therapists before you commit to one. 

When interviewing a potential trauma therapist, consider asking questions like:

• What is your experience working with trauma? 
• What sort of training do you have in trauma therapy? 
• Which trauma treatment approaches do you use, and how would you treat a client like me?
• How would you describe your approach to trauma-informed therapy? 
• What does being a trauma-informed therapist mean to you?
• How do you define successful treatment?

Get a referral from a trusted provider

If searching for a trauma-informed therapist online feels too overwhelming, you have other options. If you already have a psychiatrist, primary care doctor, or other trusted health care professional, they may be able to offer you a referral to a qualified provider. You can even ask therapists who you’ve worked with in the past (or who you met with for introductory sessions) whether they have trauma-informed colleagues they’d recommend. Most mental health providers are happy to offer suggestions and won’t take this question personally.