Trauma & PTSD

What Is Trauma?

Trauma is the emotional and psychological response to an experience — or series of experiences — that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. Traumatic experiences can be singular events, such as an accident or assault, or ongoing, such as chronic abuse, neglect, or exposure to violence. Trauma is not defined by the event itself but by its impact on the person who experienced it. What is deeply traumatizing for one person may not be for another — and both responses are valid.

What Is PTSD?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a clinical condition that can develop after exposure to a traumatic event. It is characterized by intrusive symptoms such as flashbacks and nightmares, avoidance of reminders of the trauma, negative changes in mood and thinking, and heightened arousal or reactivity. PTSD affects people of all ages — including children — and is highly treatable with the right therapeutic approach.

Common Signs of Trauma & PTSD

Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares related to the traumatic event

Emotional numbness or feeling detached from yourself or others

Avoiding people, places, or situations that serve as reminders of the trauma

Hypervigilance — feeling constantly on edge or easily startled

Difficulty sleeping or concentrating

Irritability, anger, or emotional outbursts that feel out of proportion

Persistent feelings of shame, guilt, or self-blame

Loss of interest in activities that once brought pleasure

Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, or chronic tension

How Trauma Can Affect Daily Life

Trauma does not stay in the past — it lives in the body and the nervous system, shaping how we relate to ourselves, others, and the world around us. It can affect the ability to trust, form close relationships, perform at work or school, and feel safe in everyday situations. For children and adolescents, unaddressed trauma can interfere with development, attachment, and academic functioning. Over time, untreated trauma increases the risk of depression, anxiety, substance use, and other mental health challenges.

When to Seek Therapy for Trauma or PTSD

• You are experiencing intrusive memories, nightmares, or flashbacks
• You are avoiding situations, people, or places connected to a past experience
• You feel emotionally shut down, numb, or disconnected from your life
• Your relationships are suffering because of trust issues, emotional reactivity, or withdrawal
• You recognize patterns in your life — chronic self-sabotage, difficulty with intimacy, persistent shame — that may be rooted in past experiences
• A child in your life has experienced something frightening and is showing behavioral or emotional changes
• You experienced something difficult and have never fully processed it

You do not need to meet full PTSD criteria to benefit from trauma therapy. Many people carry the effects of difficult experiences without a formal diagnosis.

How Therapy Can Help with Trauma & PTSD

Trauma therapy helps people process what happened in a safe, supported environment — reducing the power traumatic memories have over daily life and rebuilding a sense of safety, agency, and connection. Rather than requiring clients to relive events in detail, modern trauma therapy is carefully paced and evidence-based, designed to support healing without re-traumatization.

Our Approach to Trauma Therapy

At Dr. Inzinna Psychological Services, we take a trauma-informed approach across all of our clinical work — meaning we understand that many presenting concerns have roots in difficult past experiences, and we work accordingly. For clients whose primary focus is trauma or PTSD, treatment may draw from:

• Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: Explores how past experiences shape current patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Addresses the thoughts and avoidance behaviors that maintain PTSD symptoms
• DBT: Builds skills in distress tolerance and emotional regulation — particularly helpful when trauma has affected the ability to manage intense emotions
• Somatic and mindfulness-based approaches: Support reconnection with the body and the development of a sense of safety in the present moment

Treatment is always paced to the individual. We never push clients to go faster than feels safe.

Trauma Therapy for Children, Teens, and Adults

Trauma Therapy for Children : Children may not have the language to describe what they experienced, but trauma shows up in their behavior, play, sleep, and relationships. We use age-appropriate, evidence-based approaches — including play-based therapy and family involvement — to help children process difficult experiences and restore a sense of safety. Parents are active partners in the healing process.

Trauma Therapy for Teens: Adolescents who have experienced trauma may present with depression, anxiety, behavioral problems, school avoidance, or substance use — symptoms that can mask the underlying trauma if not identified. We provide a safe, nonjudgmental space for teens to process their experiences at their own pace, build coping skills, and begin to make sense of what happened without shame.

Trauma Therapy for Adults: Many adults seeking therapy carry the effects of childhood or adult trauma that has never been fully addressed. Whether the trauma is recent or decades old, therapy can help. We work with adults to process past experiences, understand how they have shaped current patterns, and build a life that is no longer defined by what happened to them.

Trauma and Related Concerns

Trauma and PTSD frequently co-occur with or contribute to:

• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Eating disorders
• Substance use
• Relationship difficulties
• Dissociation
• Chronic pain or somatic symptoms
• School refusal and behavioral problems in children
• Perinatal mental health challenges

What to Expect in Trauma Therapy

Your first session is a space to share your story at whatever pace feels right — you will never be pushed to disclose more than you are ready to. Your therapist will take time to understand your history, your current symptoms, and your goals for treatment. From there, sessions are collaborative and carefully paced. Trauma therapy is not about reliving the past — it is about developing the safety and tools to process it, so it no longer holds the same power over your present.

Is Trauma Therapy Right for You?

If past experiences are affecting your mood, relationships, or sense of self — even if you are not sure they qualify as “trauma” — therapy can help. Many people minimize their own experiences or wait years before seeking support. You deserve care regardless of whether what you experienced seems serious enough to others.

Why Choose Inzinna Therapy Group?

We are a clinician-owned, insurance-accepting practice on the Upper East Side of Manhattan with deep expertise in trauma-informed care. Our clinicians are trained in CBT, psychodynamic therapy, and DBT, and receive ongoing supervision to ensure the highest quality of care. We accept United Healthcare, Aetna, Oscar, and Oxford

Schedule Trauma & PTSD Therapy in New York City

We offer in-person sessions at our Upper East Side office and secure telehealth throughout New York State. Contact us at [email protected]