Trauma is not defined only by what happened, it is also shaped by how your mind and body responded to it, and how those experiences may still be affecting you today.
For some people, trauma comes from a single overwhelming event.
For others, it comes from ongoing experiences such as childhood environments, relational harm, emotional neglect, medical trauma, identity-based stress, or situations where safety or support was not consistently available.
At Orange Tree Psychotherapy, we provide trauma therapy in Phoenix and throughout Arizona through both in-person therapy and telehealth sessions. Our therapists offer a grounded, compassionate approach to trauma treatment that honors your pace, your story, and your capacity.
We also provide affirming, inclusive care for LGBTQIA+ individuals, neurodivergent clients, and people navigating trauma related to identity, relationships, or systemic stress.
What Trauma Can Look Like
Feeling constantly on edge or easily startled, hyper-vigilance
Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected from yourself
Anxiety, panic, or persistent worry
Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe in relationships
Flashbacks, intrusive memories or images, nightmares
Avoiding certain people, places, or memories
Certain body sensations, touch, sounds, smells, songs, or tastes can feel triggering
Feeling stuck in patterns that are hard to change
Strong emotional reactions that feel difficult to control
Chronic shame, self-criticism, or feelings of being “too much” or “not enough”
If this resonates, trauma therapy can help you better understand what your nervous system has been carrying.
Trauma does not always look obvious from the outside. It can show up in many different ways, including:
How We Approach Trauma Therapy
Trauma therapy at Orange Tree Psychotherapy is slow, collaborative, and focused on building safety before anything else.
We do not rush into processing difficult experiences. Instead, we begin by helping you build a sense of stability, choice, and trust in your internal experience.
Our approach to trauma therapy may include:
EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
Somatic and body-based approaches
Mindfulness-based and grounding practices
Attachment-focused and relational therapy
Nervous system regulation skills
Trauma healing is not about forcing yourself to revisit the past, it is about creating enough safety in the present to process what has been held inside you.
You Do Not Need to “Know” It Was Trauma
Many people hesitate to seek trauma therapy because they are unsure if what they experienced “counts.”
If something in your past or present continues to affect how you feel, relate, or move through the world, it is worth paying attention to.
You do not need a formal diagnosis or a clear label to begin trauma therapy.
What Healing Can Look Like
Trauma therapy is not about erasing the past, it is about changing your relationship to it and reducing its impact on your present life. Over time, clients often experience:
Over time, clients often experience:
A greater sense of internal safety and grounding
Reduced anxiety, hypervigilance, or emotional overwhelm
Improved relationships and boundaries
Less self-blame and self-criticism
A stronger sense of identity and self-trust
More choice in how they respond to stress or triggers
Healing looks different for everyone, and it is not linear.
Who This Is For
Childhood or developmental trauma
Relationship or attachment trauma
Emotional neglect or invalidation
Medical or health-related trauma
Identity-based trauma or discrimination
High-stress or overwhelming life experiences
Complex trauma patterns that feel hard to untangle
We provide trauma therapy for individuals who are experiencing the effects of:
Many of our clients are also navigating anxiety, depression, neurodivergence, or relationship challenges alongside trauma experiences.
In-Person & Online Trauma Therapy in Arizona
We offer trauma therapy in Phoenix, with in-person sessions available at our Midtown location. We also provide secure telehealth therapy for clients throughout Arizona.
What It’s Like to Work With Us
Our approach is warm, steady, and grounded in respect for your nervous system. We move at a pace that feels safe, not forced.
We believe trauma therapy works best when there is trust, collaboration, and the freedom to go slowly.
You are always in control of the pace and depth of the work.
Getting Started
If you are wondering whether trauma therapy might help, you do not need to be certain before reaching out.
You can take the next step in whatever way feels most comfortable:
We’re here when you’re ready.
Meet the Therapists Who Support This Work
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![A smiling woman with curly teal and blue hair, wearing glasses, a white shirt, and black pants, standing with hands clasped in front of her. She has tattoos on her arms and is standing against a plain background with a plant to her right.]()
Ashley Lawrence, LPC, BC-TMH (they/she)
Trauma-informed care with a focus on LGBTQIA+ affirmation and healing
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![A young woman with long, wavy brown hair wearing a blue dress standing outdoors with a blurred background of trees and sunlight.]()
Caitlin Rudgear, LPC (she/her)
Supporting self-worth, body image healing, and trauma recovery
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![A woman with long dark hair, glasses, and earrings, smiling in front of a colorful tapestry background, wearing a yellow and black patterned top.]()
Kayla Messinger, LPC, RPT (they/she)
Neurodivergence-affirming, trauma-informed support grounded in connection and nervous system awareness
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![A woman smiling, sitting on a couch, with a candle and a sign that says "YOU GOT THIS" on the table in front of her.]()
Winter Groeschl, LPC (she/they)
Compassionate support for anxiety, trauma, body image, and identity-related stress
