Trauma Therapy in New York

Begin your path to healing with expert, compassionate care.

Trauma Therapy in New York

Seeking help for trauma isn’t about “being strong” or “moving on. It’s about finding safe, skilled support that helps your nervous system settle and your life feel like yours again. At Citron Hennessey, we provide compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to your unique story, pace, and goals.

Our clinicians draw from proven approaches (including EMDR, CBT, ACT, DBT, and more) to help you process painful experiences, reduce symptoms, and build resilience.

If you’re searching for trauma therapy New York residents can trust, you’ll find accessible options both in-person and online, delivered with respect, clarity, and practical tools you can use between sessions. Our focus is simple: healing that fits real life in New York City.

Understanding Trauma and Its Effects

Trauma is any experience that overwhelms your coping abilities and leaves a lasting imprint on how safe, connected, and in control you feel. It isn’t limited to catastrophic events. Many people carry the effects of chronic stressors or relational wounds that others never saw. Naming that truth reduces stigma and opens the door to care that meets you where you are.

Common sources include childhood adversity and neglect, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, accidents or injuries, medical procedures or sudden illness, loss or complicated grief, community or identity-based harm, and high-stress work environments. Each person’s story is unique, and effective care honors that uniqueness while offering clear, evidence-based paths forward.

Trauma can touch every part of life. You might notice intrusive memories or nightmares, anxiety, irritability, or feeling “shut down.” Concentration and sleep can suffer. The body often carries the load, appearing as muscle tension, headaches, stomach issues, or a constant startle response. Relationships can feel strained, with patterns of withdrawal, people-pleasing, or conflict. Work may become harder due to burnout, hypervigilance, or perfectionism.

None of this means you are broken. It means your system has adapted to survive. With the right support, those adaptations can soften, and stability, connection, and confidence can grow.

What Is Trauma Therapy?

Trauma therapy is a structured, evidence-based process that helps you safely work through distressing events and the patterns that formed around them. In sessions, we build a foundation of safety and then process painful memories at a pace that feels manageable.

Common goals include reducing symptoms like anxiety, depression, and hypervigilance; improving sleep and focus; and restoring a grounded sense of safety in your body and daily life.

At Citron Hennessey, we tailor care by combining modalities including EMDR, CBT/REBT, ACT, DBT, AEDP, and Choice Theory/Reality Therapy so that your treatment aligns with your unique history, values, and goals.

Therapies We Use for Trauma Treatment in New York

Below are the core approaches our clinicians use, explained in plain language so you know what to expect.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR helps your brain reprocess distressing memories so they feel less overwhelming in the present. Using structured sets of bilateral stimulation (such as guided eye movements), we work through “stuck” memories and associated beliefs, allowing your nervous system to resolve what it could not at the time. EMDR has a strong evidence base for post-traumatic stress and related symptoms.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)

CBT and REBT teach you to identify thought patterns that keep you anxious, ashamed, or on edge, then practice healthier, more accurate ways of thinking. In session and between sessions, you’ll use practical tools such as thought records, behavioral experiments, and skills practice to shift unhelpful beliefs and behaviors. The focus is collaborative, skills-based, and action-oriented.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps you relate to tough thoughts and body sensations in a new way—by noticing them, making room for them, and still choosing actions that align with your values. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) combines mindfulness with skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and healthier communication, allowing you to navigate triggers without shutting down or escalating. Together, these approaches promote flexibility, self-compassion, and a more stable day-to-day life.

Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) and Choice Theory/Reality Therapy

AEDP focuses on healing through secure emotional connection by slowing down in-session, naming feelings safely, and experiencing corrective moments that help reorganize old patterns. Choice Theory/Reality Therapy emphasizes personal agency and practical problem-solving, helping you clarify what you can control and make choices that move you toward the life you want. Both approaches support lasting change from the inside out.

Benefits of Trauma Therapy in New York

Trauma therapy can help you feel steadier day to day. Many clients notice improved emotional regulation with fewer spikes of anxiety or low mood, along with better sleep and concentration. As distressing memories lose their intensity, intrusive thoughts and hyperarousal often ease, giving you more room to think clearly and respond rather than react.

Relationships can become healthier as communication softens and boundaries feel safer. Over time, you may experience greater self-awareness, confidence, and resilience, which are practical changes that can be applied in your work, family life, and physical well-being. Our team uses structured, evidence-based care and a pace that respects your nervous system and your story.

Who Can Benefit from Trauma Therapy?

Adults are carrying ongoing distress from past events, whether single incidents or chronic stressors.
People notice relationship patterns tied to unresolved hurt (withdrawal, people-pleasing, conflict, or mistrust).
Professionals juggling intense work demands alongside trauma responses like hypervigilance, burnout, or perfectionism.

Citron Hennessey focuses on outpatient psychotherapy for adults. We do not specialize in Bipolar I disorder, borderline personality disorder, heavy substance use, eating disorders, or schizophrenia; if those needs are primary, we’ll help you find an appropriate referral.

In-Person and Virtual Trauma Therapy Options

You can meet with us in person or online. It’s about whatever best supports your schedule and privacy. We offer in-person sessions at our office in Manhattan. Many New Yorkers opt for virtual therapy for added flexibility, while others prefer the personalized focus of face-to-face care; both options are available throughout the state. Sessions are designed to be accessible for busy NYC professionals, with daytime and evening availability.

Why Choose Citron Hennessey for Trauma Therapy in New York?

Finding a therapist is a personal decision. You want someone warm, who listens closely, and has the necessary expertise. Our team comprises clinicians trained in trauma-focused approaches, including EMDR, CBT/REBT, ACT, DBT, AEDP, and Choice Theory/Reality Therapy. This allows us to match the method to you, rather than forcing a template.

We start by getting to know your goals and the pace that feels safe, then we check in often and adjust together. Many people come to us through word of mouth, and we take that trust seriously by providing clear communication and consistent care.

You can meet in our central Manhattan (Flatiron) office or online through secure telehealth.

Trauma Therapy New York: Take the First Step Today

Reaching out for help can feel daunting. If you’re reading this, you’ve already done something brave—naming that you want life to feel safer and more grounded. Trauma therapy offers a clear path forward: we build safety, process what hurts, and practice practical skills you can use between sessions. Healing is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone.

Contact Citron Hennessey Therapy to learn more about trauma therapy in New York. We’ll answer your questions and help you determine the next steps that best fit your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma Therapy

How long does trauma therapy take?

There isn’t a single timeline because your goals, history, and pace are unique. Some people feel meaningful relief within a few months, while others benefit from longer-term work, especially when their experiences were chronic or complex. We collaborate on a plan, check in regularly about progress, and adjust session frequency to fit your needs and schedule.
Can trauma therapy help with anxiety and depression?

Yes. Many people notice improvements in anxiety, low mood, sleep, and concentration as their nervous system settles and distressing memories lose intensity. We use evidence-based approaches (such as EMDR, CBT/REBT, ACT, DBT, AEDP) to address trauma responses and the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that accompany them.
Is virtual trauma therapy effective?

Yes—when it’s done with structure, a clear plan, and strong safety practices, virtual trauma therapy can work very well. Many New Yorkers choose telehealth for its privacy and flexibility; others feel most grounded when meeting face-to-face. We offer both in-person sessions at our Flatiron office and secure telehealth services across New York. We’ll decide together what fits your goals and comfort level at this time. You can always change formats as your needs evolve.
What if I feel nervous about starting therapy?

Feeling hesitant is normal. We’ll begin by focusing on safety and comfort, setting goals together, agreeing on a pace, and introducing simple skills that you can practice between sessions. You remain in control of what you share and when. Our role is to guide, not push, so that you can build confidence step by step.