Trauma Treatment in Gainesville, FL
Sage Wellness offers counselors in Gainesville, FL with specialized training in trauma-informed, compassionate therapy focused on helping people heal and recover. Many people question whether their trauma “counts” or worry it “wasn’t bad enough” to justify getting help. Trauma is about its impact on your life and relationships, not how it compares to someone else’s experience, and you deserve support.
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What Counts as Trauma?
Many people experience trauma at some point in their lives. Our therapists have helped clients heal from car accidents, verbal, physical, or sexual abuse, the loss of a loved one, experiencing or witnessing violence, natural disasters, threats of violence, medical trauma, loss of income or independence due to disability, and isolation or loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. These are just a few examples. With love and support, many people recover over time, but for others, trauma has lasting effects that keep them from living the life they deserve. When symptoms persist, they may reflect post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Signs You May Need Help for Trauma
- Avoiding people, places, or things that remind you of the trauma
- Increased anxiety, depression, guilt, or numbness
- Intrusive thoughts, nightmares, or flashbacks
- Anger, irritability, or hypervigilance
- Sleep problems
- Difficulty remembering details of the distressing event
- Changes in habits or behavior since the trauma
- Strain in relationships or difficulty trusting others
Types of Trauma Treatment at Sage Wellness
We use a range of empirically supported approaches, including two highly effective trauma recovery methods: Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Both are evidence-based treatments for resolving symptoms and memories of trauma using bilateral stimulation (BLS). BLS is typically guided eye movements but can also include tapping or audio tones. It simulates the eye movements of REM sleep and, combined with other elements of ART and EMDR, changes how the brain stores and recalls traumatic images and memories. As a result, clients are much less affected by distressing memories, and triggers can be dramatically reduced and sometimes eliminated.
Healing Without Reliving Every Detail
ART and EMDR offer a unique approach to trauma healing because they do not require you to verbally relive painful memories in detail. Instead, both therapies use BLS to activate the brain’s natural healing processes, so distressing memories can be reprocessed without in-depth discussion of the events. A special aspect of ART is that clients replace negative images with positive ones. ART sessions are calming, and many clients experience relief within one to two sessions.
Our therapists also integrate trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, DBT skills for emotional regulation, and mindfulness to help you feel safe and grounded in your body again.
Trauma Support for Individuals, Couples, and Families
Trauma care is available through individual therapy for adults and kids and teens counseling for young survivors. When trauma affects relationships, couples therapy and family therapy can help loved ones heal together, and group therapy can reduce isolation. Learn about related concerns such as panic attacks and grief and loss, or meet our trauma-trained therapists.
If you are in crisis, call 911, call or text 988, or call the Alachua County Crisis Center at 352-264-6789.
Trauma Treatment FAQs
Does my trauma count if it was not severe?
Yes. Trauma is defined by its impact on your life and relationships, not by comparison to others. If an experience continues to affect you, it deserves care.
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR is an evidence-based therapy that uses bilateral stimulation, usually guided eye movements, to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they become less distressing.
What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy?
ART is an evidence-based trauma therapy that uses bilateral stimulation and helps clients replace negative images with positive ones. Many clients experience relief within one to two sessions.
Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?
No. ART and EMDR allow memories to be reprocessed without requiring you to verbally relive painful details.
How is bilateral stimulation done?
Bilateral stimulation is typically done with guided eye movements, but tapping techniques or audio tones can be used instead.
Do you provide trauma therapy for children?
Yes. Our kids and teens counselors provide trauma-informed care and collaborate with parents to support healing at home.
How do I start trauma treatment?
Call or text (352) 474-8882 or request an appointment online. We will match you with a trauma-trained therapist and offer a free phone consultation.
Begin Your Trauma Recovery
Healing is possible, and you deserve to feel safe again. Call or text (352) 474-8882 - 8th Ave Office or (352) 474-8882 - Haile Village Office to schedule a free phone consultation with a trauma-informed therapist at Sage Wellness.
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