Trauma Therapy
Who is Trauma Therapy For?
Trauma isn't just about what happened to you; it's about how it continues to affect you. If you're experiencing challenges like hyperactivity, difficulty accessing emotions, or cycling between emotional highs and lows, trauma therapy might be the right step for you. At LEL Therapy, our virtual New York therapists take a therapeutic approach that is holistic, addressing the full spectrum of the trauma's impact, from daily functioning to deep-seated relational issues.
Our NYC therapists specialize in working with people of all genders and from all cultural backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ individuals across the state of New York. Our approach is culturally competent, body-inclusive, and sex-positive.
At LEL Therapy, we are dedicated to helping you transform post-traumatic stress into post-traumatic growth, empowering you to reclaim your life and move forward with resilience and hope. You don't have to face this journey alone—we're here to support you every step of the way. Experience virtual therapy with someone who truly gets it and is dedicated to helping you thrive!
Do I Need a Trauma Therapist?
At LEL Therapy, we provide compassionate and comprehensive support for individuals navigating the complexities of trauma. We understand that trauma can manifest in various forms, including:
Childhood Trauma: Experiences of neglect, abuse, or unsafe environments during formative years.
Single-Incident Trauma (PTSD): Acute traumatic events such as accidents, assaults, or sudden losses.
Complex Trauma (C-PTSD): Prolonged and repeated exposure to traumatic situations, often interpersonal in nature.
Sexual Trauma and Harassment: Unwanted sexual experiences and violations affecting individuals of any gender.
Vicarious Trauma: Indirect exposure to traumatic events through witnessing or hearing about them.
Whether you're experiencing symptoms like memory loss, hyperactivity, irritability, sleep disturbances, emotional dysregulation, or challenges in relationships, our trauma therapists are here to support you. We work with individuals whose daily functioning—socially, occupationally, and relationally—has been impacted by traumatic experiences.
Why Seek Trauma Therapy?
Trauma isn't just about what happened to you; it's about how those experiences continue to affect your life today. If you're struggling with:
Emotional Difficulties: Persistent feelings of fear, sadness, anger, or numbness.
Physical Symptoms: Chronic headaches, gastrointestinal issues, or other unexplained health problems.
Relationship Challenges: Difficulty forming or maintaining healthy connections with others.
Intrusive Memories or Flashbacks: Unwanted and distressing recollections of past events.
Avoidance Behaviors: Steering clear of places, people, or activities that trigger painful memories.
Seeking trauma therapy can help you process these experiences, regain control over your life, and foster resilience and growth. You don't have to navigate these challenges alone—our New York therapists are dedicated to walking alongside you every step of the way.
What to Expect from Virtual Trauma Therapy with an LEL Therapist:
Our trauma therapy approach is structured around three transformative phases, from Judith Herman’s Model, aimed at fostering healing and post-traumatic growth:
1. Building Trust and Safety in Trauma Therapy
We begin by establishing a strong, supportive, and trusting therapeutic relationship. Recognizing that diving directly into traumatic memories can be overwhelming, we prioritize creating a safe space where you feel comfortable and secure. During this phase, we:
Establish Rapport: Develop a connection based on mutual respect, understanding, and empathy.
Identify Safety Strategies: Explore what helps you feel grounded and secure, especially when addressing triggering topics.
Enhance Body Awareness: Work on reconnecting with your body's signals to better understand and manage emotional and physical responses.
2. Reprocessing and Mourning in Trauma Therapy
Once a foundation of trust is established, we gently guide you through processing and making sense of your traumatic experiences. Understanding that memories can be fragmented and non-linear, we assist you in:
Constructing Your Narrative: Piecing together memories, feelings, and sensations to build a cohesive and meaningful story of your experiences.
Mourning Losses: Acknowledging and grieving what was lost or could have been different due to the trauma, including unmet needs and missed opportunities.
Emotionally Processing: Allowing space to experience and work through complex emotions such as anger, sadness, and frustration in a supportive environment.
Through sharing and reprocessing memories within a warm and supportive therapeutic relationship, we aim to transform distressing recollections into less triggering and more integrated parts of your story.
3. Community Building and Integration in Trauma Therapy
The final phase focuses on integrating your healing into daily life and strengthening supportive connections. We support you in:
Reinforcing Support Systems: Identifying and nurturing relationships with people who understand and validate your experiences.
Embracing Post-Traumatic Growth: Transforming the impacts of trauma into opportunities for personal development, resilience, and empowerment.
Defining Your Narrative: Choosing how your experiences shape your identity and how you share your story with others, fostering a sense of agency and control.
This holistic process enables you to carry forward your trauma as a part of your history—not as a defining feature of your present or future.
Evidenced-Based Therapeutic Modalities We Utilize to Treat Trauma:
Our New York relational therapists employ a variety of evidence-based and relational approaches tailored to your unique needs, including:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Addressing and reframing negative thought patterns and beliefs.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Developing skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Mindfulness Practices: Cultivating present-moment awareness and acceptance to reduce stress and enhance well-being.
Exposure Therapy: Gradually and safely confronting traumatic memories and triggers to diminish their power over you.
Narrative Therapy: Empowering you to rewrite and own your story, emphasizing strengths and resilience.
We tailor our approach to ensure it's aligned with your comfort level, readiness, and personal goals, always proceeding at a pace that feels right for you. While we find these gold-standard, evidenced-based treatments highly beneficial in treating trauma, our approach is different from the traditional "blank slate" therapist. We bring our authentic selves into the room, fostering a genuine connection with you as you work through healing from your trauma.
Group Therapy Opportunities
In addition to individual therapy, we offer weekly specialized Sexual Trauma Group Therapy led by our practice owner, Lauren Larkin, LMHC. These supportive and inclusive groups provide:
Shared Understanding: Connect with others who have faced similar experiences, reducing feelings of isolation.
Collective Healing: Benefit from shared insights, mutual support, and the collective wisdom of the group.
Empowerment: Experience the transformative power of both giving and receiving support, fostering a sense of community and belonging.
Our group therapy is open and affirming, accommodating individuals of all backgrounds, and requires participants to be engaged in individual therapy concurrently to ensure comprehensive support. Our groups are capped at 8 people, so there is an intimate feel. These are open groups, so people can apply to join at any time. To learn more, please contact us and express your interest in joining our group therapy.
Why Choose LEL Therapy?
At LEL Therapy, we stand out by bringing a unique, authentic lens to our work. Our therapists have personally experienced many of the same struggles you face, and they approach therapy with openness, lightness, humor, and warmth. We create a safe space where you feel held and supported in your journey. Choosing the right support for your healing journey is crucial. Here's what sets LEL Therapy apart:
Experienced and Specialized Therapists: Our clinicians have extensive experience working with various forms of trauma across diverse populations.
Trauma-Informed and Feminist Lens: Our NY trauma therapists approach all care with a deep understanding of trauma's pervasive impacts, acknowledging systemic factors and striving for empowerment and equity.
Authentic and Relational Approach: We believe in bringing our genuine selves into therapy, fostering real connections that enhance the healing process.
Holistic and Personalized Care: Recognizing that each person's experience is unique, our trauma therapists tailor our therapeutic strategies to address your specific needs and goals comprehensively.
Commitment to Safety and Trust: We prioritize creating a safe and supportive environment where you feel heard, validated, and respected throughout your journey.
Integrated Support Systems: We collaborate closely with other healthcare professionals and support networks to provide cohesive and coordinated care.
To sum it up, our New York therapists are dedicated to helping you transform post-traumatic stress into post-traumatic growth, empowering you to reclaim your life and move forward with resilience and hope. You don't have to face this journey alone—we're here to support you every step of the way.
Wanting to learn more about trauma recovery? Check out these blog posts on all things trauma healing:
How Does Trauma Work "Work"
Holistic Trauma Treatment: Treating the Body & the Brain
3 Reasons to Try Group Therapy
Owning our story
Wanting even more? Follow our practice owner Lauren Larkin, LMHC on TikTok and Instagram for In Between Sessions, where she offers therapy and therapeutic topics in between sessions.
Other Services Offered:
In addition to specializing in trauma, LEL Therapy offers therapy for all types of eating disorders, including but not limited to Anorexia, Binge Eating Disorder, ARFID, Bulimia, and Disordered Eating. We specialize in relationship issues, whether familial, romantic or platonic relationships, and we treat anxiety and general mental health conditions. We would love to help you on your mental health journey. Reach out for a free consultation today!