Thrive Therapy and Counseling offers trauma therapy in Sacramento for adults, teens, LGBTQIA+ folks, and highly sensitive people. In person in Midtown and online across California.

What Trauma Can Look Like

Trauma does not always look the way most people picture it. Some of our clients have survived something clearly catastrophic. Others are not so sure their experience "counts." What they share is a nervous system that has not reset, and a life that feels shaped by something they cannot fully name or move past.

We work with clients experiencing:

Complex trauma and childhood trauma -- repeated experiences in childhood that were frightening, destabilizing, or that involved a caregiver who was also the source of harm. This kind of trauma often shows up in adulthood as hypervigilance, difficulty trusting others, or a persistent sense that something is wrong with you rather than something happened to you.

Relational trauma -- emotional abuse, manipulation, neglect, or repeated ruptures in important relationships. This can happen in romantic partnerships, families, or workplaces. It does not require a single dramatic event to leave a lasting mark.

Single-incident trauma -- an accident, assault, medical emergency, sudden loss, or other event that overwhelmed your nervous system's ability to process it. Symptoms can include flashbacks, sleep disturbance, avoidance, and a heightened startle response.

Trauma in highly sensitive people -- HSPs process experiences more deeply than others, which means events that might not register as traumatic for someone else can leave a significant imprint. If you have been told you are "too sensitive" or that you are overreacting to your own history, that narrative may itself be part of the wound. Learn more about our work with HSPs.

Developmental and attachment trauma -- early experiences that shaped how you attach to others, how safe you feel in the world, and how you see yourself. Often the client does not come in saying "I have attachment trauma." They come in saying they cannot stop self-sabotaging, that intimacy terrifies them, or that they feel fundamentally broken.

Secondary and vicarious trauma -- therapists, first responders, healthcare workers, and others who absorb the weight of other people's suffering. This is real, it accumulates, and it deserves real treatment.

How We Work

Trauma lives in the body as much as the mind. Talk therapy alone can help you understand what happened, but it does not always reach where the trauma is stored. At Thrive, we use approaches that work at both levels.

Brainspotting is one of the most powerful tools we use for trauma. It works with the body's natural ability to process difficult experiences by identifying a specific eye position connected to where the trauma is held neurologically. Clients often describe it as reaching something talk therapy alone could not get to. Many of our therapists are trained in brainspotting specifically because of how effective it is for complex and stored trauma. Learn more about brainspotting at Thrive.

Somatic approaches work directly with the body's sensations, movement, and nervous system activation. Trauma is a physical experience as much as a psychological one, and healing often means helping the body feel safe again, not just helping the mind understand.

Parts work -- including Internal Family Systems (IFS) -- helps clients work with the different parts of themselves that developed in response to trauma. The part that shuts down. The part that is always braced for impact. The part that holds all the pain. This approach can be especially helpful when trauma has created a fragmented sense of self.

Trauma-informed talk therapy -- not every trauma client needs a specialized modality right away. Sometimes the most important thing is a therapist who understands trauma, does not push you to go faster than you are ready for, and helps you build enough safety to even begin.

Trauma Therapy in Sacramento, In Person and Online

We see clients in person at our Midtown Sacramento office at 2131 Capitol Ave, Sacramento, CA 95816. We work with clients from across Sacramento, including East Sacramento, Land Park, Natomas, Oak Park, and surrounding neighborhoods.

We also offer online trauma therapy to anyone located in California, including Elk Grove, West Sacramento, Davis, Roseville, and beyond.

What to Expect

Trauma therapy at Thrive starts slowly. We do not push you to tell your story before you are ready. The first sessions are about building safety and understanding what your nervous system currently needs, not moving straight into processing.

From there, the pace is yours. Some clients are ready to work directly with difficult memories early. Others spend time building stabilization skills, understanding their patterns, and developing a relationship with their therapist before going deeper. Both paths are valid and we follow your lead.

Get started by reaching out for a free 15-minute consultation. We will match you with a trauma-trained therapist whose background fits what you are dealing with.

Check our FAQs and fees page for information on session costs, sliding scale availability, and insurance. Megan Bell is in-network with Aetna. See our insurance page for full details.

Schedule a free consultation or call us at (916) 800-4348.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to talk about everything that happened?

No. Trauma therapy does not require you to recount every detail of your history. Many of the approaches we use, including brainspotting and somatic work, do not rely on narrative at all. We move at your pace.

How is trauma therapy different from regular talk therapy?

Trauma-specialized therapists understand how trauma affects the nervous system, memory, and the body. They use approaches designed for it. A therapist without this training may inadvertently move too fast or miss what is actually driving the symptoms.

What if I am not sure my experience counts as trauma?

If it changed how you feel in your own body and your own life, it matters. You do not need a diagnosis, a dramatic story, or anyone's permission to seek support.

Do you work with trauma in teens?

Yes. Our therapists work with teens who have experienced trauma, including childhood adversity, relational trauma, and difficult family experiences. See our teen therapy page for more.

Is online trauma therapy effective?

Yes. Research supports the effectiveness of online trauma therapy when delivered by a trained therapist. Many clients actually find the home environment helps them feel safer and more regulated during sessions. See our online therapy page.