What is trauma-informed therapy?

Trauma-informed therapy prioritizes safety, choice, and pacing while recognizing how trauma can affect the nervous system, emotions, and daily functioning.

Is EMDR right for everyone?

Not always. EMDR is one option and is used when appropriate, typically after building stabilization and coping skills.

Do I have to talk about details of my trauma in therapy?

No. You control what you share and when. Therapy is paced to support safety and reduce overwhelm.

Can trauma therapy help with anxiety and sleep issues?

Yes. Trauma-focused therapy often improves anxiety, hypervigilance, and sleep disruption by helping the nervous system feel safer and more regulated.

Is telehealth effective for trauma therapy?

For many people, yes—especially for stabilization, coping skills, and structured trauma-informed approaches. Your therapist will recommend what fits best.

Trauma Therapy & EMDR-Informed Counseling in Des Moines

Trauma can live in your body long after an event has passed—showing up as anxiety, sleep issues, emotional numbness, or relationship strain. We offer trauma-informed therapy in the Des Moines area with EMDR-informed approaches, plus secure telehealth across Iowa.

Signs Trauma May Be Affecting You

Hypervigilance, feeling constantly “on edge”
Panic or anxiety symptoms
Nightmares or disrupted sleep
Emotional shutdown or numbness
Difficulty trusting or connecting with others

Our Trauma-Informed Approach

We prioritize safety and stabilization first, helping your nervous system feel more regulated before any deeper processing work. When appropriate, we use EMDR-informed methods alongside skills-based therapy to support healing at a pace that feels manageable.

Learn more about all therapy services we offer:
👉 /services

Who We Help

PTSD and complex trauma
Childhood and developmental trauma
Relationship or attachment trauma
Medical trauma
Occupational trauma and high-stress professions

If trauma overlaps with anxiety or relationship stress, we also offer:

Anxiety therapy → /anxiety-therapy-des-moines
Couples counseling → /couples-counseling-des-moines

In-Person Near Des Moines + Telehealth Across Iowa

We serve clients in Des Moines and West Des Moines with in-person sessions at our Waukee office. Telehealth therapy is available statewide for Iowa residents.

Learn more about online counseling:
👉 /telehealth-therapy-iowa

Cost, Insurance & Next Steps

Questions about insurance, cost, or what your first session looks like?
👉 /faqs

Ready to begin trauma-informed therapy?
👉 Schedule: /schedule
👉 Contact: /contact

Meet our therapists:
👉 /team

FAQs

Trauma-informed therapy prioritizes safety, choice, and pacing, recognizing how trauma affects the nervous system and daily functioning.
Not always. EMDR is one option and is used when appropriate, after building stabilization and coping skills.
You control what you share and when. Therapy moves at a pace that feels safe for you.
Yes. Trauma-focused work often reduces anxiety, hypervigilance, and sleep disruption.
For many people, yes—especially when combined with skills-based and stabilization-focused approaches.