Maybe it was one really big event: an accident, an assault, a sudden loss. Or maybe it was years or repeated moments of hurtful, uncomfortable things: a childhood that didn’t feel safe, relationships that left you doubting yourself, or experiences that forced you to shrink in order to survive. This is often referred to as complex or developmental trauma.
And then there’s the ongoing impact — how those experiences live in your body and show up in your day-to-day life, even long after the events themselves have passed.
These aren’t character flaws or failures. They’re adaptations and survival strategies: they’re ways your nervous system learned to protect you. And they can change.
Experiencing complex developmental trauma, especially from caregivers, can lead to attachment wounds. These early relational experiences stay with us as we get older, and impact how we show up in our relationships as adults. Signs of attachment wounds and relational trauma can include:
IFS is particularly effective for trauma because it helps you explore the different “parts” of yourself — including the protective parts that developed in response to trauma — with curiosity and compassion rather than shame or avoidance.
It does not require the same level and intensity of trauma re-exposure as other forms of trauma therapy.
EMDR is one of the most well-researched treatments for trauma that exists and is recommended by major health organizations worldwide. It works by helping the brain finish processing traumatic memories that got frozen at the time they happened. Through guided bilateral stimulation (usually side-to-side eye movements), EMDR allows those memories to be reprocessed so they no longer carry the same emotional weight — so the memory becomes something that happened to you, rather than something that is still happening to you. Importantly, EMDR doesn’t require you to talk through your trauma in detail, which many clients find to be a meaningful relief.
Trauma lives in the body, not just the mind. We pay attention to physical sensations and help you develop a more trusting relationship with your nervous system over time.
Cognitive-behavioral techniques help identify and gently challenge the beliefs about yourself and the world that trauma has reinforced — things like “I’m not safe,” “I can’t trust anyone,” or “I am to blame.”
At Will Psychology, trauma therapy is based in a relational approach. We know that reaching out and opening up in therapy takes real courage, especially if you have been hurt by people you trusted in the past. Our clinicians know that moving forward through traumatic experiences takes time and patience. We never rush the process.
The pace of trauma therapy is always decided by the client, not the therapist. We will never push you into talking about your experiences before you are ready.
Trauma treatment starts by building a foundation of relational safety. Your therapist will spend time getting to know you – all the parts of you that are unique, and beautiful, and wise, and accomplished – and all the parts of you that are scared, and worried, and sad, and lonely. We will never push you into talking about your experiences or feelings before you are ready. In trauma therapy, your clinician will walk beside you, listen, and support in the way that you feel is most helpful. We’ll help you learn emotional regulation so you can stay grounded as the deeper work unfolds. Together, we create and walk a path of healing the parts of you that have been deeply wounded. If it feels right, that might involve talking about what happened to you. But that is never a requirement: in fact, many clients find tremendous healing through trauma therapy approaches that do not require you to relive or share the traumatic experiences. By helping your wounded parts, your internal system recalibrates, rebalances, and learns how to move forward in a more confident, connected, and wise way.
We start with a no-pressure phone call to see if it feels like a good fit, for you and us. No commitment required.
We get to know you: your history, your goals, what’s brought you here, and what you’re hoping life looks like when therapy feels complete. We don’t force you to talk about anything you’re not ready to share.
Before diving into trauma-related memories, we focus on strengthening your internal resources so you feel grounded and supported throughout the process.
Together, we gently explore the parts of you that are carrying pain — with curiosity, not pressure. You always lead. This might mean directly processing traumatic memories, building emotion regulation skills, or developing healthier attachment patterns in the present. Often, it’s all three.
As healing happens, we hope you’ll notice shifts in your relationships, your self-perception, and your ability to move through the world with more ease and confidence.
There’s no set timeline – the length, depth, and process of trauma therapy is unique to each person. Most of the clients seeking treatment at Will Psychology have experienced complex or developmental trauma (often, repeated patterns and wounds starting in childhood), and treatment for those experiences can take a year or longer. We’ll talk honestly about expectations during your intake and check in regularly on your progress.
Not necessarily, and never before you’re ready. Many effective trauma approaches — including EMDR and IFS — don’t require detailed retelling of events. We work with the impact of trauma, not just the story of it.
Yes. We offer online trauma therapy to adults across Indiana, New York, and 40+ additional states through PSYPACT. Virtual sessions are conducted through a HIPAA-compliant video platform. In-person sessions are available at our north Indianapolis office at 921 E. 86th St., Suite 206.
We are an out-of-network practice. We provide monthly Superbills that you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement. We also offer a sliding-scale reduced fee for clients who are a good clinical fit but cannot afford our full rates — please ask about this during your consultation call.
We work with adults 18 and older. We only provide individual therapy: not couples or groups at this time. We are LGBTQIA+-affirming and welcome clients of all racial, ethnic, religious, and ability backgrounds. We have particular expertise working with high-achieving professionals, individuals navigating identity exploration, and people who have experienced relational or complex trauma.
We offer a free 15-minute consultation call. No commitment — just a chance to connect and see if it feels like a fit.
Are you interested in starting therapy or retaining our forensic services?
Reach out through our contact form so we can see if we’re the right fit.
CONTACT317-204-8540
Across Indiana, New York, and 40+ other states
921 E. 86th St., Suite 206 Indianapolis, IN 46240
